Crew Profile: Pomai Bertelmann
PVS Member Since
HOMETOWN:
Honolulu, Hawaii
PRIMARY DUTY:
Education Specialist
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:
Cultural protocol and crewmember
WORLDWIDE VOYAGE LEGS SAILED:
2017 Hawaiʻi Homecoming, Leg 9: Auckland, Leg 20: Virginia to New York City, Leg 5: Samoa to Aotearoa
Pomai was born and raised on the island of Hawai'i. Her family has been part of Hōkūle'a's legacy from her inception. Pomai has been a ritualistic member of Polynesian Voyaging Society since 2000. Her family and the community of Hawai'i is responsible for the building of the double-hulled voyaging canoe Makali'i, 54ʻ double-hulled voyaging canoe used to educate communities around the globe about voyaging traditions and the responsibility that we carry as voyagers to respond to the needs of the sustainability of our people and the earth. In 2007, Nā Kālai Waʻa and 'Ohana Wa'a completed the building of the Alingano Maisu, the voyaging canoe built for Papa Mau Piailug as gesture of gratitude for his selfless efforts of reconnecting with deep-sea knowledge and ways of knowing.
Pomai is one of the founding members of the ʻOhana Waʻa and is part of the design and implementation team for the ʻOhana Waʻa, 'Imi Naʻauao Crew Training experiences that train members of all the voyaging groups both in Hawai'i as well as internationally in the traditions of wa'a. These events happen annually, enabling skills to be developed and fine tuned that support the crew pool of the current Mālama Honua World Wide Voyage. She is also a middle school instructor at Kanu o Ka ʻĀina Charter School where students are reared through the cultural lense of project based learning while solving real world issues as 21st century stewards. The environment they live in is their classroom, their community their advisors, and their intuition their guide on their course to solutions. Pomai believes, “When you have a dream or a vision in your mind, through constant pule, instruction, modeling, and practice it happens – it comes to life and it becomes part of you. In working with my students I learn everyday to trust in my abilities in the Kanaloa. It is my job to be the best that I can be physically, to remember that I am a student of the environment, for the environment, and for my kupuna. I am constantly reminded that my actions will be represented by my students, so how I do what I do in their presence is the most essential component of my relationship with them.”
Over the past eight years, Pomai has served Nā Kālai Wa'a as the Project Coordinator for the Kūlia I Ka Pono summer enrichment program that serves over 150 students annually from Hawai'i and abroad. This partnership between Nā Kālai Wa`a and KS Enrichment emphasizes the values contained within the ʻōlelo no'eau “He wa'a he moku, he moku he wa'a", your canoe is your island, your island is your canoe especially because it helps students, teachers, and community members to understand their role and kuleana to mālama their island, their community, and their 'ohana. More recently, she served as an advisor the PVS A'o Hawai'i Teacher training cohort.
Since 1995, Pomai has sailed multiple deep sea voyages on the canoes Makali'i, Hōkūle'a and the Alingano Maisu making passages between Hawai'i, Tahiti, Majuro, Federated States of Micronesia, Yap State, Samoa, Tonga, Japan and New Zealand. Most recently Pomai served as the education specialist and protocol officer on the World Wide Voyage leg 5 from Samoa to Vavaʻu and Tongatapu to Aotearoa.
Pomai is one of the founding members of the ʻOhana Waʻa and is part of the design and implementation team for the ʻOhana Waʻa, 'Imi Naʻauao Crew Training experiences that train members of all the voyaging groups both in Hawai'i as well as internationally in the traditions of wa'a. These events happen annually, enabling skills to be developed and fine tuned that support the crew pool of the current Mālama Honua World Wide Voyage. She is also a middle school instructor at Kanu o Ka ʻĀina Charter School where students are reared through the cultural lense of project based learning while solving real world issues as 21st century stewards. The environment they live in is their classroom, their community their advisors, and their intuition their guide on their course to solutions. Pomai believes, “When you have a dream or a vision in your mind, through constant pule, instruction, modeling, and practice it happens – it comes to life and it becomes part of you. In working with my students I learn everyday to trust in my abilities in the Kanaloa. It is my job to be the best that I can be physically, to remember that I am a student of the environment, for the environment, and for my kupuna. I am constantly reminded that my actions will be represented by my students, so how I do what I do in their presence is the most essential component of my relationship with them.”
