Ursula Uʻilani Chong, Alakaʻi 
Aloha! ‘O au ‘o U’ilani Chong, he haumāna au ma ka pae makahiki ʻehā ma ke Kulanui o Hawai’i ma Hilo. ‘O ka Ha’awina Hawai’i ka’u mēkia. ‘O ka’u pahuhopu ka lilo ʻana i kumu ma ko’u kaiaulu ʻo Waimea. Hoihoi au e puka kulanui ma keia makahiki a e komo aku ana au i kekahi papahana laikini kumu i ka makahiki 2017 ma Ianuali.
My name is Ursula U’ilani Chong and I am a senior at the University of Hawaii at Hilo majored in Hawaiian Studies. My goal is to become a teacher in my home town of Waimea. I look forward to graduating this year and will be enrolling in a teacher licensing program in January 2017.
Bridgette Uʻi Ige, Mōʻī Social Media
Aloha kākou! ʻO wau nō ʻo Bridgette Uʻilani “Uʻi” Ige no ka moku o Piʻilani mai; a noho wau ma Hilo nei i nēia ʻāina kāhela ʻo Hawaiʻinuikuauli. He haumāna mēkia haʻawina Hawaiʻi wau ma UH Hilo. He mahalo palena ʻole koʻu i kēia polakalamu i hiki ai iaʻu ke hele loa i Iāpana no ke kaʻana ʻana aku i ka ʻōlelo a me ka moʻomeheu Hawaiʻi a aʻo pū i nā ʻano mea Kepanī like ʻole e like me ka nui e hiki i nā lā ʻeiwa a mākou e noho ana i laila. E ola mau nā ʻōlelo ʻōiwi!
Aloha! I’m Bridgette Uʻilani “Uʻi” Ige from the island of Maui. I currently live in Hilo on the big island of Hawaiʻi and I am a student at UH Hilo with Hawaiian Studies as my major. I am beyond grateful for this program and opportunity to be able to travel all the way to Japan and share the Hawaiian language and culture while learning everything I can about the Japanese culture in the nine days that we will be there. Long live the native languages!
Kawehi Lopez
Aloha mai kākou! ʻO au nō ʻo Kawehi Marie Kane Lopez, no Panaʻewa mai au. ʻO ke kālaikaiāulu kaʻu mēkia a ʻo ka Haʻawina Hawaiʻi kaʻu māina. Ke ʻimi nei au i palapala hōʻoia Hānai Nalomeli kekahi me ka manaʻolana e puka kula ana au i kēia kau. He nani lua ʻole ka hiki ke hele i Iāpana i mea e aʻo ai i ko Iāpana mau moʻomeheu ʻōiwi. Hauʻoli nō au i kēia manawa kūpono no ka mea he wā ia noʻu e hoʻoikaika i nā ʻaoʻao ʻehā o koʻu mauli Hawaiʻi.
Aloha! My name is Kawehi Lopez and I am from Panaewa, Hawaiʻi. I am majoring in Environmental Studies and I am minoring in Hawaiian Studies. I am also pursuing a certificate in Beekeeping with hopes of graduating this semester. There is nothing better than actually traveling to Japan to learn more about its indigenous cultures. I am excited for this opportunity because it will allow me to strengthen my Hawaiian identity.
Alohilani Maiava
Aloha mai, ʻO Alohilani Maiava koʻu inoa, no Waimānalo, Oʻahu mai au. ʻO ke Kālainoʻonoʻo a me ka Haʻawina Hawaiʻi. Makemake wau e noi komo i ke kula Kānāwai ʻo Richardson ma UH Mānoa. Aia koʻu ʻiʻini i ka mālama ʻana a me ke ola ana o ke kaiāulu. Nui ana koʻu mahalo i ia polakalamu.
Aloha mai, my name is Alohilani Maiava and I am from Waimānalo, Oʻahu. Psychology and Hawaiian Studies. I want to be admitted into Law school at Mānoa. My interest lies within community care and health.
