Established in 1993 by Kamehameha Schools alumni, the Pacific American Foundation has become a recognized leader in culture and place-based education, directing over a dozen different programs, ranging from those that perpetuate traditional conservation/land management techniques to ultramodern programs that prepare young Hawaiian students for careers in financial analysis and even underwater robotics. Each of their programs, from teacher training and youth mentoring to professional development for emerging community leaders, share the mission of helping to improve the lives of all Pacific Americans. The people at PAF see genuine value in understanding the knowledge of our past and applying it to our present in the hopes of impacting future generations.
By adapting their unique cultural curriculum to be consistent with current DOE content and performance standards, the Pacific American Foundation has touched the lives of thousands of Hawaiian students in public and private schools throughout the state. The PAF developed three different curricula over the years: Kahea Loko, Mālama Kaho’olawe and Aloha ‘Āina. Kahea Loko is a teacher’s guide to Hawaiian fishponds. Mālama Kaho’olawe, an innovative partnership with the Protect Kaho’olawe ‘Ohana (PKO), the Kaho’olawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC), the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) and the Hawai’i Department of Education (HIDOE), conducts training workshops for grades 7-12 educators not only to teach cultural curricula about Kaho’olawe, but also to heal the land and spirit of the island through the revival of cultural practices and traditions. The Aloha ‘Āina teacher training program encourages educators to use their ahupua’a as an outdoor classroom and bring meaning and relevance to the concepts students are learning in class. The program was designed to reconnect the traditional knowledge inherent in the ahupua’a land management system from mauka to makai to our current education system. Based on the cultural premise that “if you take care of the land, the land will take of you,” Aloha ‘Āina was conceptualized in Kāne’ohe and has since been adapted to ten other ahupua’a on five islands with solid lesson plans for grades 3-12.
The foundation’s underwater robotics program, the Aholehole project, has trained fifteen teachers (grades 5-6) from all over the island to lead their students in building underwater robots to conduct experiments and collect data on the streams, fishponds and bay of Kāne’ohe. This hands-on experience is tied not only to critical thinking and the scientific inquiry process, but also instills in students a responsibility to be more knowledgeable and responsible stewards of our coastal waters. This is the only NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) robotics program in the country with a cultural connection, which is impressive to say the least. The project will soon expand to Wai’anae Coast schools and to 7th grade students as well.
AKAMAI Prep was designed to increase early awareness of career opportunities in the finance field, and prepare Native Hawaiian students in grades 8 through 11 to enter into post-secondary business degree programs in college and the AKAMAI Asia Focused Analyst Training Program (AFATP). The training curriculum provides students with real world experiences, addresses academic and industry standards to boost participant interest and ultimately prepares students for high-earning careers in the investment industry. All students selected to participate in the Financial Analyst Training Program receive a full scholarship, borne by the Foundation. The AKAMAI Finance Academy encompasses a fully integrated, mentor- protégé approach known among Hawaiians as “Ma ka hana ka ‘ike,” which translates to “from the doing comes the knowledge,” that takes students on the journey from entry-level high school junior analysts to practicing senior executives in the finance industry.
The program is extremely rigorous and students are exceptionally committed; you can find them are at their computer screens as early as three or four in the morning for the opening of the Asia stock markets.
As they continue to grow, the PAF’s strategy is to build upon their core strengths and successes in able to make their programs even better, and to reach more and more kids. They believe in building creative partnerships with other non-profit organizations, community leaders, educators and kupuna to reinforce their mission and open even more doors to opportunity.
Sometimes we see levitra properien that we take enough food according to their body type and climate. This sexual disorder is the major cause of order levitra a variety of health problems including physical and psychological. Therefore, take this drug at the same time every day, without regard to timing of sexual activity.The selling here viagra sale for once daily use may be increased to 5 mg, based on individual efficacy and tolerability. As you can generic viagra 100mg see from the above mentioned conditions before the green signal is set off.
Looking to the future, Herb and his staff share the vision of building the Kokokahi Cultural Learning Center on the shores of Kāne’ohe Bay adjacent to the Waikalua Loko Fishpond. This dream, much like the journey that the foundation has taken throughout the years, began with a small educational program at the fishpond. More than 5,000 children a year now visit the fishpond, the largest estuary in the Pacific, to learn about its biology, as well as it’s cultural and historical significance. Cultural and environmental curriculum has been developed for the entire ahupua’a of Kāne’ohe, encompassing the streams, mountains, forests and fishponds, using the ‘āina as a living, breathing classroom. Herb, along with other community leaders on the Windward side, imagines the visionary center as a future hub of cultural learning, collaboration and awareness robust with educational opportunities, and perhaps even as a place to welcome visitors from all of Polynesia one day.
See www.thepaf.org for more information on programs.
Photos provided by the Pacific American Foundation.
* The content of this article does not necessarily reflect the views of the entire Council.