OHA grant to support culturally-based academics for Native Hawaiians

The University of Hawaii at Hilo Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language has received a $100,000 grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The Moamahi project grant will assist in the production of the revised edition of the Nā Honua Mauli Ola Hawaiʻi Guidelines for Culturally Healthy and Responsive Learning Environments and its teacher preparation program Kahuawaiola.

The one-year Moamahi project will revise and publish edition two of the Nā Honua Mauli Ola Hawaiʻi Guidelines book which will contain a new toolkit section for students, educators, schools and institutions, community and families.

"More than 10,000 copies of the original book have been disseminated and are now being used by schools and programs across the state, nationally and internationally," said Keiki Kawaiʻaeʻa, programs director of the Hale Kuamoʻo Hawaiian Language Center. "In response to numerous requests, the revised edition will include a section on the cultural pathways, strategies and rubrics."

The project will also develop a team of culture-based/honua mauli ola teachers qualified to work in Hawaiian immersion settings, highly populated Hawaiian communities, and secondary education in Hawaiian studies and Hawaiian language Statewide through its Kahuawaiola Indigenous Teacher Education Program. Their task will be to initiate a new cohort during its phase one—Pale Kahikole, from June-July 2008.