A. Laʻakea Ai
Honolulu,HI
Summary
Kānaka ʻōiwi, museum professional with a diverse background in informatics, and over 10 years in education and community engagement. Eager to learn, collaborate, and expand scope of work.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Digital Humanities Specialist
The Bishop Museum
Honolulu, HI
08.2023 - Current
- Supports the migration of multiple humanities collections databases, multimedia, and content into a centralized collections management system
- Works with collections managements staff to create internal policy on data management needs, data standards, processes, and workflows
- Helps develop new cataloging routines specific to EMu collections management system
- Under the direction of the humanities curators, applies traditional knowledge and cultural institution notices to collections records for the protection of indigenous knowledge
Hawaiian Cultural Researcher
Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
, DC
06.2023 - Current
- Provides support for Smithsonian Festival 2023, a yearly festival that highlights living cultures through food, dance, art, and cultural demonstrations
- Works as Hawaiian cultural consultant to provide context on upcoming festival programs relating to lore and importance of Native Hawaiian farming and making traditions
- Serves as point of communication between festival curators and participants traveling from Hawaii
- Develops Hawaiian cultural educational signs and videos to engage festival attendees and support learning goals
- Assists in managing festival participant database in relation to travel, transportation, and hotel arrangements
- Documents oral histories of Native Hawaiian participants and their practices
Cultural Liaison
Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
, DC
07.2024 - 08.2024
- Provided support for day-to-day logistics for 20 Native Hawaiian participants during a 2-week festival on the National Mall
- Facilitated communication between Native Hawaiian festival participants and program curators
- Collaborated with Native Hawaiian participants to identify needs during the festival
- Supported navigation, transportation, hospitality, and dispersing of educational materials for over 20 public programming events throughout the 2 weeks
Archaeology Technician
Bishop Museum
Honolulu, HI
05.2023 - 07.2023
- Completed contract work for a specific project which involved conducting in-depth research for collection items being repatriated
- Researched existing field notes, archival material, and department databases in relation to collection items
- Scanned and organized all materials, including maps, photos, field notes, artifact record cards, site cards, and private collection documents
- Located materials in Bishop Museum Archaeology collection
- Summarized findings in a final report given to curatorial staff
Lecturer
Windward Community College
Kaneohe, HI
08.2022 - 05.2023
- Creates classroom curriculum as it relates to course HWST 140: Mahiʻai Kalo
- Utilizes diverse teaching methods, lectures, presentations and class activities to deliver curriculum.
- Organized activities and class events to drive learning objectives and promote engagement.
- Ensures students are meeting “student learning outcomes”, as outlined by the Hawaiian Studies Department
- Facilitates multiple classes a semester
- Tutored students requiring further assistance with learning concepts and course material.
Co-Executive Director
Kuhiawaho
Pearl City, HI
01.2013 - 05.2023
- Develops ʻāina-based curriculum through historical and ethnological research with emphasis on themes relating to place, wai, nā akua, moʻolelo, language, and Native Hawaiian agriculture and aquaculture
- Hosts groups at Kuhiawaho loʻi ranging in age from preschool to adults and teaches site curriculum
- Coordinates site visits and group specific agendas
- Manages college interns through farm tasks and entry level job skillsets (being prompt, following deadlines, etc.)
- Grant writer and reporter
- Bookkeeper
Assistant Technician Intern
Bishop Museum
Honolulu, HI
03.2022 - 05.2023
- Assisted Ethnology technicians in various projects which include
- Caring for collection items that are going on and coming off of display
- Cataloging/ labeling incoming collections
- Taking inventory of loan collections
- Pulling items for various access tours
- Ensuring overall optimal care for the Aliʻi and Pacific Island collections
- Helped conduct research with curatorial staff
Kumu
Kamehameha Schools Kapalama
Honolulu, HI
05.2022 - 07.2022
- Oversaw the learning of over 120 kids through the course of a 5 week summer program
- Designed curriculum that taught foundational Hawaiian cultural practices and values, which include, history, moʻolelo, language, and malama ʻāina
- Facilitated learning through workbooks, outdoor activities, art, cooking, music, and dance
Program Assistant
Huliauapaʻa
01.2019 - 01.2021
- Assisted with multiple projects including the development of numerous workshops and programs including: Huewai ʻIke Workshop Series, Iwi Kūpuna Workshop Series, and Wahi Kūpuna Internship Program
- Managed social media and website
- Created agendas, meeting notes and other documents to enhance collaborative process.
Education
BA - Anthropology
University of Hawaiʻi At Mānoa Mānoa
HawaiiAA - Liberal Arts and Hawaiian Studies
Leeward Community College Waiawa
HawaiiSkills
- Leadership
- Project management
- Cultural resources
- Critical thinking
- Documentation management
- Procedure development
- Adaptable
- Reliable
- Educator
Conferences + Internships
• UHM Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program Recipient & Speaker
• Lāhui Hawaiʻi Research Center Student Conference 2019 Speaker
• ʻAha Haumāna 2017 & 2018 Student Representative
• Hawaiian Archaeology Conference 2017 Speaker
• West Maui Conference for Indigenous Peoples and their Environment Speaker
• Wahi Kūpuna Internship 2017 Intern
• Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo Summer 2017 & 2018 Student Representative
• Kamehameha Schools: Professional Development on Place Based Education 2018 Speaker
Timeline
Cultural Liaison
Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
07.2024 - 08.2024
Digital Humanities Specialist
The Bishop Museum
08.2023 - Current
Hawaiian Cultural Researcher
Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
06.2023 - Current
Archaeology Technician
Bishop Museum
05.2023 - 07.2023
Lecturer
Windward Community College
08.2022 - 05.2023
Kumu
Kamehameha Schools Kapalama
05.2022 - 07.2022
Assistant Technician Intern
Bishop Museum
03.2022 - 05.2023
Program Assistant
Huliauapaʻa
01.2019 - 01.2021
Co-Executive Director
Kuhiawaho
01.2013 - 05.2023
BA - Anthropology
University of Hawaiʻi At Mānoa Mānoa
AA - Liberal Arts and Hawaiian Studies
Leeward Community College Waiawa
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