Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 5, 1 May 1993 — Learning and community go hand-in-hand in Papakōlea [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Learning and community go hand-in-hand in Papakōlea

by Jeff Clark It's Saturday moming, a time when the 'ōpio, released from the Monday-through-Friday school grind, get a ehanee to be kids again. There's the beach, sports, picnics, cartoons. ... But up at Papakōlea, there's something special going on. The community has taken a room with a table, some chairs, and a blackboard, combined these with the sincere desire to learn, and created a vibrant experience. Weleome to Kula no nā Po'e Hawai'i.

This particular Saturday, the moming before Easter, fīnds elementary students Jennifer Montez, Chanti Nicholas and Melissa Paalani preparing for the writing portion of the SATs by composing a short letter to the kumu telling about themselves. Then after some talk story about the need for complete sentences and subject-verb agreement, the haumana compose letters to their principals sounding off about the possible banning of pogs.

Because of the 'ohana activities occupying many students during the holiday weekend, it's a small group. But as kumu Liela Nitta says, "No matter how many eome, we'll be here. Even if there are just two students, we'll teach them." Kula no nā Po'e Hawai'i o Papakōlea, Kewalo, Kalāwahine (whieh translates to "school for the Hawaiians of Papakōlea, Kewalo and Kalāwahine homesteads") is an innovative "school" that holds classes Saturday momings for homestead residents who

feel they could use some extra kōkua in making the grade. Classes are held for elementary, intermediate and high school students, and the project is also helping adult community members get their high school GEDs. The school is run by the eommunity with help from Nitta, a lecturer and graduate assistant in the College of Education at UH. Nitta, who is Hawaiian, is working to get her doctorate, and her dissertation is on community

education for Hawaiian neighborhoods. Although Nitta conducted a session last summer, the school officially opened in November 1992. A school board was formed by the officers of the Papakōlea Community Association, whieh gives the school free use of its recreation center at Papakōlea Park. Nona Freitas, director of the community association and a Kula no nā Po'e Hawai'i volunteer, said, "Credit goes to all the parents who sit on the board. They believe in the work that we're doing, and that's what makes the difference. They have children in school, but their love is for the whole community, not just for their own. These parents are making a difference." OHA's education division funded last year's 4-week summer session, will do the same for this year's summer session, and has also provided some in-kind services, like printing materials. Kula no nā Po'e Hawai'i received $3,200 of the $196,274 in OHA tutorial money shared by schools statewide. OHA education officer Rona Rodenhurst said Nitta's work is exemplary because the school is "trying to empower the eommunity to provide for its own." Waiua Kaanapu is a Roosevelt High 10th grader who says he frequents Kula no nā Po'e Hawai'i because he "needs the help." Here's his view: "Some people say Hawaiian kids are dumb; I don't think so. If you just give us a ehanee, we get 'em." Seven to 10 students usually show up for the sessions. In the days following eaeh session, Nitta follows up by phoning parents, and, with parents' permission, visits the schools to monitor the child's progress.

Nitta acts as a bridge between parent and school, visiting with the teachers and administration and gradually acquainting the parent with the educators. Parents are the front-line teachers, Nitta said, and she is helping them "reclaim their right to educate their children." Taking their front-line positions as volunteers are JoeAnn Helekahi, Nani Kaheaku, Promise Kaanapu, Puni Kekauoha, Lani White, Nellie Kalamau and Winona Freitas. When work is complete and the two short hours eome to an end, everybody enjoys a little food, whieh is the Hawaiian way. "They don't eome here to eat, it's just part of it," Nitta said. "We work, and then we eat and have a little talk story and then we're pau." The doors to the hale are open as all this learning and sharing is taking plaee, and other neighborhood kids out enjoying their Saturday peek through the door, wander in and out, and filch the occasional pastry. They are wel-

comed by the kumu, and it's possible their curiosity may blossom into participation. For more information on Kula no nā Po'e Hawai'i, write Bob and Nona Freitas at 547 Kauhane St„ Honolulu, HI 96813, or eall Nona at 449-1580 (daytime) or 536-7161 (evenings and weekends). See you in school.

Jennifer Montez, left, and Chanti Nicholas practice writing. Photo by Jeff Clark

Educator Liela Nitta is helping Papakolea educate its own. Photo by Jeff Clark