Dane Malu Dudoit, Alakaʻi
ʻAnoʻai me ke aloha! ʻO wau ʻo Malu Dudoit, no Maui me Molokaʻi mai au. Noho wau i Waiakea, Hilo ma kēia moku o Keawe. He haumāna wau ma ke koleke ʻo Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani a e puka kula ana i kēia kau. Puni wau i ka hoʻokani pila me ka hula, ka holoholo me nā hoa, a me ke aloha/ka mālama ʻāina. Ke ʻimi nei wau i kekahi papahana M.A. kālaikanaka pili i nā moʻomeheu ʻōiwi o ka Moana a makemake wau e hoʻopili i ko kākou moʻomeheu me ko lākou. Nui koʻu mahalo i kēia huakaʻi i hiki ke ʻike i ka moʻomeheu me ka nohona like ʻole o kekahi mau ʻōiwi o Iāpana.
Aloha! My name is Malu Dudoit and I am from Maui and Molokaʻi. I currently live in Waiakea, Hilo on Hawaiʻi island. I am a student at Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani, college of Hawaiian Language, and will be graduating this semester. I enjoy playing music and hula, adventuring with friends, and taking care of our ʻāina. I am currently searching for a Master’s program in Cultural Anthropology of Oceania with the intention to find connections between our culture and theirs. I am very thankful for this trip to be able to experience the culture and lifestyles of these indigenous peoples of Japan.
Pōmaikaʻi Iaea
Aloha popohe lehua iā kākou! ʻO wau nō ʻo Pōmaikaʻi Iaea. ʻO Molokaʻi Nui A Hina kuʻu one hānau. Noho au ma Waikahekahe, Puna, ma ka moku hoʻi o Keawe. He puka kula au mai Ke Kula ʻO Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu. He haumāna au ma ke Kulanui o Hawaiʻi ma Hilo. ʻO kaʻu mēkia, ʻo ia hoʻi ka Haʻawina Hawaiʻi a ke ʻimi pū aku nei i ka Palapala Aʻo. Nui ke aloha i ka launa ʻana me ka ʻohana a me nā hoa makamaka. Pēia pū nō ma ka huakaʻi ʻana a me ka ʻike ʻana i nā mea hou o ke ao.
Aloha! My name is Pōmaikaʻi Iaea and I am from the island of Molokaʻi. I reside in Waikahekahe, Puna on Hawaiʻi island. I am a graduate of Ke Kula ʻO Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu. I attend the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, majoring in Hawaiian Studies and pursuing a certificate in Educational Studies. I enjoy the company of friends and family, traveling, and experiencing new things.
Ashley Ku’ulei Martin-Kalamau
Aloha pumehana,
Eric Keone Taaca
Aloha mai kākou,ʻO wau ʻo Keone Taaca. ʻO Waiʻanae, Oʻahu kuʻu one hānau. Noho naʻe wau ma Waikahekahe, Puna, moku o Keawe me kaʻu wahine, ʻo Koleka kona inoa, a me kā māua mau keiki ʻelua. ʻO Hokuola ka hiapo, he keiki kāne ʻo ia. ʻO Sanoe ka muli, he kaikamahine ʻo ia. He haumāna wau ma Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani. ʻO ka Haʻawina Hawaiʻi kaʻu mēkia a i kēia kupulau au e puka kula aku ai. Ma hope o kaʻu puka kula ʻana aku, makemake wau e lilo he kumu kula o kekahi kula kaiaʻōlelo Hawaiʻi
Aloha mai kākou, My name is Keone Taaca and I am from Waiʻanae, Oʻahu. I currently reside in Waikahekahe, Puna on the island Hawaiʻi with my wife, Koleka, and our two children. Our son, Hokuola is the oldest and our daughter Sanoe is the youngest. I am a Hawaiian Studies major at Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani. I will be graduating this coming spring, when I graduate I would like to become a teacher a Hawaiian language medium school.
