‘Ohana Information
As Kumu Makamae observes a child placing a final kukui nut on his favorite math activity, she hears a voice at the doorway, “Ūi. Aloha mai. ‘O Ku‘uleialoha Leipoina‘ole ko‘u inoa. ‘O Kāwika lāua ‘o Anne ko‘u mau mākua. Mākaukau nō ho‘i kēia keiki no ke komo ‘ana i ke kula.” Kumu answers her call: “Aloha kakahiaka e ka ‘ohana Leipoina‘ole. E komo mai!” Ku‘uleialoha enters the lumi papa (classroom) and shares a warm hug and kiss of aloha with Kumu Makamae.
From the first moment of the first day a Pūnana Leo family enters preschool, they are immersed in rich and stimulating surroundings, an environment or honua where all must observe the kapu of "Hawaiian language only.” The Pūnana Leo child is part of a group of students whose families have made a firm commitment to their children’s education. Whenever possible, ‘Aha Pūnana Leo employees elders from the Hulu Kūpuna generation to interact with the children on a regular basis. Just as fledglings are fed by the mouths of their parents, so too are Pūnana Leo keiki fed their language and culture from the mouths of these kupuna.
The observance of the “Hawaiian only” kapu helps families and their children learn Hawaiian quickly. New preschoolers learn simple phrases, sentences, and songs with the help of fluent kumu (teachers) and older classmates. Many, if not all, Pūnana Leo preschoolers are able to speak Hawaiian within three or four months.
Pūnana Leo classrooms are warm, nurturing places that value and stimulate young minds and prepare them for lifelong learning. Children discover the world through a culturally and age-level appropriate curriculum based on the Kumu Honua Mauli Ola educational philosophy in a safe and secure environment.