Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 35, Number 9, 1 September 2018 — Keiki Kawai'ae'a [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Keiki Kawai'ae'a

R O L E M O D E L LEADERS

"From humble beginnings and through the tenacious commitment of its leadership, teachers and families, Ke Kula

'O Nāwahīokalani'ōpu'u has been a trailblazer in the advancement of Hawaiian medium education," says Keiki Kawai'ae'a, director of Ka Haka 'Ula O Ke'elikōlani College of Hawaiian Language. "William Demmert was a strong advocate of language revitalization programs, whieh makes this prestigious recognition a special honor." Ke Kula 'O Nāwahīokalani'ōpu'u is a laboratory school of UH Hilo and an extension of the Pūnana Leo language preschools, contributing to the P-20 mauli ola education system. Established in 1999, the school is located in Kea'au, Hawai'i Island, and operates as both a charter and state school within a single K-12 campus. ■