Puakea Nogelmeier is a kumu hula, linguist, scholar, researcher, writer and American composer of Hawaiian music and chant who is Professor Emeritus of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaiûi at MÃÂnoa and Executive Director of Awaiaulu. Nogelmeier was Professor at the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaiûi at MÃÂnoa. His translation of The Epic Tale of Hiûiakaikapoliopele won the 2008 Samuel M. Kamakau Award for books of the year.
Nogelmeier was born Marvin Nogelmeier. He was given the Hawaiian name, Puakea, by kumu hula Maiki Aiu Lake. "Puakea" translates to "fair child." Nogelmeier was trained in hula by Mililani Allen, learned Hawaiian chant from Edith Kanakaûole and Edith Kawelohea McKinzie. He learned much of the Hawaiian language and culture from Theodore Kelsey, Sarah NÃÂkoa, and Kamuela Kumukahi.
In 1999, Honolulu's public bus transportation service, TheBus, hired Nogelmeier to rerecord the voice announcements featured on the bus. Nearly 6,000 individual phrases and place names were recorded for the program. In the process, Nogelmeier researched each Hawaiian place name to ensure the most accurate pronunciation. The recordings have helped to standardize how people pronounce these names.
In 1984, Nogelmeier began teaching Hawaiian language at the University of Hawaiûi at MÃÂnoa. He retired in 2018 after teaching for 35 years.
Nogelmeier is openly gay.
Over the years, Nogelmeier has been nominated for more than two dozen NàHà Âkà « Hanohano Awards for a number of categories. He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021 at the 43rd NàHà Âkà « Hanohano Awards.
Hawaiian
Hawaiian-English
Language and translations
Hawaiian Culture