As a sixth generation kumu (hula teacher), Pomai Krueger’s understanding and passion for his native Hawaiian culture he said was instilled in him at a young age. He shared he was inspired by his parents, grandparents and past hula teachers.
Krueger said, “They are all my mentors, and without them giving me any knowledge, I wouldn’t be able to pass it on.” Passing on his knowledge of the Hawaiian culture is something Krueger said he does every day
at the Polynesian Cultural Center. As the Hawaiian cultural specialist at the center, Krueger inspires, teaches and mentors the students who perform there.
Growing up in Maui, Krueger said he was taught the importance of the gospel and his cultural traditions. For both, family was central. He said, “Family comes first over everything else. Those are the values we grew up with and those values are what brought us joy.”
Krueger’s upbringing was not always idyllic as he watched both of his parents work hard to provide for him and his siblings. With his mother working full time and his father working multiple jobs, they still made time for what was most important. He said, “It’s expensive to live in paradise, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.
“It’s probably the best place you can grow up, but I know my parents had a hard time. This is why I'm grateful for the gospel because it helps give us a good perspective. It keeps what matters most at the forefront.
“Growing up, we were committed to performing hula.” From a young age, Krueger performed at various cultural events and competitions. His years of dancing ultimately led to his pursuit of teaching hula as a career. Today, Krueger has four hula halaus (hula schools) located in Japan, Virginia, Maui and Oahu. His role as a Kumu Hula continues at the Polynesian Cultural Center.
“My job at the PCC is basically to run all of the cultural content when it comes to Hawaiian culture. I’m responsible for what they learn and how they learn it.” As the cultural specialist at the Hawaiian village, most of Krueger’s work is done behind the scenes.
He said, “My interactions with the guests are limited. My job is to empower the employees who interact with the guests. I am constantly inspired by the students and their desire to learn. They have questions, they’re eager and they work hard.”
Krueger explained while it’s exciting to teach the guests about Hawaiian traditions, there is something even more special about teaching the native students about their culture. He said, “It resonates with them. It’s in their genetic makeup. It’s a seed that has all of a sudden sprouted. Interacting with the students and seeing them understand these very ancient cultural practices and traditions is what brings me joy.”
Kepueli “Kepu” Huhane, a former dancer in the Hawaiian village and an alumnus of BYUH, spoke of his experience while working with Krueger. He said, “When I first met Pomai, I could feel his passion and love for hula. Before teaching us, he would sit everyone down and tell us the stories behind each dance.” Huhane said he was constantly amazed as he watched Krueger give meaning and purpose to the motions. “It brought hula to life.”
As a Kumu Hula, Krueger is able to watch his students transform. He said, “First, they’re uncomfortable, and then they begin to recognize the motions. Eventually their body begins to naturally lend itself to the movements and then all of a sudden, their spirit understands, and when they perform, they transform.”
Huhane explained as he grew closer to Krueger, he came to understand his knowledge was not limited to hula. He said, “Pomai is a young Kumu, yet so very talented. His knowledge runs deep, not just in hula but how to live the Hawaiian ancient way of life. The unique opportunity to work in the Hawaiian village showed me just how talented Pomai was. When he was tending to the lo’i with the kalo, he was quite knowledgeable.
“When he was teaching us hula, it was clear he lived and breathed the knowledge that he was teaching us. He would sew our costumes and teach us how to make lei polo. He would teach us how to chant and teach us the meaning of the chants. He was the embodiment of those who had gone before him. I have a lot of respect for him and am so grateful for his influence.”
Wallace Pelesasa, from Samoa and a student in Krueger’s halau, said, “Pomai is one of the few people I’ve met who not only talks about and shows their pride in their culture [but] has a gift of connecting with the ancestors of the land.
“I say that because he speaks about the ancestors of others as if they were his own, as if he personally knew them, walked with them and loves them. His respect towards his culture and its history is very strongly rooted. In many ways, as a student of Kumu Pomai, I am blessed to see how beautifully congruent his character is to our Savior.”
Krueger recognized the unique nature of his profession. He said, “I feel gratitude to have the opportunity to work and get paid for practicing my culture. I recognize that. I feel quite blessed that I get to go to a job where I'm able to spend my day enjoying my cultural practices. It’s a blessing.”
