Kūlia I Ka Pono is formulated to build on the success and innovative features of previous and current INPEACE projects: Keiki Steps and Ka Lama O Ke Kaiāulu Education Academy.
INPEACE’s professional development efforts in partnership with the University of Hawai‘i-Mānoa College of Education, Leeward Community College and the Native Hawaiian Community, have trained over 100 emerging teachers over the course of 10 years. Each of these projects demonstrated measurable early childhood educational outcomes, including increased child readiness for school, more
parent and family involvement in schools and communities, and more adult interest in pursuing education as a career.
The project’s focus is on supporting the educational needs of at-risk Native Hawaiian young children through the development and implementation of a professional development program for early childhood educators in Native Hawaiian communities. Professional development training will be linked to developmental and educational outcomes of approximately 300 children from 15 different sites on 3 islands.
One of the educational needs – as described in Sec 7202 of the Native Hawaiian Education Act – that puts Native Hawaiian children and youth at-risk is the fact that Native Hawaiians continue to be underrepresented in institutions of higher education and among adults who have completed four or more years of college. Kūlia I Ka Pono will address the ongoing need for Native Hawaiians pursuing education-related degrees and careers.
The project will address this need through the development and implementation of a comprehensive early childhood education professional development program that is culturally-based, that addresses academic and best-practice standards, that prepares participants for education-related careers in Hawai‘i, and that is linked to enhanced pedagogy and children’s learning outcomes.
Kūlia I Ka Pono will recruit 45 Native Hawaiian high school graduates from rural, socio-economically disadvantaged communities throughout the State of Hawai‘i to participate in the program.
