KS In The News
Education With Aloha Ku‘i Ka Lono Conference Brings Together Hawaiian-focused Educators, Researchers and Students A ‘ ‘ohe pau ka ‘ike ka hälau ho‘okahi. ‘Ölelo No‘eau All knowledge is not taught in the same school; one can learn from many sources. ith a goal of sharing promising practices in Hawaiian-focused education, five major entities combined their efforts and shared their knowledge at the Ku‘i Ka Lono, 2006 Conference on Hawaiian Indigenous Education, Research and Well-Being. The multidisciplinary conference, featuring presentations by students, research scientists, and preparatory and college educators, was held at the Hawai‘i Convention Center in November. “Ku‘i Ka Lono” (to spread the news) is the name of the Nä Lei Na‘auao Native Hawaiian Charter School Alliance’s annual conference. For the first time, Kamehameha’s Research and Evaluation department combined its annual research conference with the charter schools’ event. When the state Depart-
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Shawn Kana‘iaupuni addresses the 2006 Ku‘i Ka Lono Conference on Hawaiian Indigenous Education, Research and Well-Being.
”It was fitting for our annual conferences to come together with an emphasis on what is working for Hawaiian children.” – Dr. Shawn Kana‘iaupuni ’83 ment of Education, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Nä Lau Lama Hawaiian Education Initiative brought their expertise and resources to the table as well, the collaborative effort provided a diverse forum to share ‘ike kühohonu (best practices) that improve educational outcomes for Native Hawaiian students through culturally responsible curriculum and instruction. “With many partners at the table, it was fitting for our annual conferences to come together with an emphasis on what is working for Hawaiian children and finding ways to share those stories face-to-face,” said Dr. Shawn Kana‘iaupuni ’83, direc-
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tor of Kamehameha’s Research and Evaluation department. “Our community focus through the Education Strategic Plan is helping to shape, support and fortify the leadership and incredible innovative spirit that exists in our communities,” she said. “Seeing people interacting, exchanging ideas, and building networks and relationships regardless of whether they were from Kamehameha, the DOE, a charter school or a university was very rewarding. Sometimes, it’s easy to let our organizational boundaries divide us, but so much depends on people and the
relationships they build to create a better future for our keiki and our ‘äina.” Dr. Kü Kahakalau, principal of Kanu ‘o Ka ‘Äina New Century Public Charter School and co-founder of Nä Lei Na‘auao, agreed that watching so many different entities coming together was the best thing about the conference.
Hawaiian-focused education is working, that we’re able to design and control quality models of education and that we should be given the right to do so. But all of us have to step up to the plate and provide leadership.” Kahakalau said that while she is very appreciative of Kamehameha’s support of Hawaiianfocused charter schools through its Ho‘olako Like program, which contributes $1 for every $4 the state provides to participating charter schools, other forms of support may be of even greater importance. She specifically cited a recent Kamehameha study that showed students in Hawaiian-focused charter schools are making noteworthy academic gains. “The money is definitely helping our schools, but it’s not the most significant part,” Kahakalau said. “Kamehameha is supporting issues that are looking at a bigger picture, and the collaboration level and the interest of Kamehameha in what we are doing is continuing to increase because of the data that we have – external research that we wouldn’t be able to afford if it wasn’t for KS. It’s just a huge thing.” Kana‘iaupuni agrees that research is clearly showing the success of Hawaiian educational approaches that have practical applications in the classroom – knowledge that all can benefit from. “Kamehameha’s statewide efforts to promote and guide multi-
“People need to know that Hawaiian- focused education is working.” – Dr. Ku¯ Kahakalau
“For so many years, we’ve all kind of worked together, and kind of knew what each other was doing, but we’ve never really come together to work toward a common collective vision and goal,” she said. “People need to know that
faceted collaboration and exchange are critically needed at this point in time. Our state is so small that it’s important for us to be able to relate as human beings with compassion for each other and to work together.”