Mahalo e Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath!

We are humbled and honored that our kumu's work in the community was acknowledged by Assemblymember of District 76, Tasha Boerner Horvath. Mahalo Tasha!

Each day during this #APAHeritageMonth, I will be lifting up North County community members whose contributions to our region deserve to be shared and celebrated.

Today, I want to recognize a Hula practitioner, teacher, and advocate of culture, art, and community, Ilima Kam Martinez.

A Native Hawaiian and long-time teacher of Hula dancing at her very own Ka Hula O ʻIlimaschool in Vista, Ilima has always felt a strong passion for sharing Hawaiian culture with others. Skilled in many Polynesian performing arts traditions, Ilima chose early in her dancing journey to focus solely on Hula. She believes it’s important for anyone learning Hula to also learn the significance of what the dances mean in Hawaiian culture. To become a more knowledgeable teacher, Ilima earned a degree in Indigenous Anthropology from CSU San Marcos, conducting collaborative fieldwork with local Native Hawaiian, Kumeyaay, and Oaxacan community members as part of her degree program. In addition to the regular classes she offers at the Hula school or “Hālau,” Ilima gives back to the community by partnering with the Oceanside Senior Center to offer free classes for seniors. She has served as both the Director of Youth Enrichment and the Director of Culture at Hui O Hawaiʻi of San Diego and is active with the civic club, 'Ahahui Kiwila Hawai'i O San Diego.

Thank you, Ilima, for sharing your talents and your culture with others and making #AD76 a better place to live!

#apahm202