Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 11, 1 November 1991 — Teachers needed for Hawaiian education [ARTICLE]

Teachers needed for Hawaiian education

If you are iooking for a career in Hawaiian education, then look into Hawaiian medium education programs. For example, Punana Leo and Kula Kaiapuni Hawai'i are iooking for teachers for their programs.

"Right now, teacher population is low. There are not many Hawaiian language-speaking-teachers, except for those that are direc't graduates from the University (of Hawai'i-Hilo)," said 'Ekekela Aiona, a planning director for the Hale Kako'o O Punana Leo, a curriculum development center. "There is a growing need for teachers."

There are currently five Punana Leo preschools, with a minimum of three teachers per school. The state Department of Education (DOE) has established the Kula Kaiapuni Hawai'i (Hawaiian medium education) program in public schools for grades 2 to 5. "We're working on going preferably up to high school," said Aiona. "That's four major islands that have Hawaiian immersion DOE programs (that would need to be implemented)." She said she would also like to see all five major islands have

Punana Leo preschool programs. The only qualification for the Punana Leo program is that teachers be fluent in the Hawaiian language. 'Aha Punana Leo, the corporation that runs the program, works with the Punana Leo employees to improve their abilities in early education and Hawaiian. Those who wish to apply for the Kula Kaiapuni Hawai'i program must have a teaching certificate as well as be proficient in Hawaiian. Teachers should have studied at least four years of Hawaiian.

"What some people do is major in education, and in Hawaiian studies at the UH-Hilo. The education program there requires its students to major in something else besides education," said Aiona. The DOE has tuition waivers programs for education students who are fluent in Hawaiian. The Kamehameha Schools, federal government, and loeal foundations also provide scholarships for those interested in becoming a kumu (teacher) kaiapuni Hawai'i.