Abcde Kawehi Zoller
Aloha kākou. ʻO Abcde Kawehi Zoller koʻu inoa a no Kapolei, Oʻahu mai au. Ua puka au mai ke kula kiʻekiʻe o Kamehameha Kapālama a hele au i ke kulanui o UH Hilo i kēia manawa. ʻElua aʻu mēkia, ʻo ia ka Haʻawina Hawaiʻi a me ka Huli Kanaka, a e puka ana au i kēia kau. Hoihoi au e lilo i kumu ma hope o ke kulanui ma muli o koʻu aloha i nā keiki a me ko kākou lāhui. Minamina au i ka naʻauao a makemake au e aʻo i ke aloha, ka ʻeleu, a me ka makawalu ke haʻalele i Iapana. Piha koʻu naʻau i ka mahalo a me ka hauʻoli no kēia polokalamu a me ka huakaʻi.
Aloha! My name is Abcde Kawehi Zoller and I am from Kapolei, Oʻahu. I graduated from Kamehameha Kapālama High School and currently attend UH Hilo. I have two majors, that being Hawaiian Studies as well as Anthropology, and I am graduating this semester. I am interested in becoming a teacher after college in reflection of my love for our keiki as well as our lāhui. I value education and desire to learn in aloha, readiness, as well as open-mindedness when in Japan. I feel very appreciative and excited for this program and to go on this trip.
Alexander ‘Ālika Guerrero, Alakaʻi
Alohe, e nā makamaka. ‘O ‘Ālika Guerrero ko‘u inoa. ‘O Nā Hono a Pi‘ilani ku‘u one hānau, ‘o ka ‘āina o Nā Wai ‘Ehā nō ho‘i. Noho au ma ka Moku o Keawe ma ka ‘āina o ka ua Kanilehua, a hele au i ke Kulanui o Hawai‘i ma Hilo ma lalo o ke koleke ‘o Ka Haka ‘Ula o Ke‘elikōlani. Ke ‘imi nei nō i ka B.A. Ha‘awina Hawai‘i, B.A. Mō‘aukala Hawai‘i, a me ka B.A. Huli Kanaka me ka pahuhopu e a‘o aku i ka ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i a me ka mo‘omeheu Hawai‘i i ka hanauna e hiki mai. E ola mau loa aku ka ‘ōlelo a me ka mo‘omeheu Hawai‘i!
Aloha. My name is ‘Ālika Guerrero. I am from the island of Maui. Now, I live in Hilo on the Island of Hawai‘i, and I attend the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo under the college of Ka Haka ‘Ula o Ke‘elikōlani. I am pursuing a B.A. Hawaiian Studies, a B.A. History, and a B.A. in Anthropology with the goal to teach Hawaiian language and Hawaiian culture to the next generation. Long live the Hawaiian language and culture!
Autumn Uakoko Chong
Hi my name is Uakoko Chong. I am from Waimea. I am majoring in Marine science and minoring in Hawaiian Studies. I enjoy hiking and diving.
Aloha kākou! ʻO Uakoko Chong koʻu inoa. No Waimea mai wau. ʻO ke Kaiameaola kai kaʻu mekia a ʻo ka Haʻawina Hawaiʻi kaʻu maina. Makemake wau i ka luʻu ʻana ma kai a me ka hele wāwae mamao.
Sophie Kaleimomi Dolera
Aloha nui kākou! ʻO Kalei Dolera koʻu inoa. No Kāneʻohe mai au, akā naʻe, noho au ma Punahoa, Hilo i kēia manawa. He Haʻawina Hawaiʻi kaʻu mēkia a he ʻOihana Mahiʻai kaʻu māina. ʻO kaʻu pahuhopu ma hope o ka puka kula ʻana, ʻo ia ke aʻo ʻana aku i nā keiki ma kekahi kula kaiaʻōlelo Hawaiʻi a me ka hoʻi ʻana mai i ke kula no kaʻu M.A. Kūpaʻa mau au ma hope o Ke Akua, ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, ka mālama ʻāina, a me he ola mauō. Nui loa koʻu mahalo no kēia huakaʻi kupaianaha!
