Meet Janelle Gomez | Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Janelle Gomez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Janelle, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Learn With Aloha teaches Hawaiian and Polynesian cultural and educational classes. We love teaching others about our culture because it builds unity as people gain a better understanding about our traditions and customs. We share the Aloha Spirit to everyone, which is a genuine love and kindness towards others, which can truly impact the world if we all chose to live this lifestyle of kindness.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
When I first entered Kindergarten, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I love seeing people make connections and build understanding. I knew at a young age that if I wanted to become a teacher, I could only teach what I know. I worked hard to achieve Honor Roll every year, participated in band, sports, student council, church service activities, community service, and cultural activities. While this may sound busy, I truly love being a part of so many opportunities. I was able to earn a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from BYU-Hawaii and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Grand Canyon State University. I have taught for 8 years at public school, taught Hawaiian Cultural Studies in Hawaii, coached tennis and volleyball, tutored piano, and now run my own cultural educational classes through Learn With Aloha.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend came to visit, I would take them to Hawai’i and we would go to the beach and eat ‘ono (good tasting) food. I would take them to Kahuku Farms to experience some “farm to table” foods because although many goods are exported to Hawaii, I truly feel that Hawaii could be self-sustaining, if given the opportunity. I would also take them to Iolani Palace so they can learn about the Kingdom of Hawai’i before it was annexed into the United States. I would take them to the Polynesian Cultural Center where we would enjoy the luau show with real authentic Polynesian food and dancers who also perform a wonderful show called “Ha: Breath of Life”. I would also take them to eat at Laie Chop Suey, Seven Brothers, Papa Ole’s, and Zippy’s. The beaches are so nice to swim, snorkel, and surf.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
When teaching about Hawaiian Culture, we would not know anything about who we are unless our ancestors, the generations before, taught us. There was a time when the Hawaiian Kingdom was illegally taken over and we were not allowed to dance hula or speak Ōlelo Hawai’i (Hawaiian language). So my shout out is to all the kūpuna, our elderly, who kept speaking our language and dancing hula, even though they were not allowed to because when the ban was lifted, they were the ones who preserved our culture. I am also grateful for educational programs for Hawaiian Studies through Kamehameha Schools, University of Hawaii-Manoa, Keiki O Ka Aina, Windward Community College, Hui Ho’oulu Aloha, the Polynesian Cultural Center, and all my friends and ‘ohana who have taught and given me the experiences to truly learn my Hawaiian Culture and help teach others.

Website: https://www.learnwithaloha.com

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Image Credits
Adelaide Photography