Aloha mai kākou!
Welcome to the Fifteenth Annual Ku’i ka Lono
Indigenous Education Conference
Ku’i ka Lono allows us to celebrate the incredible progress experienced by our students who play a huge part in this annual event. Collectively, these students are living proof that EA-Education with Aloha© is working and that native people can design, control and evaluate quality models of education that allow Hawaiian students to reach their highest level and walk comfortably in multiple worlds.
We are excited to share this with a wider audience at this, our 15th Annual Conference. As such, we are pleased to be partnering with the Innovative Schools Network to bring you this one-of-a-kind experience.
Nä Lei Na‘auao – Alliance for Native Hawaiian Education (NLN) was founded in 2000 by Native Hawaiian educators, parents and community members from throughout the archipelago. NLN’s mission is to establish, implement, and continuously strengthen models of education throughout the Hawaiian islands and beyond, which are community-designed and controlled and reflect, respect and embrace ‘ōlelo Hawai’i, ‘ike Hawai’i, and Hawaiian cultural values, philosophies and practices.
Aligning with worldwide Indigenous educational reform efforts, NLN is using the national charter school movement as a vehicle to provide viable choices in education at the community level. NLN also partners with Hawaiian organizations and others interested in closing Hawaii’s achievement gap, to create a system of education that is culturally-driven, community-based, family-oriented and results in the establishment of sustainable communities, particularly in Hawaii’s rural areas.
Currently, there are thirty-four public charter schools in the State of Hawaii, seventeen of which are Hawaiian- Focused. Each NLN school is unique, rooted in its place and shaped by its community resources. Yet, all schools are united through a common practice of EA-Education with Aloha©, developed collectively over the past sixeen years. EA-Education with Aloha© balances culturally- driven approaches with the latest in educational technol- ogy. Grounded in the wisdom and values of our ances- tors, EA-Education with Aloha© strives for an atmosphere of care and congeniality permeating throughout the en- tire learning ‘ohana. In addition, curriculum, instruction and assessment are tailored to native learning styles and multiple-intelligence featuring interdisciplinary and in- teractive education, hands-on activities, project- and place-based learning and multi-age groupings.
Research conducted by Kamehameha Schools asserts that a growing base of evidence confirms the academic success of NLN schools. Research also confirms that Hawaiians in public charter schools perform better on standard- ized reading and math tests and are significantly less chronically absent than Hawaiians in standard public schools. Furthermore, NLN schools have high levels of school engagement and positive achievements due to culturally grounded, strength-based approaches, which are sensitive to student and family needs. Internal indigenous action research conducted by NLN also confirms the effectiveness of innovative, community-based approaches, which are at once ancient and modern.TRAVEL LOGISTICS
Flights Possibilities:
United: https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/
Hawaiian: https://www.hawaiianairlines.com/
American: https://www.aa.com/homePage.do
These are the carriers that provide the most flights in and around the Hawaiian islands
Car Rentals:
Kona Airport is one hour away from our campus and Hilo Airport is about one and a half hour away from our campus.
Go to: www.avis.com OR www.budget.com
Other Activities to Do During the Conference - Hawaii in February
Lodging:
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel--- www.princeresortshawaii.com
Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel--- www.hapunabeachprincehotel.com
Fairmont Orchid Hotel--- www.fairmont.com/orchid
Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows--- www.maunalanibayhotel.reservations.com
Waikoloa Beach Marriott--- www.marriott.com
Hilton Waikoloa Village--- www.hiltonwaikoloavillage.com
OR
2 small motels are located in the immediate area Waimea/Kamuela area, about 5 minutes away from our campus. Note-they are single or double occupancy. Some rooms have amenities, please be sure to indicate services needed.
Kamuela Inn--- www.thekamuelainn.com
Waimea Country Inn-- www.castleresorts.com