hanahau‘oli is Joyous Work
Hanahau‘oli School nurtures life-long learners – children, teachers, and parents. Since the school’s founding in 1918, Hanahau‘oli honors the natural way Junior Kindergarten - 6th Grade children learn – through doing – by making learning exciting, challenging and enjoyable. Our intimate and nurturing learning community supports connections between home and school and the world, respecting and celebrating the uniqueness of the Hanahau‘oli child while appreciating the interconnectedness that defines our learning ‘ohana. Grounded in tradition yet embracing of innovation, we perpetuate “joyous work,” committed to being a resource and symbol of learning’s potential.
Progressive Philosophy and Pedagogy Blog
Joyous Work in Action
Hanahau‘oli School Instagram
““Hanahau‘oli is my sanctuary, where I’ve met so many amazing people, friends, and teachers, have uncovered talents and discoveries, and most importantly, where I learned to use my hands and hear my heart.””
In 2023, visiting scholar Dr. Christoph Kühberger immersed himself in a variety of educational settings across O‘ahu, including Hanahau‘oli School. The blog to follow provides a window into the insights he had about how educators in Hawai‘i teach critical historical concepts like “change, continuity and context,” “perspective,” and the use of “historical sources and evidence” (see The College, Career and Civic Life Framework for Social Studies State Standards) in Hawaiian history. His unique observations, awareness, and perceptions about sometimes taken for granted approaches to teaching about Hawaiian history and culture today offer progressive educators important food for thought. He provides us all with tools for examining how static historical representations of people can shape the way students make sense of their world today and see the future.