BYU-Hawaii hosted a five-day conference on Hawaiian culture and education, sponsored by Ka Lei Papahi O Kakuhihewa, an Oahu-based Hawaiian Education organization made up of Kupuna or grandparents.
In Hawaii, Kupuna are part-time educators in the State Department of Education Hawaiian Studies Program. However, Ka Lei Papahi O Kakuhihewa is an independent organization formed by the Kupuna to advance cultural education.
Every four years the organization holds a conference on a different island to collaborate and train one another in Hawaiian culture and education methods. This year's theme was E Ho'omau Me Ke Aloha, which means "Continue, Persevere, Perpetuate and Renew the Legacy of Aloha."
"If we're not here to show them the way then it gets lost," elaborated June Pires, member of the conference committee. "We need to show them how we lived and how we grew up and they will follow and keep our heritage going."
"The whole purpose of the conference is for us to gather together and share our information with each other, because we don't only have one expert," said Lokelani Moreno, vice president of the organization and native of Laie. "Everyone has something special that they can share with others, and then what we learn here we can take back to our classrooms."
"A second purpose is to malama or take care of our Kupuna so that they'll learn more about what they need to do in the classroom," added Kahalelaukoa Alexander, secretary and this year's conference chair. She explained that the State is expecting them to meet recently implemented content performance standards.
With over 130 participants, a wonderful venue and a strong aloha spirit, Alexander felt that this year's conference was a success. "I've had a lot of wonderful comments," she said. "I'm pretty positive that I'll get very positive evaluations."
Alexander is also an alumna of Church College of Hawaii, the precursor of BYU-Hawaii. When asked what it was like holding the conference at her alma mater, she said "it was wonderful. It’s always great, but here it was special for me.
"It was also special for all of us," she added. "There are many who are not members of the Church," referring to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which sponsors BYU-Hawaii. "I feel that having them here has helped them as well as us."
BYU-Hawaii president Eric B. Shumway opened the conference. In his address he honored the Kupuna who taught him while he was a young missionary in Tonga. As a palangi or foreigner, he deeply appreciated their instruction and aloha that helped him understand and internalize the Tongan culture.
William Kauaiwi‘ulaokalani Wallace III, director of BYU-Hawaii's Hawaiian Studies Program, also delivered a keynote address. He spoke on the values of Hawaiian culture he learned in his childhood and on his experiences as an educator at BYU-Hawaii.
Other conference activities included cultural workshops, education training, a panel discussion and a visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center next door.
One such workshop was given by Dawn Wasson. She was asked to teach the history and culture of Kahuku, Laie and the Ko'olau district.
"Because we were able to share the history and the culture of this region, it helped others find the resources that apply to their own district," she said. "We've taught them to go back and look where they live, learn and teach the children; and the children will find out about where their ancestors came from and why they live there.
"More important was the spirit that all of these women and men came with," Wasson continued. "These are the core sources of the Hawaiian nation—the Hawaiian people—and all these people carry all this knowledge with them.
"What is wonderful is that they bring this knowledge and share it with each other, and then they're taking it to teach to the children—thousands of children in Hawaii—to appreciate the host culture and make everyone feel apart of it."</p>