Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana
A free Hawaiian Culture-based family education program is based in Waimānalo where the ʻohana comes to learn together.
About | Values | Components | Recent News
About
Preparing children and families for academic success!
Nā Pono started 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.
The foundation or basic premise of Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana is that there is value in education for all family members. Nā Pono incorporates the Family Education model from the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) and Nā Honua Maoli Ola framework (Hawaiʻi Guidelines for Culturally Healthy and Responsive Learning Environments) into everyday practice. There are four program service components of Family Education: Parent and Child Together (PACT) Time, Children's Education, Parent Education, and Adult Education. This NCFL model has been proven to address family engagement, academic achievement, chronic absenteeism, retention, and community strengthening nationwide. Through it, Nā Pono has been able to address early education, family strengthening, and community partnership needs. To date, with more than 20 years of offering community programs, Nā Pono has impacted over 22,000 people in Waimānalo. The program’s overall goal is to meet families where they are and empower family members as their children's first teachers.
NUʻUKIA (Vision)
To integrate progressive teaching methods with Native Hawaiian cultural values, to enhance social, economic, and educational opportunities for Hawaiian families of Waimānalo.
E Ola Nā ‘Ohana! Families will live and thrive!
Values
Program Components
TESTIMONIALS
"Throughout my time within the Nā Pono program, I have grown individually as a person as well as a parent. Nā Pono gave my family the learning resources and experiences we needed to grow and acquire social skills with the classroom environment and interaction with teachers and peers. I have learned over the years, through experience, of how important exposure to consistent and structured learning environments are. I am honored to say that my experience at Nā Pono has shaped the person I am today. Especially within my journey through higher education. I am currently pursuing my bachelor's degree at the Thompson School of Social Work at University of Hawaii Mānoa in order to become a contributor to the efforts of early childhood and family education for future generations."
Kaipo Correa
CB Diploma Graduate & Participant with her 4 keiki
"When I first approached Nā Pono, I was struggling to obtain my GED and high school diploma. Nā Pono has been an incredible source of support and guidance for me, and I cannot thank them enough for their kind and compassionate assistance. Their team was quick to offer me the resources and support I needed to succeed in obtaining my GED and high school diploma. They also shared many valuable resources pertaining to our community. Through their GED program, I was able to pass the test and earn my diploma within three months, which in time will open up new opportunities for me. Their commitment to my success has been unwavering, and I am forever grateful for their assistance."
Ezekiel Owen
GED Diploma Graduate with Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana
Recent News
Harold K.L. Castle Foundation Invests $75,000 in Waimānalo’s Early Childhood Education ‘Upena Project
Partners in Development Foundation (PIDF) is pleased to announce a significant grant of $75,000 from the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation to support the Waimānalo Early Education ʻUpena project through the Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana program. This funding will enable the continuation of high-quality, community-centered services for keiki and ʻohana of Waimānalo. There are 743…
Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana Practices ʻĀina-Based Learning at Waimānalo Learning Center
The College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources’ (CTAHR) Waimānalo Learning Center was initiated in 2012 and has welcomed thousands of community members to improve awareness of the learning center’s research activities, and to support ‘āina-based education for our keiki and their ‘ohana. Current research and other activities include breeding and selecting food crops for…
Mālama Honua School Students Showcase Uka and Wai Project, Emphasizing Environmental Conservation
Since 2021, Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana has partnered with Mālama Honua Public Charter School in Waimānalo to provide literacy support through daily tutoring services. Nā Pono staff, working closely with students and kumu, play a vital role in fostering growth for the keiki. Using specialized training, they provide academic and literacy support across all…
Waimānalo Households Enrolled In Hawaiʻi Energy Program to Save Hundreds of Dollars a Year
Nearly 75 ʻohana will benefit from an appliance swap program and an energy efficiency literacy course.