Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 11, 1 November 2000 — Niʻihau school [ARTICLE]

Niʻihau school

The 'Aha Pūnana Leo has tried to resolve the situation surrounding the administration of Ke Kula Ni'ihau o Kekaha (KKNOK) with dignity and focus, but has been targeted pubhcly with baseless accusations and innuendo. While we remained silent until issues were resolved, Keao NeSmith's more recent attack (Sept. Ka Wai Ola o OHA) compels clarification. NeSmith's elaim that his group owns our school's name Ke Kula Ni 'ihau o Kekaha (Ni 'ihau School of Kekaha) was not supported by legal fmdings of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Also, contrary to allegations, students in the Hawaiian medium education program, including KKNOK, do leam English as a school subject. It is not "picked up." Via partnerships with educational agencies, our pedagogy is taken seriously. KKNOK is a school for the Ni'ihau community, the first in many generations to be educated in its mother tongue, following its publicly demonstrated dissatisfaction with Enghsh-medium education. Previously, all Ni'ihau children were taught using English eumieulum, whether they were schooled on their See LE I I ERS on page 3

LETTERS From page 2 home island of Ni'ihau or elsewhere, often as ESL (English as a second language) students. Despite the tiring assaults, we remain in Kekaha committed to serve the ehildren. Our program and presence exists because it is wanted. Student enrollment and family commitment there reflect this fact. Luahiwa Nāmāhoe 'Aha Pūnana Leo, Hilo