Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana

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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.

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.