Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana

Moʻolelo | About | Values | Components | Recent News

About

Preparing Native Hawaiian children for academic success!

While many preschools focus on the child, Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana focuses on the entire family. Staff like to say instead of “no child left behind,” the program’s mission is “no family left behind.” Nā Pono No Nā ‘Ohana serves families using the four components of Family Literacy from the National Center for Families Learning: PACT (Parents And Children Together), Child Education, Parent Education, and Adult Education.

Nā Pono started out as an Even Start grant in 2001 through the Department of Education before becoming a program of Partners in Development Foundation in 2003. Since then, countless Native Hawaiian families have been served by the program. Nā Pono No Nā ‘Ohana also partners with local businesses and individuals to distribute food monthly through community outreach.

Values

Striving for achievement and excellence

The Nā Pono experience begins when the families drive up to the school. After each day, and each school year, through generations of people attending the Nā Pono programs, the hope is to see these individuals participating in their communities in other ways.

Nā Pono No Nā ‘Ohana contends that while Hawaiian traditions and western values may differ, they are not incompatible. The two cultures actually share values such as pa‘ahana (righteousness), poʻokela (excellence), alaka‘i (leadership), and ku i ka ni‘o (achievement). Where they differ is in their approach: Hawaiians practice these values by not drawing attention to themselves, but rather striving for achievement and excellence through working hard for the benefit of the group.

By integrating progressive teaching methods with Native Hawaiian cultural values, Nā Pono No Nā ‘Ohana seeks to improve social, economic, and educational opportunities for families in the program.

Parent And Child Together (PACT)

Child Education

Parent Education

Parent And Child Together (PACT)

Parent And Child Together is a program from the Kenan Family Literacy model. Nā Pono staff and families refer to this as OLA, or ʻOhana Learning Activities.

Child Education

One of the most important parts of Nā Pono’s Child Education program is the dedication of the staff to the keiki. They speak to the children on their level and encourage their curiosity, their learning, and their engagement with one another and the community in which they live.

Parent Education

This component of Nā Pono provides caregivers with tools they can use with their keiki. Caregivers are, after all, a child’s first and best teacher. One of the most important things to keep in mind with parent education is that when the caregivers are empowered, they can in turn empower their children.

Recent News

Mahalo to our 1027 Da Bomb ʻOhana, Keola Klaus Check Presentation 2021

December 22, 2021

Local radio station 1027 da bomb’s Keola and team, along with Ali from Raising Cane’s present a check of $17,250 to make this holiday season a special one for PIDF ʻohana this year.

Nonprofit Will Use Grant To Create Savings Accounts For Native Hawaiian Families

October 12, 2021

Partners in Development Foundation is teaming up with American Savings Bank to help families better prepare and pay for children’s educational needs. Original story published on Honolulu Civil Beat on October 8, 2021 by Suevon Lee, here. A nonprofit serving Native Hawaiian children and their families through educational and social service initiatives will launch a new savings…

Native Hawaiians receive support during trying times

August 12, 2021

Partners in Development Foundation receives $150,000 from Office of Hawaiian Affairs to support Native Hawaiians. The funding will support over 500 Native Hawaiian community members in Waimānalo through PIDF’s family education programming and services.