April Drexel

Kumu April Drexel serves as an Associate Professor at the Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies within the Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. Her teaching and research focus on Native Hawaiian visual culture, customary practices, contemporary arts, and the politics of imaging. She also explores historical and mythological dimensions of Hawaiian cultural studies, alongside land tenure systems.

Her work integrates academic rigor with community engagement through initiatives like the Kānewai Cultural Resource Center and Ka Papa Loʻi ʻo Punaluʻu, which emphasize hands-on cultural preservation and education. While no specific awards or grants are detailed here, her role reflects deep commitment to Indigenous knowledge systems.

Office: KAMA 108/209B | Phone: 808-956-0542