Hawaiʻi is a truly unique and special place. Those fortunate enough to live here have a kuleana (responsibility) to care for the ʻāina (land), to support their kaiāulu (community), and to respect the host culture and Native Hawaiian people. But how does one truly learn about this special place, its culture, and its people? While signs, flyers, and public service announcements offer some insight, these touchpoints often remain superficial. To cultivate a deeper understanding and appreciation, it is essential to implement Hawaiian culture-based education in our education systems.
Hawaiian Culture-Based Education (HCBE) is a pedagogical approach focused on “the grounding of instruction and student learning in these [cultural] ways, including the values, norms, knowledge, beliefs, practices, experiences, and language that are the foundation of a(n indigenous) culture”(Kanaʻiaupuni, 2007, p.1), in this case Hawaiian culture. HCBE connects haumāna (students) to their local environment, culture, and community, making learning more relevant and meaningful. In Hawaiʻi, HCBE allows haumāna to engage with and understand the deep significance of the ʻāina they live on and foster a sense of belonging and local identity. It allows them to see their education in action within real-world challenges while cultivating a sense of responsibility to protect and sustain Hawaiʻi for future generations.
He Aliʻi Ka ʻĀina Educator Conference
To support educators in this essential work, the first ever He Aliʻi Ka ʻĀina Educator Conference is being held this October 10 and 11 and will serve as a transformative professional development opportunity for the greater community to learn more about Hawaiian Culture-Based Education (HCBE). This initiative is designed to integrate the principles of aloha ʻāina (love of the land) and ea (sovereignty, life) into educational practices. Led by a hui (group) of dedicated educators, community leaders, and cultural practitioners, the conference equips kumu (teachers) with the tools, resources, and networks necessary to incorporate place-based and HCBE into their classrooms. Through a series of in-depth workshops, participants engage in collaborative efforts to build pilina (relationships) between schools and community organizations, inspire meaningful actions, and increase the capacity for sustainable educational practices. The conference also fosters open dialogue, addressing essential cultural, environmental, and community issues. This approach aims to deepen educators' connections to ʻāina, Hawaiian culture, and their communities, empowering them to become informed and proactive stewards of Hawaiʻi. In turn, this provides a strong foundation for incorporating these values into their teaching practice.
The workshops offered at the He Aliʻi Ka ʻĀina Educator Conference are essential because they equip educators with the tools and knowledge to integrate culturally responsive education into their teaching, ensuring that lessons are relevant and meaningful for students in Hawaiʻi. Each workshop focuses on key areas that are crucial for fostering a holistic, culture-based learning environment, and will be centered on one of the following important concepts:
Culturally Responsive Education in Hawaiʻi: These workshops help educators understand and address the unique cultural backgrounds of their haumāna. By learning how to make their teaching more inclusive and reflective of Hawaiian values and perspectives, kumu can better connect with their haumāna and create a more respectful and engaging classroom environment.
Sustainability: Hawaiʻi’s ecological systems are both unique and fragile. Workshops on sustainability empower kumu to teach haumāna about the importance of caring for the ʻāina and making environmentally responsible choices. This ensures that students grow up with a sense of kuleana for protecting Hawaiʻi’s natural resources, as well as an understanding of global environmental issues.
ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi in the Classroom: The Hawaiian language is a cornerstone of Hawaiʻi’s cultural identity. Incorporating ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi into classrooms is vital for preserving and revitalizing the language, and it also helps all students—regardless of their background—develop a deeper appreciation and respect for Hawaiʻi's rich cultural heritage. These workshops give kumu the skills and confidence to use and teach ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, fostering inclusivity and cultural awareness while allowing haumāna to build stronger connections to the place they call home.
Hawaiʻi’s History: Understanding Hawaiʻi’s complex history is key to fostering informed, thoughtful citizens. Workshops that focus on Hawaiʻi’s history enable kumu to teach about the islands' past from a culturally appropriate perspective, emphasizing the significance and impact of events like the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom and the ongoing struggles for Hawaiian sovereignty. This context is critical for haumāna to grasp their own identities and the importance of civic engagement in their communities.
The program will kick off each day with inspiration from two kumu who model and perpetuate essential values of Hawaiian Culture Based Education. On Thursday, October 10, Dr. Kiana Frank will share ways Native Hawaiian knowledge systems demonstrate a profound understanding of the natural world, drawing upon her expertise in microbiome science in a talk titled, Moʻolelo and Microbes: Elevating STEM Education and Research Through Aloha ʻĀina and Ea. On Friday, October 11, world-renowned indigenous writer and thinker Dr. Manulani Aluli Meyer will engage conference participants in an interactive discussion aimed at achieving collective transformation through individual excellence in a talk titled, He Kauwa Ke Kanaka: The Door Opens Inward – Hawaiiʻs Role in World Healing.
In a place as unique as Hawaiʻi, the kuleana to care for the ʻāina, support our communities, and honor the host culture is vital. The He Aliʻi Ka ʻĀina Educator Conference equips kumu with the tools to bring HCBE and culturally responsive education into classrooms, fostering a deeper connection between haumāna and their environment, culture, and history. Through workshops focused on sustainability, ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, and Hawaiʻi’s history, educators are empowered to inspire haumāna to become informed, proactive stewards of Hawaiʻi. This approach not only strengthens their sense of belonging, identity and responsibility but also ensures that education in Hawaiʻi is both meaningful and relevant to the place they call home.
Works Cited:
Kanaʻiaupuni, S. (2007). A brief history overview of culture-based education and annotated bibliography. Kamehameha Schools, Research & Evaluation Division
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dr. Kēhau Glassco is a kupa of ʻĀhuimanu, Kahaluʻu, Oʻahu, and a dedicated native Hawaiian educator. As a long-time advocate for Hawaiian Culture-Based Education (HCBE), she believes in fostering environments where haumāna (students) thrive through a deep connection to their culture, language, and sense of place. A graduate of Kamehameha Schools and the University of Hawaiʻi-Mānoa, Dr. Glassco's academic and professional journey has focused on integrating aloha ʻāina into modern educational frameworks.
Currently serving as the interim Poʻokumu (Principal) of Kamehameha Middle School - Kapālama, Dr. Glassco continues to inspire haumāna and kumu (teachers) alike by promoting educational approaches that honor indigenous knowledge and cultural empowerment. With a passion for lāhui building, she is also committed to professional development for kumu, emphasizing the importance of pilina (relationships) and a collaborative, culturally grounded learning environment.
