He Aliʻi Ka ʻĀina Educator Conference
He Aliʻi Ka ʻĀina Educator Conference
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The first ever He Aliʻi Ka ʻĀina Educator Conference is being held this October 10 and 11. It will serve as a transformative professional development opportunity for the greater community to learn more about Hawaiian Culture-Based Education (HCBE). This initiative integrates 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.
Conference Keynote Speakers
Conference Keynote Speakers
Featuring Keynote Speaker: Dr. Kiana Frank
Featuring Keynote Speaker: Dr. Kiana Frank
Dr. Kiana Frank - born and raised in Kailua, Oʻahu – studies how microorganisms (the smallest forms of life that live on land and in water) shape ʻāina for productivity and health by weaving contemporary western techniques with Native Hawaiian Science. She has strong relationships working within communities using scientific hands-on experiences in the ʻāina, our natural laboratories, to inspire the younger Hawaiian generations to cultivate a connection to science through their culture. She is currently employed as an Associate Professor in the Pacific Biosciences Research Center at the University of Hawaii, Mānoa, and also sits on the boards of Native Hawaiian non-profit organizations Kauluakalana, INPEACE, and Purple Maiʻa.
October 10, 2024
Moʻolelo and Microbes: Elevating STEM Education and Research Through Aloha ʻĀina and EaNative Hawaiian knowledge systems demonstrate a profound understanding of the natural world and align with modern microbiome science by emphasizing the vital role of microorganisms in ecosystem function. My research integrates ʻike Hawaiʻi with contemporary science to enhance food security, ecosystem restoration, and agricultural sustainability, and guides my curriculum development. In this session I will highlight innovative educational initiatives that elevate STEM education through the integration of Indigenous knowledge and modern scientific systems and discuss strategies for grounding courses in aloha ʻāina pedagogy. Many of these initiatives promote understanding the interconnections between human and natural systems, encouraging critical thinking about sustainability challenges and solutions through cultural sensitivity and Indigenous perspectives. They strengthen students' cultural ties to ancestral lands, fostering innovation and creativity while emphasizing STEM's role in supporting Indigenous solutions. Ultimately, these programs prepare undergraduates for graduate studies and empower NHPI communities to address environmental, agricultural, and health challenges posed by global change. Additionally, I will discuss informal learning methodologies like #BOSSdancefriends, which blend ʻōiwi epistemologies with STEM through hula, storytelling, and digital media to support formal learning. By empowering educators and academic institutions to integrate culture and science, I aim to strengthen STEM teaching and increase engagement among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students, equipping learners to tackle contemporary challenges while honoring their cultural heritage.
Moʻolelo and Microbes: Elevating STEM Education and Research Through Aloha ʻĀina and EaNative Hawaiian knowledge systems demonstrate a profound understanding of the natural world and align with modern microbiome science by emphasizing the vital role of microorganisms in ecosystem function. My research integrates ʻike Hawaiʻi with contemporary science to enhance food security, ecosystem restoration, and agricultural sustainability, and guides my curriculum development. In this session I will highlight innovative educational initiatives that elevate STEM education through the integration of Indigenous knowledge and modern scientific systems and discuss strategies for grounding courses in aloha ʻāina pedagogy. Many of these initiatives promote understanding the interconnections between human and natural systems, encouraging critical thinking about sustainability challenges and solutions through cultural sensitivity and Indigenous perspectives. They strengthen students' cultural ties to ancestral lands, fostering innovation and creativity while emphasizing STEM's role in supporting Indigenous solutions. Ultimately, these programs prepare undergraduates for graduate studies and empower NHPI communities to address environmental, agricultural, and health challenges posed by global change. Additionally, I will discuss informal learning methodologies like #BOSSdancefriends, which blend ʻōiwi epistemologies with STEM through hula, storytelling, and digital media to support formal learning. By empowering educators and academic institutions to integrate culture and science, I aim to strengthen STEM teaching and increase engagement among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students, equipping learners to tackle contemporary challenges while honoring their cultural heritage.
Featuring Keynote Speaker: Dr. Manulani Meyer
Featuring Keynote Speaker: Dr. Manulani Meyer
Dr. Manulani Aluli Meyer is a native Hawaiian scholar-practitioner dedicated to the role aloha will play in world-wide awakening. She is an Indigenous writer and thinker devoted to expanding views of knowledge to better address the needs of our time. She earned her doctorate (Harvard, 1998) on the topic of Hawaiian epistemology – philosophy of knowledge – and remains intentional for its capacity to inspire, instruct and heal. Dr. Aluli Meyer is active in the Food Sovereignty, Aloha ʻĀina, EA Hawaii, and Hoʻoponopono movements throughout Hawai'i. She is now the Konohiki of Kūlana o Kapolei – a Hawaiian Place of Learning – at the University of Hawai'i West O'ahu. She is a staunch uluniu – coconut grove – activist and believes it is time to be clear about the principles of embodied knowing that creates shared purpose with others. Ulu aʻe ke welina a ke aloha. Loving is the practice of an awake mind.
October 11, 2024
He Kauwa Ke Kanaka: The Door Opens Inward - Hawaiiʻs Role in World HealingThis talk is an experience we will have with each other. Mutual emergence is the operating principle of our evolution and because you are all experienced ʻāina-based educators, let us huakaʻi into the vast expanse of our own ākea akamai. Come to learn more of the influence of my cousins, Emmet Aluli and Yuklin Aluli, and beloved Puanani Burgess - dedicated practitioners of the love and care of land and people. Come to link-in with shared purpose so we can explore the deeper relevance and function of ʻauamo kuleana - collective transformation through individual excellence. Come and nurture those around and within you with the beauty you have been educated in - kuʻu ʻāina aloha!