Aloha to all! My name is Kalei Dolera. I come from Kāneʻohe but currently reside in Punahoa, Hilo. Hawaiian Studies is my major and Agriculture is my minor. My goal after graduating is to teach the keiki at a Hawaiian language medium school and to return to school for my M.A. I forever stand behind Ke Akua, Hawaiian language, land stewardship, and a sustainable lifestyle. I am deeply grateful for this extraordinary trip!
Kekaikāneolahōʻikeikonamanakālena Lindsey
Aloha mai kākou. ‘O au ‘o Kekaikāneola. He haumāna ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi au ma ke kulanui ʻo Hawaiʻi ma Hilo. Ua hānau ʻia au ma Oʻahu, a i koʻu wā kamaliʻi, ua neʻe māua ʻo koʻu makuahine i ka ʻāina ʻē. Ma Wilikinia, Keokia, a me Kelemania au i noho ai. Ma mua o koʻu neʻe ʻana mai i Hilo, ma Iapana au i noho ai no ‘ehā makahiki. I ko‘u noho ‘ana i laila, ua ike ‘ia ke aloha o Iapana no Hawai‘i. Pa‘a ko‘u na‘au i ka ‘ike ‘ana i ia aloha. Nui ko‘u aloha no Iapana a no nā Kepanī. Pōmaika‘i nō au i ka hele hou ‘ana i Iapana e ka‘ana aku i ka mo‘omeheu Hawaiʻi a me ka ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i me Iapana. Ma hope o ka puka kula ʻana aku, makemake au e lilo i kumu ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi a makemake nō hoʻi au e hoʻikaika i ka pilina ma waena o Hawaiʻi lāua ʻo Iapana ma ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi.
Aloha mai. My name is Kekaikāneola Lindsey. I am a Hawaiian language student at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. I was born on Oʻahu and as a child, my mother and I moved to the mainland. I have lived in Virginia, Georgia, Germany, and prior to relocating to Hilo, I lived in Japan for four years and I was moved by Japanʻs love for Hawaiian culture. I have a lot aloha for Japan and the Japanese. I am fortunate to visit Japan again, this time, to share Hawaiian language and culture with Japan. After graduation, I want to become a Hawaiian Language teacher and I also want to strengthen the relationship between Hawaiʻi and Japan through the Hawaiian language.
Victoria Mikiʻala Taylor
Aloha, ʻo Mikiʻala Taylor koʻu inoa, no Maui nui a Kamalālāwalu mai au. He haumāna au ma Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani me ka manaʻolana e puka i kēia kau kupulau. ʻO ka Haʻawina Hawaiʻi kaʻu mēkia a ke ʻimi pū nei au i palapala hōʻoia Hānai Nalomeli. Nanea au i ka puka i waho e ʻike i ka nani o ka ʻāina a me ka huli ʻana i ka lima i lalo.
Aloha, my name is Mikiʻala Taylor and I am from the island of Maui. I am a senior at UH Hilo with hopes of graduating this spring semester. I am majoring in Hawaiian studies and also pursuing a beekeeping certificate. I enjoy being outdoors and tending to mother nature.
Temaʻuonukuhiva Teikitekahioho-Wolff
ʻO Temaʻu Teikitekahioho-Wolff koʻu inoa. He mekia Haʻawina Hawaiʻi/ Kālai Meaola Kai me ka maina ma ka makemakika i ke Kulanui o Hawaiʻi ma Hilo. I Hilo koʻu nohona no ka nui koʻu ola holoʻokoʻa, a he koko Hōlani, Hawaiʻi, Ilikea a Nuʻu Hiwa nō au. Hauʻoli au i ke aʻo aku a aʻo mai i nā mea hou mai Hawaiʻi i Iāpana ma kēia hanana keu a ka pōmaikaʻi.
I am a Hawaiian Studies/ Marine Science major and mathematics minor at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. I have lived in Hilo for the majority of my life, and am of Caucasian, Hawaiian, Dutch and Marquesan ethnicity. I look forward to learning and exchanging all that I can during this wonderful opportunity.
