Teachers in Hawaiʻi are the backbone of our communities, yet many struggle with overwhelming workloads, low pay, high living costs, and limited resources—leading to burnout and low retention rates. As a result, talented and dedicated kumu leave the profession or the islands altogether, impacting student learning and school communities. We, as students, feel this impact firsthand, and we see the need to uplift Hawaiʻi’s public school teachers from a student perspective so teachers can thrive, feel valued, and continue uplifting Hawaiʻi’s keiki.

In June of 2025, five passionate students set out to solve that problem. Originating from the Nalukai Academy Summer Camp, KumuKonnect is a student-led organization dedicated to uplifting Hawaiʻi’s public school teachers by raising awareness, strengthening school-based support systems, and advocating for meaningful change. As the next generation of leaders, we believe it is our kuleana to support the kumu who shape our futures and our communities by fostering connection, amplifying teacher voices, and mobilizing students to take action statewide.

Funds raised will go directly toward building and sustaining KumuKonnect’s impact. Including administrative startup needs such as our website, communication tools, and teacher-support programming.

Visit @kumukonnect on Instagram!

Mahalo nui loa!