He Kauwa Ke Kanaka: The Door Opens Inward - Hawaiiʻs Role in World HealingThis talk is an experience we will have with each other. Mutual emergence is the operating principle of our evolution and because you are all experienced ʻāina-based educators, let us huakaʻi into the vast expanse of our own ākea akamai. Come to learn more of the influence of my cousins, Emmet Aluli and Yuklin Aluli, and beloved Puanani Burgess - dedicated practitioners of the love and care of land and people. Come to link-in with shared purpose so we can explore the deeper relevance and function of ʻauamo kuleana - collective transformation through individual excellence. Come and nurture those around and within you with the beauty you have been educated in - kuʻu ʻāina aloha!
Conference Campaigns
Conference Campaigns
Building ʻĀina Literacy and Culturally Responsive Education in HawaiʻiTo be an educator in Hawaiʻi, we must all continue to learn about the history and current conditions of this place. The workshops and speakers in this campaign focus on developing ‘ike ʻāina – knowledge from and about this land we call home. Children who learn in an environment that is ‘āina-literate grow to be grounded, empowered, and culturally literate in any space they exist in. Participants will have opportunities to learn more about place-based education in general, Hawaiian history, significant contemporary movements, strategies for building ʻāina literacy as an educator and institution, and the importance of using original place names with students.
Embracing Sustainability: Integrating ʻĀina-Based Practices for Hawaiʻi’s FutureThis strand focuses on fostering a deep connection to Hawaiʻi’s land and natural resources through ʻāina-based practices. Sessions will explore how traditional knowledge, conservation, and cultural values can guide sustainable living and stewardship of the environment. The aim is to inspire a lifelong commitment to caring for Hawaiʻi’s fragile yet resilient ecosystems.
Kālaiʻāina: The Roots and Impact of Politics on ʻĀina and EaJust as can be outlined by other threads through history, the evolution of politics in Hawaiʻi has evolved from the original cultural concept of Kālaiʻāina. If we trace the idea of kālaiʻāina through time, we come to understand how the political landscape has changed and valued both ideas of aloha ʻāina and ea differently during various time periods in Hawaiʻiʻs history. Join our presenters to discuss kālaiʻāina and politics as concepts that can, and should, be a part of the educational experience and formal curriculum in schools across Hawaiʻi in order to insure that the ideals of aloha ʻāina and ea hoʻomau, continue, and strengthen within the next and successive generations, no Hawaiʻi ke kanaka, no Hawaiʻi ka ʻāina, for the endurance of Hawaiians, and for Hawaiʻi, our beloved homeland.
E Ola ka ʻŌlelo: Revitalizing ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi in the ClassroomE hui pū kākou as we celebrate the rich and vibrant future of Ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi/the Hawaiian language! These sessions bring together educators, linguists, cultural practitioners, and community members dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi sessions aim to foster a deeper understanding of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, and its integral role in our cultural identity. Participants will:
- Learn about latest efforts and strategies in the revitalization of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, ensuring it thrives into perpetuity.
- Connect with like-minded individuals who share a passion for Hawaiian culture and language and build a supportive network
- Gain insights from leading experts in the field of laguage education and documentation, and discover innovative teaching methods.
- Be inspired by success stories and initiatives that highlight the resilience and strength of the Hawaiian language community.
Moʻolelo Hawaiʻi: Historical PerspectivesJoin us for an enlightening session that delves into the rich yet tumultuous history of Hawaiʻi from the perspective of the kanaka maoli. This session offers educators a vital opportunity to explore the complex historical events that have shaped the lives and identities of Native Hawaiians. We will examine the impact of colonization, land dispossession, and cultural suppression, alongside the resulting intergenerational trauma that continues to affect communities today. By deepening your understanding of these historical contexts, you will be better equipped to foster empathy, support culturally responsive education, and honor the resilience and cultural heritage of the Hawaiian keiki in your classroom.
The Schedule At A Glance
The Schedule At A Glance
The Venue
The Venue
Kamehameha Schools - Kapālama
2125 Aliʻi Rd.
Honolulu, HI 96817
808-842-8365
Park in the Kekūhaupiʻo gym parking structure. Shuttles will be available to and from middle school and the parking structure.
Conference Sponsored by:
Conference Organizers
Conference Organizers
Atkins, Trevor - Kanu o Ka ʻĀina and Ke EaCosma, Kalei - Kamehameha Schools Fujiwara, Nani - ʻĀina Ulu, Kamehameha SchoolsGlassco, Kēhau - Kamehameha SchoolsHolt, Gabby - Hanahauʻoli SchoolKalama-Macomber, Kaʻanohi - Office of Hawaiian EducationKikukawa, Lauren - Kealaiwikuamoʻo, Kamehameha SchoolsLos Banos, Tim - St. Louis SchoolMakaiau, Amber - UH- Mānoa and Hanahauʻoli SchoolPeters, Manuwai - Kealaiwikuamoʻo, Kamehameha SchoolsReppun, Keʻalohi - Punahou SchoolSerrao, Mark - Kamehameha Schools
Conference logo was designed by
8th grader Noel Mitsui of Kamehameha Schools
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