Over the past eight years, Pomai has served Nā Kālai Wa'a as the Project Coordinator for the Kūlia I Ka Pono summer enrichment program that serves over 150 students annually from Hawai'i and abroad. This partnership between Nā Kālai Wa`a and KS Enrichment emphasizes the values contained within the ʻōlelo no'eau “He wa'a he moku, he moku he wa'a", your canoe is your island, your island is your canoe especially because it helps students, teachers, and community members to understand their role and kuleana to mālama their island, their community, and their 'ohana. More recently, she served as an advisor the PVS A'o Hawai'i Teacher training cohort.
Since 1995, Pomai has sailed multiple deep sea voyages on the canoes Makali'i, Hōkūle'a and the Alingano Maisu making passages between Hawai'i, Tahiti, Majuro, Federated States of Micronesia, Yap State, Samoa, Tonga, Japan and New Zealand. Most recently Pomai served as the education specialist and protocol officer on the World Wide Voyage leg 5 from Samoa to Vavaʻu and Tongatapu to Aotearoa.
Pomai Bertelmann: Related Posts
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Mālama Honua Summit | Inspirational Speakers Series: Part 1
A gathering of leaders from throughout the Pacific discuss the legacy and future of voyaging traditions at the Mālama Honua Summit. -
Hōkūleʻa Update | May 26, 2017
Hōkūleʻa crossed the equator, marking an important milestone in her journey north from Tahiti back to Hawaiʻi. -
Hōkūleʻa Update| May 18, 2017
The crew and navigation team are off to a strong start under their captain Pōmai Bertelmann by sighting Makatea 120 miles out of Tautira. -
Hikianalia Update | Kawaihae
Some highlights from Hikianalia's visit to Kawaihae in March 2016. Written by Pomai Bertelmann. -
Give Me Your Children
A love and respect for ʻāina or place is tied to an aloha for ʻohana… ties that are more than evident here in Waimea, home to the voyaging canoe Makaliʻi that was built by some of Hōkūleʻa’s original crewmembers. And now their own children are training even younger voyagers, who are well-connected to and care deeply for this place. -
Mālama Waʻa in Aotearoa
As their mālama honua journey throughout the Pacific comes to a close the crews made time to mālama the waʻa that have sustained them – over 3,500 miles thus far! -
Stories of Place | Tāne Mahuta
Mālama Honua is not just about the canoe traveling around the world. Mālama Honua is how we have the ability to thrive if we work together. -
Crew Blog | Pomai Bertelmann: Time for a Cool Change
inIn one breath, we are reminded that we are kanaka honua. men of the land, and that there is a point after our time on the ocean when we must return home. -
Update | Waiting for Waitangi
inHōkūleʻa Watch Captain Pōmai Bertlemann provides an update on the crew and canoes as they prepare for the Waitangi ceremony on November 15, 2014. -
Crew Blog | Pomai Bertelmann: We are Led by a Great Man
In many ways he is the kaula - the rope that binds, the man who possesses many intuitive skills. He is one of a few who can harness the energies of the ocean, land, and sky and center them all on the deck of the canoe. -
Crew Blog | Pomai Bertelmann: What Guides Us
A plaque sits in the aft hatch of the canoe and memorializes all those who committed themselves and their lives to the legacy of waʻa. These men and women sacrificed, so that we could be here today, sailing on this vast ocean of Moananuiākea in the wake of our predecessors. -
ShoutOut | Pomai Bertelmann: Keaʻau and Pāhoa High Schools
Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia crewmembers send their aloha to the students and ʻohana of Keaʻau and Pāhoa High Schools. -
Hōkūleʻa, Waʻa Aloha
Throughout the voyage, we have been playing this guitar that belongs to Kaʻau McKenney. Between this guitar and the environment that surrounded us came all the inspiration for words and music. -
Blog | Pomai Bertelmann: The Burden of Maui
inThe people of Tongatapu in the Kingdom of Tonga claim Maui as their son who is responsible for many invaluable feats.
