OUR KUMU

 
Kalama Pastor
 

Kalama Pastor, director and founder of Hālau Hula Nā Lama I Ka Uluwehi O Laka, completed intensive traditional hula studies graduating as a Kumu Hula under Kumu Hula Rolanda Mohala Reese in 2006. His hula lineage traces back to esteemed teachers Mae Kamāmalu Klein and Māiki Aiu Lake. Kumu Kalama also honed his knowledge and practice of oli (chant) under Kumu Hula Kalani Akana.

Alongside traditional arts training, Kumu Kalama holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master of Arts in Counseling from California State University Long Beach, in addition to a Master of Science in Educational Administration from California State University Los Angeles. He is also a certificated school counselor and school administrator in the State of Hawaiʻi.

His work bridging hula and public education spans diverse roles, including service as a teacher, school counselor, and school administrator across Hawaiʻi, California, and Japan. This extensive background—integrating cultural knowledge with pedagogical expertise—informs his practice, equipping haumāna with both a strong foundation and a commitment to excel.