Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 4, 1 April 2004 — Puanani Wilhelm named Outstanding Educator of the Year [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Puanani Wilhelm named Outstanding Educator of the Year

For Puanani Wilhelm, it's all about timing. "I've been blessed with many timely and good opportunities," said Wilhelm, who holds the post of administrator for the Hawaiian studies and language section of the Department of Education. "I'm very appreciative of this award. It's an honor." Wilhelm is the second recipient of the Native Hawaiian Education Association's (NHEA) Educator of the Year award, following on the heals of Nāinoa Thompson, the 2003 recipient. In addition, a posthumous award presented this year to writer/editor Māhealani Dudoit who died last year, and in 2003, to Gladys Kamakaūokalani 'Ainoa Brandt. The NHEA award is a spin-off of the former Ke Kukui Mālamalama Award presented by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. "Pōmaika'i. I've been blessed with many good things in my 17 years in the

Department of Education. I get to meet and work with a lot of good people - kūpuna, Hawaiian language teachers - it's a pleasure," Wilhelm said. In 1987, Wilhelm was convinced by language educator Pila Wilson to take a daring new career path. She became the first Hawaiian language immersion teacher at Keaukaha Elementary in Hilo. She also taught at Kapa'a Elementary, and in 1994, became the state Hawaiian language immersion specialist, the landmark program that she administers today. "For me, I think the greatest challenge is in gaining systemic support for the kinds of educational programs we think are appropriate for Native Hawaiian students. What I'd really like to do is teacher training at the college level. All teachers are required to have some knowledge of Hawaiian culture, language and history, and someone needs to develop that curriculum," she said. ■

7 'm very appreciative of this award. It's an honor ... Pōmaikal. l've been blessed with many good things"

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