Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 9, 1 September 1986 — Punana Leo Given Puhi Camp Permit [ARTICLE]

Punana Leo Given Puhi Camp Permit

The Kauai County Planning Commission on July 23 I gave its approval to 'Aha Punana Leo to operate its pre school for 2 to 5-year-olds in whieh only Hawaiian is spoken in facilities at the old Puhi Camp site west of Kauai Community College. Approval eame only after lengthy presentations by parents, teachers, organizations, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and members of the community expressly concerned with the preservation of Hawaiian language and culture.

In testimony submitted to the commission, Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Moses K. Keale Sr. noted: "The richness of Hawaiian life is discovered in the richness of the language. As we speak Hawaiian, we think Hawaiian and Punana Leo, whose primary purpose is to teach the Hawaiian language to children in their early learning years, is ensuring the perpetuation of a living language and culture." Keale added: "OHA does seek to fulfill its purpose as an assisting organization by playing an active role where Hawaiian culture is affected and by conducting advocacy efforts on behalf of other organizations with respect to cultural affairs."

He urged the commission to grant the permit "thereby permitting Punana Leo to reopen in Puhi Camp so they may eonhnue to promote and preserve the Hawaiian language in a broader section of the community." Byron Hokulani Cleeland, who with Keale is among

the founders of La Ho'oulu Hawaii language day held annually on Kauai, to!d commissioners lt Vvu5 important for 'Aha Punana Leo to move from its Kekaha site because Puhi would be more accessible to a lārger population. At Kekaha, he noted, the enrollment never reached its minimum of 15.

By only word of mouth that the school contempiated moving to Puhi, enrollment applications have already topped 18, Cleeland said. He explained that the school hopes to open at the new location this month. Also speaking in favor of granting the permit applieation was Grove Farm executive David Pratt who said his organization would maintain the road to the school site and hinted other help would be afforded to meet all requirements.

According to Cleeland, who also is Hawaiian language instructor at both KCC and Kauai High School, tuition for 'Aha Punana Leo is $130 a mo: in cash plus $40 a month in participation efforts (about eight hours of time helping with chores at the school). Parents of pupils put in a total of $170 in cash and work per month for the school, according to an estimate made by Cleeland. Now that approval has been given there is mueh work to do to get the cinder block building ready for classes, Cleeland said. Some structures on the site must also be removed, he added.