Pōmaikaʻi Ravey, Alakaʻi & Mōʻī Social Media
Welina mai kākou! ʻO wau iho nō ʻo Pōmaikaʻi Ravey. No Oʻahu mai au akā ua noho au i Hilo no ʻeono paha makahiki. He haumāna mekia Haʻawina Hawaiʻi au a he ʻohana aukahi ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi kaʻu. ʻO kekahi pahuhopu aʻu ma kēia huakaʻi, ʻo ia hoʻi ke kipa ʻana e hoʻolaha i kēia mea ʻo ka mauli ola Hawaiʻi
Greetings to all! I am Pōmaikaʻi Ravey. I am from Oʻahu but I have lived in Hilo for about 6 years. I am a Hawaiian Studies major and am a part of a family who is a part of the Hawaiian language movement. My goal on this trip is to show others what it means to be Hawaiian.
Micah Leialoha Kealaiki
Aloha kāua. ʻO au ʻo Micah Leialoha Kealaiki. ʻO Maggie Kamalamalama Punahele kuʻu makuahine. ʻO Wayne Leialoha Kealaiki kuʻu makuakāne. Noho mākou ma kēia mokupuni nei ʻo Moku O Keawe akā no Hoʻolehua, Molokaʻi koʻu ʻohana. He haumāna au ma ke kulanui mai ka makahiki 2012 a hiki i kēia. He mēkia pālua au , mēkia Haʻawina Hawaiʻi a me ke Kālaiʻōlelo. ʻO kaʻu pahuhopu nui ma ia huakaʻi ʻo ia hoʻi ka hoʻolaha ʻana i ko kākou mauli Hawaiʻi me ko Iāpana.
Hello. Iʻm Micah Leialoha Kealaiki. My mother is Maggie Kamalamalama Punahele and my father is Wayne Leialoha Kealaiki. We currently live here on the Big Island but weʻre from Hoʻolehua, Molokaʻi. Iʻve been a student at the university since 2012. Iʻm a double major in Hawaiian Studies and Linguistics. My main goal during this trip is to share my Hawaiian identity and all things that make me a Hawaiian with Japan.
Kelly Nālei Martin-Young
Aloha nui kākou. ʻO Nālei koʻu inoa. He haumāna wau o Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani ma Hilo, Hawaiʻi. Ana ʻole koʻu aloha i koʻu ʻohana, iā Hawaiʻi nei. Nui koʻu mahalo i ke aʻo mai i ka ʻōlelo makuahine o koʻu mau kūpuna o kēia ʻāina uʻi palena ʻole nei. Hauʻoli pū nō hoʻi au e huakaʻi i Iāpana, i kahi !
Hello everyone. My name is Nālei. im a student of Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelokōlani, the Hawaiian language college, in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. I have a deep love for my family and Hawaiʻi. I’m very grateful to be learning the native language of my ancestors who were from this indescribably beautiful land. I’m also really happy to be visiting Japan!
Noelle Waiū Kilipohe Miller
Greetings Everyone! I am Waiū Kilipohe. I call the land of Ka’ie’ie my home on the island of O’ahu. My family on my father’s side is from Onomichi, Japan. So, this is a great opportunity for me to visit the birth land of my ancestors by going on this trip of ours. And I will arrive in Japan with the desire to learn new knowledge and to learn the unique aspects of the Japanese Culture.
Isaac Kuʻuiponohea Pang
Aloha mai e nā hoa , ʻO ʻIkaʻaka Pang koʻu inoa. No ʻŌlaʻa Puna mai au ma Hawaiʻinuikuauli. He haumāna mau au. I kēia manawa, e ʻimi ana i nā laepua Huli Kānaka a Haʻawina Hawaiʻi ma ke kulanui ʻo Hilo. ʻO ka holo paikikala a me ka hoʻokani puolo koʻu nanea hoʻohialaʻai. Hauʻoli au i ka hiki ke huakaʻi hele aʻe i kahi mamao ma ke ʻano he ʻelele no Kenekoa Daniel Inouye a no kuʻu mau Hawaiʻi. E hoʻōla ʻia ka ʻōiwi!
