What’s In Your Kete? Koikūokalani Lum 🎙️

Meet Koʻikūokalani Lum 🌊

🌺Aloha kākou! In this special podcast episode, we revisit our kōrero with Koʻikūokalani Lum, who shares his powerful story of traveling to Ngāruawāhia, Aotearoa as a young student.

🎙️Join us as he reflects on the life-changing cultural exchanges at Tūrangawaewae Marae, and how those experiences shaped his deep appreciation for storytelling and the unbreakable bonds connecting us across Moana Nui a Kiwa.

This inspiring podcast is a reminder of the rich heritage we all carry and the importance of preserving it for future generations. 

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Can you please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about who you are?

Anoʻai kākou, Koʻikūokalani, no Maui mai ou. My name is Koʻikūokalani and and I'm from the island of Maui. 

Kainoa ko makuakāne o Thomas Lum Senior. Kainoa ko makuahine o Nadine Awana. O wau ka hiapo, I'm the eldest in the family.

My dad's name is Thomas Lum Senior. And my mom is Nadine Awana.
And I'm the eldest in the family. 

I understand you visited Aotearoa in the past, can you also share some of your experiences from that trip?

So in 2000, we were able to go and travel to Aotearoa. And at that time we had a small contingency, that came from Maui. Young bunch of boys, from Maui.

Our intention was to have some cultural exchanges with folks in Aotearoa.
And at that time I was a junior in high school, one year remaining from graduating from high school. So we were invited to Ngāruawāhia and stayed at the queen's Marae (Tūrangawaewae).

Some of the fortunate things, we were able to meet the queen
(Te Atairangikaahu) at the time when she was living, and I think that was the period of time that really changed and set the foundation of all things that, at a very young age, learning things and associated around mea Hawai’i things around Hawaiian culture, etc.

And at that time just shortly after graduating high school, I said I wanted to learn the language here in Hawai’i.

And, just see how it could be  instrumental within our family and revitalising some of those traditions, but yep, I would say attending Aotearoa at a very young age, solidified that.

How does it feel to be attending FestPAC 2024?

I mean, you know, definitely it was something that raised the awareness of, like, you have to be there because, all of our brothers and sisters from Moana Nui a Kiwa, a large expanse of our great ocean.

Just making the effort to be here and support all of the contingencies all over Hawai’i and all around the Pacific.

Just amazing.

I forgot what day it is about fourth or fifth day, but just right from the beginning of the opening of the ceremonies, kind of just seeing everybody there, like a really large reunion, you know, to see, but, yeah, awesome stuff.

Hard to grasp everything that, you know, that's happening at that time.

Words cannot really express, you know, how the Fest has been going on so far.
I mean, definitely this is my first time being around, all of our people.

If there is one thing you wanted someone to know about Hawai’i, your family or your culture what would it be? What would you like to take away from this Festival?

I think the importance of our mo'olelo, our stories are just vitally important. You know, just when we, when we see the demonstrations of all of the Pacific brothers and sisters, showcase their dance at the opening of the ceremony.

And then you can see so much similarities from nation to nation. And just the way how they move, the way how they sound, and you can kind of see and weave that thread through all the the nations, across.

So I think the most important for me, is capturing the stories that are all around and just really sharing that excitement from your understanding of what you know and how to share to all of those that are that have visited.

And just kind of see like how our stories are really intertwined. What question marks were present and what questions have been answered throughout the time.

And really it's like just being in the presence of many of these elders that came from afar.

And so it's been truly an amazing opportunity and blessing.

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