Lori Abreu, born and raised on Maui, is passionate about serving children and families of her island home. During her thirty-seven year career as an early childhood educator on Maui, Lori enjoyed many roles including that of preschool teacher/director, PE teacher for grades K-2, and facilitator for parent and child programs, parent and teacher workshops, and her own interactive storytelling program “Super Circles”. “Kumu Lori” spent her last seventeen years as preschool teacher at Kamehameha Maui Preschool Campuses before her retirement from teaching in 2019. Storytelling and music activities were always Lori’s favorite curriculum areas, and she is excited to realize her long time dream of publishing her first children’s book, complete with three original songs, to support the important rebuilding of Lahaina. Lori’s children will tell you, she first dreamt of winking whales back in the 1990’s! Lori especially thanks her husband Jim, adult children Rachel and Dane, wonderful illustrator Nicki and talented musician Kala`e for their loving support and enthusiasm!

Contact Lori at kumulorimaui@gmail.com

Nicki Barsamian grew up on Maui and attended Kamehameha Schools Maui Campus.  After graduating she ventured to the east coast and attended Dartmouth College where she met her wonderful husband Alex.  She pursued her degree in education and art and has taught social studies and art at all levels.  Her most recent position was at Kamehameha Schools at the middle school level. She left that position in 2019 to stay home with her three keiki and continues creating works of art through illustration for kids of all ages to enjoy!  Her passion is to use place as a vehicle for learning, creating, and connecting to the land. She is a member of Waipuna Chapel in Kula, Maui.  She is grateful that God has blessed her with a gift that can hopefully bless others.

Born and raised in Kihei, Maui, Kala’e Camarillo comes from a multi-generational family of musicians and music educators. In 2009, as a high school senior at Kamehameha Maui, he and his cousin Dane Lum Ho won the state wide talent search competition, “Band Champ,” which launched his music career.
Today, after three solo albums, he has received three Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards and has been nominated as one of Hawaii’s top male vocalists in 2020 and 2022. The day after the Lahaina fires, he wrote a song entitled, “Sands of Old Lahaina,” which he wrote with the intention of shining light on everyone affected by this tragic event. Kala’e continues to follow in his family’s footsteps as both an award winning musician and a music educator at Kapālama Elementary.