From England to Hawaiian Language Educator | Kaliko Beamer-Trapp Keeps It Aloha (Ep. 218)

From England to Hawaiian Language Educator | Kaliko Beamer-Trapp Keeps It Aloha (Ep. 218)

From Keep it Aloha by Kamaka Dias

March 5, 2026 · 2h 29m

About this episode

Kaliko Beamer-Trapp shares his journey from England to becoming a Hawaiian language educator and cultural practitioner in Hawaiʻi.

Kaliko Beamer-Trapp is a Hawaiian language educator and cultural practitioner originally from England. He is also the hānai son of the late Aunty Nona Beamer. For decades, he has dedicated his life to the teaching and revitalization of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, from Hawaiian immersion schools to the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, where he continues his work today. He has served on the Hawaiian Language Lexicon Committee, helped develop modern Hawaiian curriculum, and has been a longtime leader at Aloha Music Camp. Kaliko is also the creator of ʻŌlelo Online, an innovative platform helping students around the world learn Hawaiian language. As a husband and father, he carries forward the legacy of his kūpuna with humility, humor, and aloha. In this episode we talk about growing up in England, moving to the United States, discovering Polynesian culture, eventually moving to Hawaiʻi, learning ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, being adopted into the Beamer ʻohana, teaching Hawaiian language, and the importance of carrying culture forward for the next generation. Enjoy! Buy our merch:🛍️ https://keepitaloha.com/Support us:🤙 https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us:📸 Instagram –…

People in this episode

Host: Kamaka Dias

Guest: Kaliko Beamer-Trapp

Topics covered

  • Hawaiian language education
  • cultural heritage
  • immigration
  • Polynesian culture
  • language revitalization
  • family legacy

Keywords

  • Hawaiian language
  • cultural practitioner
  • language revitalization
  • Aunty Nona Beamer
  • ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi
  • Hawaiian immersion schools
  • Polynesian culture
  • Aloha Music Camp

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Hawaiian Language Lexicon Committee, Aloha Music Camp, ʻŌlelo Online

Places: England, United States, Hawaiʻi

More episodes of Keep it Aloha

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Keep it Aloha podcast page.