Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 6, 1 June 2001 — HO ʻONA ʻAUAO [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HO ʻONA ʻAUAO

[?]

Convention draws nearly 600 to discuss successes and challenges in Hawaiian education

By David Kekaulike Sing, Ph.D Editor's note: David Sing is director of Nā Pua No'eau, an educational program for gifted and talented Hawaiian students, and coordinates Ka Wai Ola o OHA's monthly education eolumn. While state government representatives i and teachers and | faculty unions were struggling : over contracts, Hawaiian educators were meeting at the second annual Native Hawaiian : Education Association Convention to see how teachers could help change education to better serve Hawaiian students. Nearly 600 Hawaiian educators joined together in March to network and discuss educational programs, challenges and solutions. Highlighted by keynote addresses by University of Hawai'i at Hilo Professor Manu Aluli Meyer and UH Mānoa professor Jon Kamakawiwo'ole Osorio, the two-day convention included an array of topics: Hawaiian education teaching license and Hawaiian standards; new teacher standards for teacher preparation; charter schools in Hawai'i; Native Hawaiians in research; culture education in prison; Hawaiian language revitalization through nonprint media; youth mapping; experiential education and learning; social justice through teacher education; cultural identity, literacy and schooling; impact of school-wide reading and behavior support initiatives on the performance of Hawaiian students; creating appropriate systems of education in native communities; guidelines for nurturing culturally healthy youth and guidelines for strengthening indigenous languages. Many other

topics were presented, providing the venue for broad discussion on issues in eduction that are challenging Native Hawaiians today. Educators eame from throughout the state and the continent. Convention participants were treated to a literary performance

by members of

"'Ōiwi, a Hawaiian Journal." In addition, exhibits dis-

played information on education pro-

grams and services available to Hawaiians. Following are comments from convention participants: "I benefitted from attending the conference because it was a fabulous confirmation of the work that has gone on in many sectors for the past 20 years. It was great to see many different programs represented, and many different beliefs about what Hawaiian Education means. The workshops were timely, interesting and powerful. I loved the energy, music and joy as I walked in. I loved seeing the displays while we were getting our lunches. I loved that we were outside with that eool breeze."(Manu Meyer, UHH) "While 1 am an associate member, not being Hawaiian, 1 have gained a closer feeling of what does Hawaiian education mean from the Hawaiian perspective. I gain the understand-

ing, and not just the info level of knowing. I feel honored to be included in the group of us pioneering the Hawaiian way of better educating our students to prepare for the global economy. "(Doug Knight, technology initiatives manager, Alu Like ine.) "The convention advanced the Hawaiian education efforts by presenting the

myriad of ongoing projects within our communities and what choices we have available to us when making decisions about the education of our families. The meeting also provided us with information on how groups ean collaborate to expand the depth and scope of their own programs. Learning more about what others are doing helps us eaeh to evaluate what we are doing individually, and seek out ways to be innovative to create that educational product that is rich and meaningful for all our students." (Kalepa Baybayan,project supervisor/curīieulum developer, Hale Kuamo'o). The Convention is hosted annually by the Native Hawaiian Education Association NHEA). This year's primary sponsors of the events were the Native Hawaiian Higher Education Program; Pacific Resources

for Education and Learning; Alu Like ine.; and the State Department of Education. Other sponsors included the Native Hawaiian Education Council, Kamehameha Schools, Native Hawaiian Community-Based Education Learning Centers, UHM's Native Hawaiian Leadership Program, 'Aha Pūnana Leo, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Queen Lili'uokalani

Children's Center and UHH s Hawaiian Leadership Development Program. For information on activities of the Native Hawaiian Education Association, contact Ku'ulei Tengan at 732-4479; Ka'imipono Kaiwi at 235-6066 (O'ahu); Lui

Hokoana and Hlnano Kaumehe'iwa - 984-3553 (Maui); David Sing at 974-7678 (Hawai'i); Nani Kawa'a at 567-9889 (Moloka'i); or Kamuela Ae'a at 245-6332 (Kaua'i). ■

No nā kumu ... Na wai ho'i e 'ole i ke akamai? He ala i ma'a i ka hehi 'ia e o'u mau kūpuna. l\vl Who ean deny this wisdom? It is a path well travelled by my ancestors. Kalanikualiholiho

Participants spent two days at Kapi'olani communtty college, working together to develop solutions to educational challenges.