Hawaiian Language Medium Education – Act 133 2004

Hawaiian Language Medium Education – Act 133 2004 Patricia Hamamoto, Superintendent Pila Wilson, Ph.D., UH Hilo Namaka Rawlins, CEO, Aha Punana Leo April 25, 2007

Outcomes Understanding of: • The Hawaiian Language Medium Education requirement • History of Hawaiian Language Medium Education • Example: Nawahiokalani’opu’u School • Next Steps

What is total Hawaiian Medium? • Everything in Hawaiian…Administration, secretaries, play ground talk, even in English classes • Like going to a special place… imbued with pride, structure, culture, traditions, symbols, ritual…a learning place • P-20 Learning environment..all in Hawaiian

Hawaiian Medium Education is not new David Malo, First DOE Superintendent (1793-1853) All Hawaiian Public School System, the second oldest in the nation started in 1841

Iosepa Nawahi (1842-1896) Legislator, Lawyer, newspaper publisher, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Artist…product of Hawaiian Public School system • To age 11 Kaimu, Puna Common school (Hawaiian Medium) • To age 15 Hilo Boarding (Hawaiian Medium w/ English as second language) • To age 19 Lahainaluna (Hawaiian Medium w/ English and Greek as second languages) • To age 20 Royal School (English Immersion)

At the time of annexation in 1898, the average literacy rate* in Hawaii was high! *Literacy in their Mother tongue Hawaiian 84% (31% in English also) Part-Hawaiian 91% (76% in English also) Portuguese 28% Other Caucasian 86% Chinese 49% Japanese 54%

Historical Perspective • 1930’s –Hawaii • Creole English • Mark of lower socio • Economic class 1841 – Hawaii DOE – Hawaiian Medium 1893 Monarchy deposed 1896 – Hawaiian Medium System Closed – Hawaiian Forbidden Educational Achievements of Native Hawaiians plummet 1980’s – Hawaiian Literacy lower than 100 years earlier

Beginning to restorea language, a culture and pride 1990’s – Creation of Hawaiian Immersion schools 1989 – State Funds Hawaiian Immersion curriculum in Hilo 1987 – Emergence Of Hawaiian Immerson Classrooms in Hilo, And Oahu 2004 – Act 133 Hawaiian Language Medium Education Act 1986 – State removes Ban on Hawaiian in schools 1984 – Punana Leo Preschools begin

An example that it can be done! Nawahiokalani’opu’u Laboratory School

First Impressions

For the record…Students • Open to all regardless of ethnicity – about 200 students • Over 95% Hawaiian • 60% Free and Reduced Lunch • Primary home languages • Hawaii Creole English (majority) • Hawaiian (fastest growing) • Standard English • French • 100% graduation rate since first class in 1999 • Greater than 80% college attendance – like Stanford, Oxford, Loyola Marymont, Seattle University, UH, etc • K-12…even a nursery, day-care center for 1-4 year olds

Curriculum • All classes taught through Hawaiian • Early reading using old DOE method of reading by syllables beginning in Punana Leo preschool • College preparatory curriculum • Early enrollment at UH- Hilo for seniors • Attention to heritage languages: • Grades 1-6: • reading Hawaiian with Chinese characters • Japanese • Grades 5-12: English (Standards based DOE language arts) • Grades 7-9: Latin (focus on comparative grammar of Latin, Hawaiian, standard English, Hawaii Creole English, Vocabulary building and language history

Curriculum Continued • Hula, Hawaiian music and chanting • Hands on practicum: • Raising and preparing foods • Herbal medicine • Raising pigs for year end luau and profit • Swimming and fishing

Seamless infrastructure with family values ingrained – the older students help the younger ones 7-12 DOE Public School part of Hilo High/ Inter K-6 Charter School Private Punana Leo Nursery & Day-Care

Act 133 provides anopportunity for expansion • Nawahi is the “exemplar” for this kind of educational opportunity in the US “The impact of the Hawaii Language Medium Education System will be immense for the number of Native language programs throughout the country that are closely following the Hawaiian model” Akira Y. Yamamoto, Ph.D. Professor of Anthropology and Linguistics University of Kansas, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Co-chair, Unesco Ad Hoc Group on Endangered Lauguages

The model at Nawahi is fundamental in education…. Systematically implement the goal of a global citizen Maintain data driven striving for Continuous Improvement in Academic achievement/ Life skills Gaining stakeholder support from the Community at large to instill pride Provide children a grounded framework for learning: rituals, culture, safety, symbols

Next Steps • Expand and research Nawahi as a prototype Hawaiian Medium School • Develop a supportive and inclusive Hawaiian Medium Education structure • Utilize some of Nawahi innovations in English Medium schools • Offer Hawaiian language for free in all DOE Adult Community Education schools

Hawaiian Language Medium Education – Act 133 2004