Support for Molokai’s Hawaiian Language Immersion Families

Hui Makua o ke Kula Kaiapuni o Kualapuʻu News Release

The “Hui Makua o Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Kualapuʻu” recently announced a grant award totaling $40,000 that will support the Native Hawaiian community through the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA). The grant will help to reinforce and strengthen Native Hawaiians’ connections to ‘ohana (family), moʻomeheu (culture) and ʻaina (land and water) and support work in OHA’s Mana I Maoli Ola Strategies and Outcomes.”
This school year, ʻohana of Hawaiian Language Immersion Program (HLIP) students on Molokai will have access to an assortment of opportunities to support their HLIP students at home. Family members may participate in La ʻOhana workshops, Hui Kamaʻilio, conversational Hawaiian language parent classes or access online immersion focused Hawaiian language courses as well as additional supportive ʻolelo Hawaiʻi resources like audiobooks.
The HLIP on Molokai include Punana Leo o Molokai, Ke Kula Kaiapuni O Kualapuʻu and ʻO Hina i ka Malama at Molokai Middle and High Schools. Immersion students’ ʻohana of all four schools have access to this year’s resources, thanks to funding through an OHA project grant and matching funds from Hui Makua o ke Kula Kaiapuni O Kualapuʻu.
“Ke Ao ʻOlino,” its relevance and pilina to this OHA funding opportunity is apparent and also inspired by “Ua ao Hawaiʻi ke ʻōlino nei,” as it shines light on the need for effective Hawaiian based educational models to push education into a new era of enlightenment.
“We, on Molokai, see our keiki as shining kukui, and our schools, teachers, families and community as the natural world around which the kukui will grow and eventually become the leaders of tomorrow who will develop into those torches of light for our lahui and the world to see and follow. This funding opportunity will help our consortium develop a base for how the family can engage in their keiki’s education and nurture their growth across multiple schools of learning through Hawaiian Language and culture,” said Kaʻala Fay Camara, Board Director of Hui Makua o Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Kualapuʻu.