Hālau Kū Māna students
meet & exceed both
Hawai’i Content & Performance Standards and our own
Cultural Educational Standards.
Each ‘opio at Hālau Kū Māna spends
four days per week on Place and Project Based Learning (PPBL).
Each project
integrates all core content areas of Language Arts, Math,
Science, Social Studies, Hawaiian Language, Technology, and
one or more of the following: Music, Art, Health, Career
Exploration, Values, Environmental Stewardship, and Life
Skills. The time spent in the ‘core’ academic
subjects is equal to or greater than the average time spent
weekly at mainstream public schools, thus ‘opio receive
the equivalent academic credit toward a high school diploma.
In addition to over 20 hours per week spent on their projects
(see box to the left), ‘opio spend 2 hours a week learning
Hula and Oli, 3.5 hours a week in small, ability and gender
based literacy groups (in addition to the language arts covered
in projects), and 1.5 hours a week each in Ola Kino (mental,
emotional, and physical health, nutrition, and fitness),
and ‘Playshops’ for elective credit, which are
often community-led and focus on culture, career, and/or
life skills. Examples of Playshops include Hawaiian Art,
Ceramics, Aikido, Malama Wa’a, Aha Opio (Student Government),
Digital Yearbook and Newsletter, Music Production, and more.
Projects Include:
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Ko Kula Kai (Kaikaina*)
Ko Kula Kai (Kaikaina) focuses on Hawaiian coral reefs as ecological communities, recreational sites and the foundation of our ocean’s food chain. |
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Ko Kula Uka (Kaikaina*)
Through hands-on activities, students develop a better understanding of how the Hawaiian people were able to utilize endemic, indigenous, and Polynesian introduced resources to sustain a healthy dynamic lifestyle and diet. |
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He‘eia Fishpond (Kua‘ana**)
In partnership with Paepae O He‘eia, our `opio gain a better understanding of our surrounding environment through the application of traditional and contemporary resource management techniques and philosophies. |
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Kanehunamoku – Sailing and Navigation (Kua‘ana**)
By drawing upon the strength, wisdom, and experiences of our seafaring ancestors, this curriculum aims to introduce the student to the Hawaiian art of canoe sailing and non-instrument navigation. |
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Lo‘i – Malama ‘Aina
Students learn and appreciate Hawaiian and scientific methods of land and resource management, bridge the gap between modern and ancient techniques through restoration and maintenance of lo‘i in the ‘ili of Aihualama (Lyon Arboretum). |
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Ola Kino
The purpose of the ola kino program is to stimulate physical fitness and lifelong interests in healthy living among students attending HKM. |
*Kaikaina |
‘younger sibling’, for HKM this applies to grades 6-8 |
| **Kua’ana |
'older sibling’, for HKM this applies to grades 9-12 |
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Since our opening in August 2001, our `opio have shown across-the-board improvements in the areas of:
- Academics
- Behavior (Values)
- Culture
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We have achieved all of this, despite receiving half the operating funds per pupil as mainstream public schools, crucial services denied (i.e. food service, health aide, counseling, transportation), and no facilities support.
`Ohana & Community Involvement
During the 2005-2006 school year, 100% of our 'ohana
met their minimum commitment to kokua (16 hours),
and 90% went well beyond, with 65 'ohana giving over
3,000 hours of kokua!
Other individuals and groups in the community contributed an additional 4,000 hours.
Besides providing much needed kokua, such service
helps strengthen the relations and true sense of
ownership to our learning 'ohana, Mana Maoli. |
Meet Our Board and Our Staff. |
