Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 11, 1 Nowemapa 2016 — Walk named Community Educator of the Year [ARTICLE]

Walk named Community Educator of the Year

Kamehameha Schools honored immersion school teacher H. Ka'umealani K. Walk with its 2016 Native Hawaiian Community Educator of the Year award at the 15th Annual Native Hawaiian Convention. Walk has been a kumu Kaiapuni in the public Hawaiian immersion schools for more than 25 years in Pearl City, Pālolo and the Ko'olauloa district. A mother of five, she and her husband commuted 75 miles daily from Hau'ula to Waiau and back so their keiki could leam in 'ōlelo Hawai'i. At the same time, Walk successfully advocated for Kaiapuni middle school classes closer to home and was able to establish the first classes at BYU-Hawai'i in part because she was able to teach them. "Kamehameha Schools relies on partnerships with eommunity educators to help us improve the educational well-being of all Native Hawaiian learners, and this award is a way to say 'mahalo piha' for your contributions," says Kā'eo Duarte, KS' vice president of Community Engagement and Resources. "Known to her family and friends as kumu, aunty and mother, Ka'umealani Walkhas made an impact on hundreds of haumāna (students) throughout the years." ■