Lāiana Kanoa-Wong

Occupation: Hawaiian cultural consultant
What school you grad? Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻo Ānuenue ‘02
College: University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Location: Waimānalo, HI

Lāiana Kanoa-Wong is a proud graduate of the Kula Kaiapuni Hawaiian immersion system, beginning at Pūnana Leo o Honolulu, continuing at Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻo Waiau and eventually Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻo Ānuenue, where he graduated as valedictorian in 2002. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi and a master’s in education, both from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. He taught ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, physical education and science, and also served as a football coach at Ānuenue before eventually joining Hālau Kū Māna New Century Public Charter School as a teacher. His parents were also both Hawaiian language educators for the University of Hawaiʻi and Aha Pūnana Leo. He also served as a parent representative on ʻAha Kauleo, a council of parents, teachers and administrators of Kaiapuni immersion schools across the state.

In 2013, he joined Kamehameha Schools as a Hawaiian cultural specialist, where he helps to revitalize the Hawaiian language and culture organization-wide for haumāna (students) and Kamehameha Schools staff on every island. He also started his own business as a Hawaiian cultural consultant for film and television projects based in Hawai‘i.

Q: What was your journey like after high school?
A: I went to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa to play football and while there, I dove deeply into Hawaiian language, culture, education and practices. I started working at Ka Papa Loʻi o Kānewai and at Hale Noa, a Hawaiian ʻawa bar, and got invited to Kahoʻolawe for makahiki. I fell in love with the island and fell in love with my future wife. We started to grow our family and I got my bachelor’s in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi and later my master’s in secondary education. I worked as a kumu at my alma mater Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻo Ānuenue, then at Hālau Kū Māna, before starting my journey at Kamehameha Schools as a Hawaiian cultural consultant. I later started Ke Ea Consulting, a Hawaiian cultural consulting business and helped launch Kūmau Productions, a Hawaiʻi-based film production business. 

Q: What are you up to these days?
A: At home, I am a full-time daddy of five amazing keiki, whose ages range from infant to a college student. My main kuleana is to provide my keiki with opportunities to be kind, grounded and Aloha ʻĀina leaders for our ʻohana and for our community. 

Professionally, I serve at Kamehameha Schools in the Hoʻokahua Cultural Vibrancy Department. I help to support our organization in strengthening our Hawaiian identity, our connection and understandings of Aloha ʻĀina and EA, and working to uplift our Moananuiākea worldviews. In this capacity, I have had the honor of traveling the world to support our voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa in arrival ceremonies that help honor the host communities and lands, while helping to weave together our families who are connected by the ocean. 

In my consulting and business ventures, I have worked on many films and television shows including: “Hae Hawaiʻi,” “Hawaiian Soul,” “NCIS Hawaiʻi,” “Waterman,” “Moana 2” and “Lilo & Stitch,” to name a few. Most recently, my team at Kūmau Productions produced the Hawaiian language adaptation of Disney’s “Moana 2.” We translated the entire film and cast Hawaiian language talent to voice these beloved characters and help to bring Hawaiian language to the big screen and into homes, which is now available to stream entirely in Hawaiian on Disney+. 

Q: Why did you choose this career path and what do you enjoy most about it?
A: I feel like this career path chose me. Growing up in a Hawaiian language and cultural setting with so many great Kumu and mentors, it was a kuleana to share this with our students, with our teachers and with the community. The work in itself is rewarding, knowing that the lessons from our language and culture live on through everyone we reach. 

Q: What makes you #PublicSchoolProud?
A: I am proud that public schools serve so many leaders in our community, and I am proud that I got to grow in my understanding of Hawaiian language and culture while in public school.

Q: What was your favorite subject?
A: History with Kumu Keao.

Q: Favorite school lunch or breakfast?
A: Kalua pig and cabbage for lunch and pizza pockets for breakfast.

Q: What type of extracurricular activities were you involved in?
A: Football, basketball, paddling, ‘Aha ‘Ōpio (student council).

Q: Name of a teacher or mentor you’d like to thank?
A: Mahalo e ku‘u mau mākua ‘o Laiana Nui a me Lilinoe, me ko‘u mau kūpuna. Mahalo nui e Kumu Moani, Kumu Keao, Kumu Wini, Kumu Puhi, Kumu Kehau, Kumu Keānuenue, Kumu Kahele, Kumu Kawika a me Kumu ‘Īmai, a mahalo nui e ʻAnakala Eddie a me koʻu mau kumu a pau!

Q: What advice do you have for students?
A:  Enjoy being in school, find all the fun ways to learn, to grow and prepare yourself for the world.