Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 2, 1 February 2014 — Learning center to boost preschool capacity along Leeward Coast [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Learning center to boost preschool capacity along Leeward Coast

By Cheryl Corbiell 0'ahu's Wai'anae Coast is home to the largest eoneentration of Native Hawaiians in the world, making the Leeward Coast a fitting plaee for the Kamehameha Community Learning Center, whieh when completed in about a decade will focus on children ages 0 to 8. The center's first phase, situated on 10.3 acres of a 40-acre parcel in Mā 'ili and projected to cost $33 million, broke ground in October and plans to start offering preschool services in August 2014. Phase one will offer an Early Learning Center comprising:

• 12 preschool classrooms operated by various community organizations such as 'Aha Pūnana Leo and Wai'anae Coast Early Childhood Services • an infant toddler center, slated to open in October, housing programs including Parents and Children Together - Early Head Start and Kamehameha Schools' Hi'ilani Early Childhood Family Education • an Early Learning Kauhale providing office

and meeting space for organizations that have long served the Wai'anae Coast. The kauhale has a projected opening date of January 2015. The Kamehameha Community Learning Center is part of the Ka Pua Initiative, launched by Kamehameha Schools in 2009 to support schools, community organizations and service providers in laying a foundation of innovation and high educational expectations on the Wai'anae Coast.

"By working within Hawaiian communities to strengthen schools and other preschool education providers, Kamehameha Schools will not only serve Hawaiian families but will help to lift the level of education and well-being for the entire community," said Kalei Ka'ilihiwa, Kamehameha Schools' director of community programs for the Ka Pua Initiative. "The learning center will provide spaces for students and families to learn and grow while participating in innovative and eollaborative community programs. The vision is that all children on the Wai'anae Coast will be connected to plaee, supported in learning and succeeding as tomorrow's leaders." The need for the learning center is critical because the demand for preschool far exceeds the capacity on the Wai'anae Coast. "Currently 52 percent of Leeward Coast preschool children are serviced, and the new learning center will increase service to 62 percent" - adding 185 preschool seats for 3- and 4-year-olds and 32 toddler-infant seats, said Nieole Souza, director of early childSEE PRESCH00L ON PAGE 13

How to register Here is a list of preschool providers operating on the Leeward Coast that will be a part of the new Kamehameha Community Learning Center in Mā'ili. Phase I will add 185 new seats for 3- and 4-year-olds to access affordable preschool. The first programs are targeted to start on site by the 2014-2015 school year. • 'Aha Pūnana Leo Hawaiian Language Immersion preschool Applications available through March 1, ahapunanaleo.org • HCAP - Head Start Applications available through April 30, hcapweb.org • INPEACE Keiki Steps program Applications are continuous, inpeace.org • Kamehameha Schools Preschools Applications closed Jan. 31, preschool. ksbe.edu • Partners in Development Foundation Applications are continuous, pidf.org • Wai'anae Coast Early Childhood Services Applications available through April 3, waianaekeiki.com For help navigating the preschool application process, contact any of the providers listed here or visit Kamehameha Schools' Community Learning Center in Nānākuli. Sou!ce: www.bbe.edu/kapua/site/article/479

EDUGATION

Phase one of the Kamehameha Schools Community Learning Center will add 1 85 preschool seats for 3- and 4-year-olds and 32 seats for infants and toddlers to the Wai'anae Coast. - Courtesy pbotos: Kamebameba Scbools

Kahu Kordell Kekoa, left, state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Director Jobie Masagatani, Kamehameha Schools Chair Janeen-Ann Olds, KS CE0 Dee Jay Mailer, Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Hawaiian Homes Commissioner Jeremy Hopkins at the October groundbreaking for the $33-million first phase of the learning center.

PRESCHOOL

Continued from page 7 hood education for Ka Pua Early Learning. "The center's partners could potentially boost preschool capacity on the Wai'anae Coast by as mueh as 25 percent." The energy efficient and culturally designed complex will aeeommodate 245 Wai'anae preschoolers and offer other early learning services. "The building and the surrounding native plants gardens use culture as a vehicle to learning about who we are and where we eome from," said Ekekela Aiona, executive director of 'Aha Pūnana Leo. Two of the 12 classrooms in the two-story building will house Kamehameha Schools' preschool programs. The other 10 classrooms will host existing preschool providers from the Wai'anae Coast. The learning center will be a hub of educational opportunities for Wai'anae families. "The center will provide a menu of preschool

services and programs through . . . community organizations working in close proximity," said Souza, of Ka Pua Early Learning. Kamehameha Schools' Com-munity-based Early Childhood Education Program is partnering with 'Aha Pūnana Leo (Pūnana Leo o Wai'anae), Honolulu Community Aehon Program (Head Start), The Institute for Native Paeihe Education and Culture (INPEACE) - Keiki Steps program, Wai'anae Coast Early Childhood Services,

and Partners in Development Foundation - Ka Pa'alana. "The program collaboration will strengthen the individual programs and establish a professional learning community of service providers and help parents network with other parents," said Souza. The price of programming will vary by program, with Head Start being free for those who qualify. In addition, Kamehameha Schools' Pauahi Keiki Scholars Program offers preschool scholarships for

families showing need. The early learning complex includes an infants-to-toddlers center and early learning kauhale with meeting space for eommunity organizations serving keiki and families. "Ten . . . partners are in the hnal stages of negotiations for the infant-to-toddlers areas. The learning center is a model of collaboration, including the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands commission, who approved a lease to Kamehameha Schools for the Mā'ili lands," said Souza. Early childhood education builds a foundation for a child's future. "By age five, 85 percent of who you are - your intellect, your personality and your social skills - is developed," said Dr. Kanoe Nāone, CEO of INPEACE. Furthermore, early childhood research emphasizes for every dollar invested in early childhood education the return on the investment to society is seven dollars. "Early childhood education has a lifetime payoff," said Nāone.

Future phases of the project will include educational resources for youth and adults. Phase two will address key impact areas such as STEM education, reading and graduation rates. Lastly, the learning center will use a holistic eommunity approach to support students with varied services. Construction of all the phases is expected to take about 10 years. In related news, Gov. Neil Abercrombie in January announced a plan to add 125 pre-kindergarten seats at six Wai'anae Coast elementary schools. It is part of a $4.5 million statewide initiative to provide free pre-K education in 30 Department of Education schools to students from low-ineome families. The plan is subject to funding approval by the state Legislature. ■ Chervl Corhiell is an instructor at the University ofHawai'i Maui. Col-lege-Moloka'i. and coordinator for TeenACE Wri.ti.ng and ACE Readi.ng programs.

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A rendering of the Kamehameha Community Learning Center in Mā'ili. - Courtesy: Kamehameha Schools