Categorized | Education

UH Hilo educator to keynote national convention

MEDIA RELEASE

Dr. Keiki Kawaiaea, director of Ka Haka Ula O Keelikolani College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, will deliver the keynote address at the National Indian Education Association’s (NIEA) 45th annual convention and trade show.

The event is Oct. 15-18 in Anchorage, Alaska.

Established in 1970, NIEA is recognized as the premiere organization for advancing comprehensive educational opportunities for American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians throughout the United States.

Kawaiaea and two family members, daughter Kananinohea Makaimoku, and granddaughter, Haweoulakaumaka Makaimoku, will speak on the final day of the 2014 convention when organizers honor this year’s theme of Building Education Through the Generations by highlighting the work of Kawaiaea and her family.

As one of the founding families of the Hawaiian language immersion movement, the Kawaiaea‘s have played a critical role in its development and implementation, and have been principal agents in the re-establishment of Hawaiian medium education.

Kananinohea is a graduate of Ka Haka Ula O Keelikolani College of Hawaiian Language and a teacher at Nawahiokalaniopuu School. Haweoulakaumaka, age 6, is a second-generation Hawaiian speaker like her mother, a graduate of the Punana Leo and a second grader at Nawahiokalaniopuu.

“This is a big honor for Hawaii and all the work done on Hawaiian language revitalization,” Kawaiaea said. “I have also been told that this is the first time the NIEA has asked a three-generation panel to address the convention, which makes it even more exciting.”

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