Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana
The free comprehensive family education program is based at Blanche Pope Elementary School in Waimānalo where the family comes to school to learn together.
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, over 3,000 Native Hawaiian families have been served by the programs. Nā Pono No Nā ‘Ohana also partners with local businesses and individuals to distribute food through community outreach to homeless participants.
The comprehensive family education program is based at Blanche Pope Elementary School in Waimānalo where the family comes to school to learn together. It is designed to prepare Native Hawaiian children for academic success in school, build parenting skills, provide guidance and assistance for adults to advance their own education, and help adults with work preparedness.
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.
To Participate or Learn More,
Contact the Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana main office at (808) 259-0243 or email us using our contact form.
Program Components
Recent News
Nonprofit Will Use Grant To Create Savings Accounts For Native Hawaiian Families
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
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.
Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana Summer Program
The Nā Pono Summer Keiki Program successfully completed this ʻāina- and cultural- based program. Check out what they did this summer!
Back to School drive collects hundreds of supplies and dollars
PIDF’s Back-toSchool keiki in the Ka Paʻalana and Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana programs receieved community support. Cutter Chevrolet, Cutter Ford, and 94.7 KUMU-FM teamed up to host a Back-to-School Drive at the Walmart in Mililani Town Center.