Hawaiian Learning

A century ago, Native Hawaiians were one of the world’s most literate population groups. Native people were navigators, scientist, explorers, lawyers, judges, statesmen, doctors, teachers, and writers. There were more than one hundred Hawaiian language newspapers in circulation expounding on local issues, government challenges, trade concerns, foreign relations, and international politics. Native people were vibrantly engaged in every aspect of public life. Early western explorers and traders who arrived at what became known as the Hawaiian Islands consistently described the Native people as strong, healthy, and robust. Historical records reveal that early Hawaiians were lovers of reading, mathematics, and science. The Native people’s enthusiasm and propensity for learning has been described in books, journals, and newspapers compiled by early educators.

Over the course of the next years those advancements were significantly eroded to alarmingly dismal statistics. Those statistics can be changed. Today we should have as a leading goal to reverse the tragic decline in academic achievement, to stimulate an inherent joy of learning, and to reconnect students and their families to their cultural legacy of exploration, inventiveness, and excellence. We need to enthusiastically engage children, youth and families in culturally based training and activities that will reawaken a natural enthusiasm for learning. It is our belief that when students are passionately involved in their learning and are supported by family and community, their likelihood of educational succes and seeking further education is significantly increased. 

To this end we must support Hawaiian Language Immersion learning, Hawaiian Based Public Charter Schools, programs like Na Pua No'eau, and many others like it. We must create after-school and summer programs in which excellence in learning and a Hawaiian cutural base are the foundation. With these efforts our children's progress and achievements will be assured. Our future depends on it.