Kamehameha High School Maui Campus
Interview with Mr. Kealii Mossman
Kealii Mossman is a high school teacher for the Business and Leadership Academy for Kamehameha Schools, Maui Camp. He is a former prosecuting attorney who changed his career upon realizing that it is better to teach our youth the right things at an early age rather than seeing them repeatedly commit crimes as young adults and having to punish them when it’s too late. Kudos to Kealii Mossman for making a difference in our community.
Mikoshi designed by students from Kamehameha High School
Kamehameha High School students
The Honolulu Festival Foundation had an opportunity to interview Mr. Mossman recently. We asked him the following questions:
What was the process including timeline that you applied with your students to produce your winning Maui Mikoshi design for the 5th Annual Competition?
As soon as I get the notice, I show my Japanese Class I students (two classes of fifteen students) a video of the Honolulu Festival so they will get an idea of what the festival is all about. Most are not familiar with it. I then explain what a mikoshi is. Then we brainstorm ideas based on the theme. It’s great that there is a theme. I ask the students to keep on thinking and to discuss with their peers for two weeks. Then we regroup and have each student draw their design (I give each a photocopy of the pre-existing mikoshi design) and have them write a short explanation of its significance. The designs are shown to both Japanese Class I classes and the students vote. I take the designs with the most votes and reach consensus by combining the ideas that we like. It’s a team effort.
What are some the ideas that came up from the students when discussing the sub-theme "Pacific Harmony- Experience the Wonder"?
The students wanted to include their culture because all of them are from the Pacific Rim. The students at Kamehameha are part Hawaiian, Fijian, Tahitian, Samoan, Tongan, Chinese, Filipino and Japanese. The result of our design shows this idea very well.
What are some of the "hot" topics that your students really get into when teaching the Japanese language and culture?
Our students must wear uniforms every day so anything that is "non-uniform" is appealing. I was able to take some of my students to Japan during the fall break last year. The students were interested in the traditional culture but more intrigued with Japan’s modern technology and fashion. They love the trends such as "Bathing Apes" which is a popular clothes line designed by a popular D.J. They love manga and anime and even do "tachiyomi" (read magazines in front of the racks without buying it at the convenience stores.)
What are some of the opinions of your students who won in previous years about entering the contest and participating in the event in Honolulu?
They are anxious to travel to Honolulu and love the parade. The students from other classes as well as the previous winners want to go too. Many of the students are reserved and this is a new experience for them, to be in a parade and march together as proud winners in front of a huge crowd.
What do you think that the students get most out of participating in this event?
Kamehameha High School
They get a great experience. Wow! The parade! All that high energy and the loud "wasshoi" are unforgettable. When they come back to Maui they are eager to learn more and many extend their Japanese studies to include Japanese III and IV which are electives.
We have heard that you were formerly a prosecuting attorney who changed career in order to help the youth lead productive lives, to keep them on the straight and correct path. Can you elaborate on this part of your life?
I studied law at Brigham Young University in Utah and then worked for Deloitte & Touche in Los Angeles from 1999-2001. Then I moved back to Maui and clerked for Judge Shackley Raffetto and then worked as a prosecuting attorney. I was always interested in education. My internship for my law degree was at BYU and not at a law firm. As a prosecutor I would see young Maui criminals in court every day. Many were Hawaiians like me and many were high school dropouts lacking education. I saw the impact of what happens when you don’t have a good education. The opportunity to help the Hawaiians came with the opening of Kamehameha School, Maui Campus. My goal is to keep the students out of the justice system.
Do you miss being a lawyer?
I do especially when I am teaching business law to my students. But I enjoy teaching business, law, marketing and global studies. It’s fun. We even took second place in the Mock Trial Competition last year.
We hope that your students are looking forward to their trip to Honolulu in March for the Honolulu Festival. What are some of their plans?
Kamehameha High School
They look forward to riding on the airplanes, staying at a hotel, swimming in the hotel pool, going to Ala Moana Center and riding “The Bus”. (Maui just recently launched their own public transportation system.)
Your team has won three times. Do you have any suggestions to improve the competition?
I like the way it goes! The design can be more creative if the restrictions are few. Currently we are adding to an existing mikoshi and it is quite difficult to find "add ons" that are three dimensional with size restrictions. But I still like it!
Spoken like a true winner, the Honolulu Festival Foundation look forward to having Kealii and his students march in the 14th Annual Honolulu Festival.
Kealii Mossman is a high school teacher for the Business and Leadership Academy for Kamehameha Schools, Maui Camp. He is a former prosecuting attorney who changed his career upon realizing that it is better to teach our youth the right things at an early age rather than seeing them repeatedly commit crimes as young adults and having to punish them when it’s too late. Kudos to Kealii Mossman for making a difference in our community. 
What was the process including timeline that you applied with your students to produce your winning Maui Mikoshi design for the 5th Annual Competition? 
As soon as I get the notice, I show my Japanese Class I students (two classes of fifteen students) a video of the Honolulu Festival so they will get an idea of what the festival is all about. Most are not familiar with it. I then explain what a mikoshi is. Then we brainstorm ideas based on the theme. It’s great that there is a theme. I ask the students to keep on thinking and to discuss with their peers for two weeks. Then we regroup and have each student draw their design (I give each a photocopy of the pre-existing mikoshi design) and have them write a short explanation of its significance. The designs are shown to both Japanese Class I classes and the students vote. I take the designs with the most votes and reach consensus by combining the ideas that we like. It’s a team effort.
Our students must wear uniforms every day so anything that is "non-uniform" is appealing. I was able to take some of my students to Japan during the fall break last year. The students were interested in the traditional culture but more intrigued with Japan’s modern technology and fashion. They love the trends such as "Bathing Apes" which is a popular clothes line designed by a popular D.J. They love manga and anime and even do "tachiyomi" (read magazines in front of the racks without buying it at the convenience stores.)
