Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 1, 1 January 2010 — Free program helps keiki and parents learn together [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Free program helps keiki and parents learn together

By Lisa Asato Public lnformation Specialist When mother Lisa Pakele first heard about the Keiki Steps program, two things attracted her to sign up her third child, Dillon, who was then 3 years old. "The main reason I signed up was because it was free, and it provided me an opportunity to go with my child to a program and participate in his learning experiences," said Pakele, who is now program director of Keiki Steps and whose son is now in junior high. The preschool program, whieh caters primarily to Native Hawaiian children up to age 5, helped him develop social skills, such as sharing, and prepared him for kindergarten, said Pakele. "He was able to transition easily into the school setting," she said. "He knew about rules and routines and was able to follow directions." With her fourth child, a daughter, Pakele tried another preschool program but missed being able to engage in the activities with her. With Keiki Steps, Pakele went on field trips, learned alongside Dillon and attended parent workshops about the normal growth, progression and development of children at eaeh age. Before Keiki Steps, she said, she and Dillon would do some activities together, but "we were home all

the time . . . just me and him." "As a parent, you have to constantly think of things to do with your child," she said. "The program was able to provide those experiences for my child and for me to participate with him." The free program runs four days a week, three hours a day. Enrollment is open yearround for Keiki Steps, whieh is offered at 13 sites on three islands. Eight are on the Leeward Coast of O'ahu, four on Hawai'i Island and one on Moloka'i. The newest site is at the Ulu Ke Kukui transitional shelter in Mā'ili, O'ahu. INPEACE has also added "outdoor classrooms" in the form of gardens at its sites at Nānākuli Elementary School and Kamaile Academy, where parents and keiki learn about the value of Native Hawaiian plants and help in planting and harvesting. "Lamilies nowknow how to take that knowledge and create their own gardens at home with Hawaiian plants," said Pakele, adding, "so we're able to bring back Hawaiian knowledge and practices into the home, whieh is really just perpetuating our values, culture and traditions." Keiki Steps is a program of INPEACE, or Institute for Native Paeihe Education and Culture, whieh is a Native Hawaiian early childhood and workforce development agency that serves communities with high concentrations of Native Hawaiians. INPEACE focuses on three areas: early childhood,

higher education and leadership development. In addition to offering programs, it also hires and trains community members to staff its programs. Pakele said that training comes through workshops, classes and college courses to help staff "reach their educational goals." "We pay for the courses and we provide work time - whieh is a huge key," she said. "We provide them four hours a week to attend their college courses and do their homework. We've had 23 staff that have gone through our professional-development program and received their child development associate's degree, a minimum qualification to teach in a Hawai'i center. That is a huge eomponent of our program." Pakele, who worked her way up the ranks to heeome program director at Keiki Steps, also benefitted from the program's continuing education for staff. She said that kind of investment in people benefits the students, parents and staff, and in tum "builds stronger communities." Keiki Steps partners with the state Department of Education, Kamehameha Schools and Alu Like ine. on its early learning programs. INPEACE also offers a free summer program, Keiki Steps to Kindergarten, a twoto three-week program funded by Kamehameha Schools that works to prepare youngsters for kindergarten. For information, visit inpeace-hawaii.org or eall 620-9043 to register. ■

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At Keiki Steps at Barbers' Point, lead teacher Anna Mara teaches a small group of students, including Anthony Oquendo, in black T-shirt, Giselle Ramos and Jayden Clayton, how to make "Flubber," an exercise in whieh the students measure ingredients and mix them together. - Photo: Courtesy oīKeiki Steps