Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 10, 1 October 1986 — Precious Treasures [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Precious Treasures

By Moses K. Keale Sr. Trustee, Kauai and Niihau

As they have in the past, some members of the State Board of Education are complaining about the quality of education on the island of Niihau. And as in the past, the complaints are the same old story. The BOE objects to a laek of control over the ehoiee of teachers and curriculum and

one Board member was amazed that the Bible is used as a school textbook. Any Hawaiian could tell him the importance of the Bible in Hawaiian families — it is an extremely important document for learning history, language, culture and geneaiogy — and it is written in Hawaiian. I have to agree with BOE member John Penebacker who said to his fellow board members: "When are you going to stop bel!y aching. . .and eome up with some conclusions? I really don'-t know if the people are dissatisfied with the education they are getting" (Honolulu Advertiser, Aug. 27, 1986). It seems that these same old concerns are surfacing again, attracting attention in the election vear.

The 35 students and 200 residents of Niihau are precious treasures to many Hawaiians of the community at large who clearly appreciate that Niihau is the last outpost for Hawaiian culture, language and lifestyle. As a Niihauan, it is my fervent belief that Niihau Hawaiians are worthy of protection from seductive assimilation unless it is their own desire. Why is the BOE trying to force Niihau children into a framework that is a proven failure to Hawaiians elsewhere in the state? Show us some successes in Hawaiian areas, some high Stanford Achievement T est, (SAT) scores, then maybe I would consider supporting changes on Niihau. But where are the programs?

Where are the textbooks in Hawaiian and English for whieh the Bible serves as a substitute? Give us something more than criticisms, complaints and the usual belly aching. And ask the people of Niihau what their ehoiee would be for education as it impacts on 35 ehildren of Niihau.

I am proud to aeelaim Claire Niheu and Jean Keale, both Niihau natives who left the island to become educated. They are University of Hawaii graduates. Niheu has a professional teaching certificate and Keale has a degree in elementary education. I consider it insulting that some BOE members imply that Niihau kids are being shortchanged educationally because the BOE doesn't control the hiring of teachers there. Would the BOE prefer to hire a graduate fresh out of some Midwestern college for Niihau as they do for other rural areas? Spare us that! We already have statistics showing that teachers of Hawaiian ancestry are not being hired by the Department of Education.

The very presence of Niheu and Keale on Niihau are showing this very unique and special group of students that they do have the freedom of alternatives in a bi-cul-tural world translated by two of their own. Don't force these students into the educational mold of mediocrity when they already have a special status. We have more than enough mediocre public school students throughout the state. What we need is more Hawaiians like the natives of Niihau. Aloha e Leimokihana, no ka hoihoi ana, mai i ke aloha i Niihau!

I mohala no ka lehua i ke ke'eke'ehi 'ia e ka ua. Lehua blossoms unfold because the rains tread upon them.—Mary Kawena Pukui.