Kekoa Harman

Kekoa Harman is an Associate Professor at the Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. His work focuses on reclaiming Hawaiian language as a primary family language and integrating hula, chant, and cultural practices into education. He earned a Ph.D. in Hawaiian and Indigenous language/culture revitalization in 2020, following a BA (2001) and MA (2008) from the same institution.

• Education: UH Hilo (BA, MA, Ph.D), Maui Community College (AA)

Harman’s research emphasizes community-driven language revitalization, intergenerational cultural transmission, and the role of traditional practices in modern education. His family’s use of Hawaiian language as a primary household language exemplifies applied research in language preservation. He advocates for Indigenous epistemologies through classroom teaching, hula instruction, and public engagement initiatives like university webinars and Kennedy Center collaborations.

As a lifelong practitioner of Hawaiian cultural arts, he co-leads Hālau I Ka Leo Ola O Nā Mamo hula school with his wife Pelehonuamea Harman, who previously directed UH Hilo’s Native Hawaiian engagement initiatives. His work bridges academic scholarship with grassroots cultural movements, spanning preschool to university levels across Hawaiʻi.