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| OHA Community Outreach Specialist Kailene Nihipali presents an interactive workshop on Hawaiian Governance to students from Nā Pua No'eau at the Native Hawaiian Education Association convention. - Photo: Capsun Poe |
Hawaiian Governance educates
“How will you help your people?” Kailene Nihipali, a chaperone for Nā Pua No'eau, challenges students while driving them home. “Well, I wanna be an architect,” replies a young man, “so I could give internships to Hawaiian kids and build (another student's) school,” his voice rises with excitement. Others chime in and soon the van is buzzing with energetic dialogue and hope, kindled by the prospect of a future filled with possibilities and purpose.
The students were participants in the Native Hawaiian Education Association's ninth annual convention March 27 and 28 at Windward Community College. Nihipali, also a Community Outreach Specialist at OHA, and Capsun Poe, OHA Policy Advocate were there presenting “Ho'oulu Lāhui Aloha: Honoring Our Past, Securing Our Future,” an interactive workshop intended to be an exchange of ideas about the current political climate, the spectrum of Hawaiian governance efforts, and how they affect us.
As a Hawaiian mother and daughter, “Honoring Our Past, Securing Our Future” is a driving theme in Nihipali's life. “Hawaiians have three piko,” she explains, “at the top of your head, which connects you to your ancestors, at your navel, which is what you bring to the present, and at your ma'i, which connects you to your descendants. To be a whole person, you have to maintain the connection between all three – what you're doing now, how it respects and builds upon the work of your ancestors, and what it will prepare for your children.” Nihipali is passionate about her work with youth. “The youth are the future leaders,” she stresses. “And their parents are listening to see the impact we have on them, so we can make an impact on their parents, too.”
Hawaiian Governance staff have presented to classes at Kahuku Elementary and High School, Moloka'i High School, Ho'omana Hou, Aka'ula, Campbell High School, Kamehameha Schools' Maui Campus, Kaua'i Community College and the University of Hawai'i. Presentations are pend-
ing for 'Ānuenue and Island School. Staff have visited with families at Tūtū and Me sites around the state and hope to work soon with early education programs Keiki O Ka 'Āina, Alu Like, KS Hi'ilei and Nā Kamalei. There have been Kau Inoa registration booths at Pauoa Elementary Spring Fling, Kamehameha Schools' Ho'olaule'a, the 33rd annual Hawai'i College and Career Fair, Leeward Community College Ho'olaule'a and Chaminade's Voters' Day. Kau Inoa sponsorships supported the Ho'omau 2008 fundraisers for Hawaiian language immersion schools on O'ahu and Maui, and Valley of Rainbows' Youth Leadership Conference. Parents are starting to get involved as well – the Makakilo PCNC, or Parent Community Networking Center, has requested a Coffee Hour presentation.
Schools are natural hubs of community organization and collective visioning. As we build our nation, we can also look to Hawaiian immersion schools and Hawaiian culture-based charter schools as great examples of the success that is possible given an organized, educated community with a common goal. A favorite comment from this year's NHEA convention: “Where do we (as a people and as a nation) want to be in 20 years? We need to envision it – then how we will be if we don't address emerging issues today or become united.” LCC professor Pat Kamalani Hurley writes, “I'm proud of the commitment ... so many young Hawaiians have to live up to their kuleana to help people. It will take well-educated Hawaiians in all fields – tempered by the wisdom of our kūpuna – to get us where we need to go.”
To speak to OHA's Hawaiian Governance staff about presentations, Kau Inoa registration or fundraising opportunities, please contact Kailene Nihipali at 594-0232 or kailenen@oha.org.
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