Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 16, Number 5, 1 May 1999 — In a class by themselves [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

In a class by themselves

By Kalena Silva and Wllliam H. Wllson, Unlversity of Hawal'l Hllo Editor's note: In 1995, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs purchased theformer Henry 'Ōpūkaha 'ia Elementary School in Kea 'aufor the continuation ofthe Hawaiian immersion curriculum in grades seven through 12. This article offers an update on the activities ofthis immersion school now known as Ke Kula 'o Nāwahīokalam 'ōpu 'u. FIFTEEN YEARS ago, the educational establishment told a group of determined Hawaiian-speaking educators called the 'Aha Pūnana Leo that a modern curricu-

lum could not be taught in Hawaiian. But the naysayers have been proved wrong, according to evidence now in from Ke Kula O Nāwahīokalam 'ōpu' u, the UH-Hilo laboratory school located on property purchased by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for Pūnana Leo. The 77 smdents in grades seven through 12 at Nāwahī have a fine record. Counted bv the Deoartment of

Education as among Hilo High School's 1,737 students, they have garnered a disproportionate number of honors. Of the 100 prestigious Bank of Hawai'i Second Century Scholarships offering

up to $10,000 per year for four years of college to outstanding Hawai'i 10th graders, Nāwahī students received two. Nāwahī students also took first plaee in a statewide computerized stock market game and one was elected Lieutenant Governor of OHA's 'Aha 'Ōpio youth legislature. Three others have won the Hilo High Brown Bags to Stardom contest in the past two years. Nāwahī students have been a major presence in Hilo High School athletics, with two of its volleyball players

named to the island all-star girls' team. By their junior year, all five of Nāwahī's first senior class had completed all but two of the courses the DOE requires for graduation. They are now concurrently enrolled in UH - Hilo courses. (Only one other student from Hilo High has been allowed to enroll this year.) Last semester, with a single exceotion.

the students earned As and Bs in their university courses in political science, agriculture, math, horticulture, Hawaiian and Japanese. This should reassure those in the education establish-

ment who expressed doubts that Nāwahī students could function in university courses taught in English. The five seniors reported no difficulty with eol-lege-level courses taught in English. Furthermore, all five passed the English composition examination, a test that has proved difficult for other students in the state. Nāwahī SAT scores surpass the state average and fall closer to the national average. UH-Hilo does not use these SAT scores to evaluate Nāwahī students. The university exempts applicants from Japan, France, and China from the SAT, whieh is not structured to take into account differences in their language, culture and the academic goals of their schools. While the achievements of Nāwahī students are a source of considerable pride, the primary goal of the school

remains the revitalization of the Hawaiian language and culture. Academic success furthers the goal, but is not an end in itself. For Nāwahī, successful students remain loyal to Hawaiian language and people regardless of their academic, sports or other achievements. Nāwahī plans to serve additional Hawaiian students by opening dormitories. The school is in transition from the DOE to full administration by the Ka Haka 'Ula O Ke'elikōlani College of Hawaiian Language. The DOE provides certified teachers for the school while 'Aha Pūnana Leo and the college provide staff as well as policies whieh account for mueh of the school's success. ■

Ke Kula O Nāwahīokalani'ōpu'u Hawaiian immersion school graduates its first class of seniors

" By their jiuiior yean all five of Nāwaliī s first seiiior class had completed all but two of the coLi rses the DOE requires for graduatiori.

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PHOĪO COURTESY: NAWAHlOKAlANI ŌPU'U Po'o Kumu Kauanoe Kamanā and 'Aha Pūnana Leo Director Nāmaka Rawlins smile with graduates Kanani Kawaiae'a, Kau'i Nani'ole (seated), Kekua Burgess, Kalimahana Young and Hulilauākea Wilson (standing).