Aloha, my name is Isaac K. Pang. My family is from Puna on the island of Hawaiʻi. I am a forever learning student. At this present time, I am seeking degrees in Anthropology and Hawaiʻian Studies at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. Riding bike and jamming music are a couple of my delightful relaxations. I’m stoked for the opportunity to travel to a distant land as an ambassador for the legacy of Senator Daniel Inouye and for my Hawaiʻians. Revivify indigeneity!
Koa Rodrigues
Aloha kākou, ʻo koʻu inoa ʻo Koa Rodrigues a no Makawao, Maui mai au. ʻAʻole wau i haʻalele mua iā Hawaiʻi nei, no laila he mea hou loa aku kēia. Ma kaʻu huakaʻi, makemake au e hoʻohālike i ko mākou moʻomeheu me ko Iāpana. Hoihoi ka hoʻāʻo mua ʻana i ka laiki maoli iaʻu. Puni au i nā koala a ʻo ka ʻōmaʻomaʻo kaʻu waihoʻoluʻu punahele.
Aloha kākou, my name is Koa Rodrigues and I am from Makawao, Maui. I have never left Hawaiʻi so this is something totally new for me. On my journey, I want to compare our culture with that of Japan’s. I am excited to try authentic rice for the first time. I love koalas and my favorite color is green.
Kekoa Harman, Kumu
ʻO wau ʻo Kekoa Lloyd Harman, a he kama wau na Jeff lāua ʻo Nani Harman. No Maui Nui A Kama wau, a ua hānai ʻia wau ma Pukalani. He kumu wau ma Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani, a hele kaʻu mau keiki ʻekolu, ʻo Kalāmanamana, Kaumualiʻi, a me Nāliʻipōʻaimoku i Ke Kula ʻo Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu ma Keaʻau. Aʻo kaʻu wahine aloha, ʻo Pelehonuamea Harman ma ia kula kekahi. He mau kumu māua ʻo Pele e aʻo ana i ka hula ma Hālau I Ka Leo Ola O Nā Mamo. ʻO kekahi kuleana nui ma kēia huakaʻi, ʻo ia ka hoʻolaukaʻi ʻana a me ka hoʻolōkahi ʻana i ka hui i mākaukau loa no ka hele loa ʻana i Iāpana.
ʻO ka mahalo wale nō i ka hiki ke huakaʻi me nā haumāna a me nā kumu ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi i ʻalohi nō ka ʻōlelo mai ʻō a ʻō o ka honua. He ala kēia huakaʻi e launa a e hoʻākea i ka naʻauao no ka mauli o kekahi lāhui i noho lōʻihi, he mau kupa ma Hawaiʻi nei, ʻo ia ka poʻe Kepanī. Hapa Kepanī kaʻu wahine, a hapa kepanī kaʻu mau keiki kekahi. He ala kēia huakaʻi e hōʻoia a e hoʻopaʻa pono i ka ʻōlelo nuʻukia o ke Koleke, “ʻO ka ʻōlelo ke kāʻā o ka mauli.”
My name is Kekoa Lloyd Harman, and I am the son of Jeff and Nani Harman. I was raised in Pukalani, Maui. I am an Assistant Professor at Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani, College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. My three children, Kalāmanamana, Kaumualiʻi, and Nāliʻipōʻaimoku attend Ke Kula ʻo Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu, a Hawaiian medium education institution in Keaʻau, Hawaiʻi where my wife, Pelehonuamea Harman, also teaches. Hawaiian is the language of our home and the medium through which we also teach hula in our hālau (hula school) Hālau I Ka Leo Ola O Nā Mamo. One of the primary responsibilities I have for this trip is coordinating and unifying the group so that we are prepared for this journey to Japan.
Yumiko Ohara, Kumu
My name is Yumiko Ohara. Tadao Ohara is the name of my father and Reiko Yamamoto is my motherʻs name. I am from Tokyo and I received Ph.D. from UH Mānoa. I teach linguistics at UH Hilo. I am so happy to get to go to Japan with the students from Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani and interact with Ainu students in Hokkaido! My major responsibilities for this trip include making sure the students get best from this opportunity by trying to give background cultural information to Japanese peopleʻs behavior, linguistics or otherwise.