Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, 1 January 1984 — EDUCATION COMMITTEE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Gard Kealoha

We are in tenuous times. The expectations of the Hawaiian eommunity of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (notwithstanding the non-Hawaiian community) have been properly high for the past four years. The Halau Likolaulani O Hawaii has begun operations. lt is a demonstration pilot project utiliz.ing Hawaiian kupuna in bringing cherished cultural values and attitudes to our keiki. These experiences are designed to provide a firm foundation for exciting the inherent natural curiosity in our children. They develop self esteem and confidence and are nurtured by our kapuna, a generation of wisdom and a source of patient support. The children's experiences at Halau Likolaulani are important stepping stones to later educational achievement. Other efforts at establishing similar pre-school experiences are being made. Let us hope that the Waimanalo effort will develop into an excellent model for other similar community efforts. We commend the parishioners, board and Rector Fritz Minuth of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Waimanalo for their generous kokua in sharing an excellent setting for the school. Kupuna Lydia Hale, Niekie Hines and Project Director Aliee Youn deserve our unstinting support as leaders of this wonderful project.

The OHA Education Committee will respond to the Native Hawaiian Education Assessment Project Report at the Senate Hearing next February. A report sub committee chaired by Davianna McGregor-Alegado, Instructor at the University of Hawaii Ethnic Studies Department, has been meeting on the development of this response. OHA Kupuna coordinator Betty Jenkins has already received accolades for her work with the kupuna in our public schools. Enthusiasm is high and participants on Maui, Kauai, Hawaii and Oahu are impressed with the eoordinator's excitement, assistance and leadership. Education committee members participated in a conference on the Underrepresentation of Hawaiians in Higher Education at the Kamehameha Schools recently. The meeting was sponsored by the Hawaiian Studies Department at the University of Hawaii and the Kamehameha Schools. The Education Chair has met with State Superintendent Donnis Thompson and State Curriculum Chief Dr. Evelyn Klinekman on several occasions. The DOE top administrators have pledged their support for OHA's efforts in cooperative ventures. Plans for meeting with district level administrators and principals who oversee schools with high populations of Hawaiian students will be scheduled early next year.