Family effort helps propel mom to degree

By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Education Writer

The clatter of children's voices fills the Kahue home in Nanakuli as Lisa and Henry's six children tumble in and out, watering the garden, helping with dinner, finishing homework.

Henry-William Kahue, 4, plants a kiss on the cheek of his mom Lisa at an honors ceremony surrounding her graduation from Chaminade University, after 10 years and six children. Clockwise from left: husband Henry Kahue, Henry-William, Lisa, Cassandra, Caroline, Christine, Celeste (back of head) and Catherine. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

She'll be honored as an outstanding student among Hawai'i's newest crop of home-grown teachers, a profession that's one of the most needed, not just in Hawai'i but nationwide.

But when Kahue steps onto the stage at Blaisdell Concert Hall to accept her Bachelor's of Education degree from Chaminade University of Honolulu, the honor will go not just to her, but to a family that has weighed in together to help mom finish a dream that began more than 15 years ago when she dropped out of school to have her first child.

It was her husband, Henry, project manager for a roofing company, who became chief chef and housekeeper and all-around "Mr. Mom." Henry's mother, Winona Kealoha, pitched in to care for the youngest — 4 years old — and invite everyone over for dinner every Tuesday when Lisa had a night class.

It was her children who were supportive when she went back to school, who competed with her for "A's", who helped her when she got stuck on the computer. "I felt really mature," said Caroline, a ninth-grader at Kamehameha Schools. "And I kind of noticed I could handle college."

"When I do my homework, they do homework with me," Lisa said. "It's a whole family function. There's homework time and dinner time and most of the kids are to bed by 8 o'clock. Even though my husband doesn't go to school he'll still help everybody with homework."

At 36, Lisa Kahue's passion for her children also has become a passion to teach. But it wasn't until her children were in school that she saw the need for more caring teachers in Hawai'i classrooms.

"I wasn't happy with the system," she said. "But instead of just complaining I thought I could go back to school and find out what I could do to make things better. There was so much need for teachers who cared."

It was also one of her professors, Jo-Anne Lewis, field services director for the education division at Chaminade, who warned her not to choose the profession without total commitment.

"With the teachers I say, 'If you're going out there as a job, you might think about something else," Lewis said, "because you need to be passionate about the kids. I think that resonated with her."

But there were days Kahue wondered if she had chosen correctly.

"Some days I think, 'How can I be a teacher when my kids won't even do what I want them to do sometimes?' " she said.

"But my husband is the one that gets me back on track. He gives me the pep talk that says it's OK. He'll say, 'It's not the end of the world. We can do it together.' "

Reach Beverly Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8013.