Charles Kalakaumaka Kekoa Ranum (he/him) lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota and has a B.S. in Theatre Arts from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Upon graduating High School, Charles enlisted in the Army but was injured and discharged. He pursued a communications degree before transferring to the theatre department. Halfway through the program, Charles found out he had cancer and spent the next two years in treatment and continuing school. During this time, the play Discharged was written and submitted to KCACTF Region 5, where it was selected to be performed, and was awarded a Gary Garrison Semi-Finalist Award and the William Inge Theatre Festival Award.