Hawaiʻi State Department of Education

Ka ʻOihana Hoʻonaʻauao o ke Aupuni Hawaiʻi

Hawaiian Education

​​Hawaiʻi is the only state in the country that has designated a native language, Hawaiian, as one of its two official state languages. In 1987, in light of the Hawaiʻi State Constitution mandate to promote the study of Hawaiian culture, language and history, the Department established the Hawaiian Studies Program and Ka Papahana Kaiapuni Hawaiʻi—the Hawaiian Language Immersion Program.

The knowledge of our kūpuna is the guiding light that directs our purpose in support of Hawaiian education. Hawaiian education leads to the development of a cultural lens that preserves core Hawaiian perspectives. Hawaiian education goes beyond content learning as it also includes internalizing and putting into practice the teachings of our kūpuna.

Programs

Hawaiian Studies

Students doing arts and crafts

Hawaiian Studies is a K-12 program that provides curriculum support and resources in the instruction and learning of Hawaiian culture, history and language. This may include integration of Hawaiian concepts and content into classroom lessons delivered by teachers and/or school-level cultural personnel resources.

The program was established in 1980 to implement the 1978 State Constitutional Amendment that mandated that the state shall promote the study of Hawaiian culture, history and language. During that time, a Hawaiian renaissance was in full swing and community leaders pushed for a more integrated educational system in Hawaiʻi, one that took into account important aspects of Hawaiʻi’s indigenous culture and history.

The Department’s efforts to comply with the constitutional requirement started in 1979 with a Kūpuna Program pilot developed by the Queen Liliʻuokallani Trust. In 1981 the Department adopted this program as a component for the Hawaiian Studies Program, gradually implementing it statewide to serve students in Grades K-6.

Knowledge, skills and practices that are an integral part of Hawaiian education include:

  • Ka mālama ʻāina – knowledge and stewardship of the land, ocean and sky.
  • Ka moʻolelo Hawaiʻi – knowledge and usage of the language, legends, stories and arts.
  • Ka nohona – knowledge and practice of Hawaiian culture and way of life.
  • Ka ‘ike kūpuna – knowledge and consideration of history, origins, genealogy and governance of Hawaiʻi.

Core Hawaiian perspectives in teaching and learning include:

  • Ka pilina — recognizing and honoring relationships and inter-connections.
  • Ka mahalo — displaying gratitude and appreciation.
  • Ke aloha — showing compassion and kindness.

Mission and Goals

The Hawaiian Studies Program provides the support and resources needed to implement the goals of Hawaiian education. To achieve this mission, the program goals based on BOE Policy 105-7​ (PDF) are:

  1. To support the incorporation of Hawaiian knowledge, practices and perspectives in varied content areas by assisting in the acquisition and use of resource materials.
  2. To support teachers and cultural personnel resources (CPR) in gaining knowledge of content which includes the culture, history, places and language of Hawaiʻi.
  3. To support community resources and resource people, such as CPR (e.g., kūpuna, makua, kumu) in ways to share their valued knowledge, skills and experiences that enhance and enrich learning.
  4. To support students in developing an understanding and appreciation of Hawaiian culture, history, places and language.
  5. To gather data and information that will inform program effectiveness.

Hawaiian Language Immersion Program: Ka Papahana Kaiapuni

The Department contributes to Hawaiian language revitalization by providing for K-12 Hawaiian language education. The Hawaiian language immersion program, Ka Papahana Kaiapuni, delivers instruction exclusively through the medium of Hawaiian language until grade 5, whereupon English is formally introduced. All families residing in Hawaiʻi have the option to enroll their children in a Hawaiian language immersion program. Within the organizational structure of the Department, Kaiapuni is supported by the Office of Hawaiian Education (OHE) and other state offices and complex areas.

Ka Papahana Kaiapuni goals focus on the development of a Kaiapuni lens connecting future generations with Hawaiian ways of knowing and being. At the urging of parents concerned with the need to extend Hawaiian language education for their keiki matriculating from the Pūnana Leo Hawaiian language immersion private preschools, the Department began implementation of pilot programs at Waiau and Keaukaha Elementary schools in the 1987-88 school year.

Since then, the program has grown, providing families with a Hawaiian language option for K-12 public education. There are 22 HIDOE sites and seven charter school sites. Through various models of Hawaiian immersion education at elementary, middle and high schools, six of the eight major islands are able to provide a K-12 immersion experience.

The Department also engages with the community, via the ʻAha Kauleo (‘AKL​), to collect stakeholder input on Kaiapuni implementation​. The ʻAKL is a community-based consortium of parent, teacher and administrator representatives from each school, as well as collegiate level representatives and community partners, such as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate (KSBE) and ʻAha Pūnana Leo. The group serves as advisors to the Hawaiʻi BOE and superintendent as well as advocates for quality Hawaiian language immersion education, and Hawaiian education in general. 

Kaiapuni standards, lessons and learning measures for all grade levels and support resources are provided for students, families and teachers at Nā Ana A‘o.

The success of Kaiapuni’s language revitalization is known globally. Other native peoples throughout the nation and world seek out our program educators to share their expertise through school visitations, conference invitations and various venues.

State Kaiapuni Distance Learning Program: Ka Papahana Keleaʻo Kaiapuni

The Department, through OHE, will use the Kaiapuni distance learning design to prioritize long-standing issues related to the educational infrastructure of Kaiapuni education. The virtual learning education program shall address student achievement through a flexible program design that will allow for:

  • A K-12 interdisciplinary approach to curriculum design.
  • Prioritizing ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi learning engagement.
  • Shared leadership and increased collaboration of Kaiapuni stakeholders.
  • The fulfillment of the Kaiapuni mission statement which is to:
    • Provide a culturally rich and dynamic learning environment.
    • Ensure excellence in the Hawaiian language, culture, history and ways of knowing.
    • Decision-making that empowers students to self-determine success and stewardship.

Contact ʻIlikea Kam or (808) 518-5364 with any questions.

about the Office of Hawaiian Education

In 2015 the Office of Hawaiian Education (OHE) was established under the Office of the Superintendent, a result of a policy audit of Hawaiʻi State Board of Education (BOE) policies pertaining to Hawaiian education and Hawaiian language immersion programs​.

Additionally, OHE was charged with the task of planning for the implementation of a new so-called ends policy. This policy, known as Nā Hopena Aʻo, provides for the expansion of Hawaiian education across Hawaiʻi’s K-12 public education system for all students and adults. Nā Hopena A‘o—or HĀ—is a Department-wide framework to develop the skills, behaviors and dispositions that are reminiscent of Hawaiʻi’s unique context, and to honor the qualities and values of the indigenous language and culture of Hawaiʻi.

Together, this work helps the Department meet its obligations to both BOE policies and the Hawaiʻi State Constitution (Article X, Section 4 and Article XV, Section 4​).

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