The ‘Aha Pūnana Leo:
Has educated over 3,000 students ages 3-5 since 1985.
Has enabled over 400 scholars to pursue higher education with $5.1 million dollars in financial aid.
Provides 120 jobs--the overwhelming majority of which are located in rural areas throughout Hawai‘i. 69% of our employees are directly involved in the education field.
Keeps administrative expenses tight, comprising a frugal 13% of our total overall budget (below typical nonprofit ranges of 15%-25%).
Invests in our families; 22% of our staff joined as Pūnana Leo parents before becoming employees.
Believes in the excellence of our work: 100% of our staff with school-age children (or 38% of our total workforce) are parents of children in our preschools and the follow-up Hawaiian immersion K-12 school programs.
8% of our staff are single parents (not including the non-married yet intact households).
95% or our staff are Native Hawaiian
‘Aha Pūnana Leo Today
Incorporated in 1983 as a private non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, the ‘Aha Pūnana Leo remains committed to its mission of strengthening Hawaiian language and culture. The ‘Aha Pūnana Leo fosters Hawaiian language and culture development in families and communities. ‘APL staff are primarily parents of children in the programs. Many staff members began their work in the organization as volunteers. Our programs and initiatives service infants, preschool to university-aged students, families, and other individuals and organizations in the community. The ‘Aha Pūnana Leo believes that a P-20 System of institutionalized education through Hawaiian is the best vehicle to realize its goal of Hawaiian language revitalization. Thus, our core programs support learners at all levels.
Core Programs
Kula
Pūnana Leo (Language Nest Preschools)
Lamakū (Post-Secondary
Scholarship Program)
He Lani Ko Luna, He Honua Kō Lalo (Community-Based Learning Center)
Hō‘īnana, (Broadcast Programming)
Hale
Kipa ‘Ōiwi (Indigenous Outreach Program)
Other Programs and Services
Hui Hi‘i Pēpē (Native Speaker Childcare Centers)
Support Services to Kula Kaiapuni Hawai‘i
Support Services to the University of Hawai‘i System
Community Initiatives And Outreach
While
the ‘Aha Pūnana Leo focuses its efforts on programs taught in "honua," or
environments where the Hawaiian language use is primary and normal, the
organization also supports the learning of Hawaiian as a second or foreign
language. The ‘Aha Pūnana Leo has provided support services to public and private
schools taught through English where Hawaiian is taught as a separate class,
to library programs, to Hawaiian language classes taught via the internet,
and even to the development of Hawaiian music CDs and DVDs.
The ‘Aha Pūnana Leo is keenly aware that many members in the Native Hawaiian community itself are cautious about learning entirely through Hawaiian. Yet they are interested in learning more of the Hawaiian language and culture. In order to ensure a quality educational experience, the ‘Aha Pūnana Leo is an active participant in the Native Hawaiian Education Council. With its consortium partner, Ka Haka ‘Ula O Ke‘elikōlani Hawaiian Language College, the ‘Aha Pūnana Leo has shared the Kumu Honua Mauli Ola Hawaiian Educational Philosophy with the Council to develop a set of educational guidelines for Culturally Healthy and Responsive Learning Environments. These guidelines were endorsed by thirty-four educational entities in Hawai‘i. The publication is available from our consortium partner.