Yesterday afternoon, we received notice that Senator Schatz negotiated an agreement with Secretary McMahon of the U.S. Department of Education to continue funding the Native Hawaiian Education Program (NHEP) for current grantees for another fiscal year.

While this news is encouraging as a critical short-term step forward, it does not resolve the crisis facing Partners in Development Foundation (PIDF), Native Hawaiian-serving organizations, or the communities that depend on these programs. At this time, we still do not know how much funding will ultimately be released, when funds would become available, or whether PIDF will receive the support necessary to sustain all current programs, staffing, and sites.

We are grateful to Senator Schatz and his team, and to every one of you whose advocacy, testimonies, calls, letters, and public support helped move this issue forward. Your voices continue to matter, and continued advocacy will remain critical in the months ahead.

Given the continued uncertainty surrounding federal funding, PIDF’s stabilization plan — including operational consolidation and team restructuring — remains necessary. These decisions were not made lightly, and this federal development does not provide the immediate funding certainty needed to reverse course.

While we are hopeful that the upcoming NHEP funding opportunities may help preserve more programs and sites for another year, PIDF must still go through the federal application and award process before any future funding can be counted on.

We understand how difficult this prolonged uncertainty has been for our staff, participants, partners, and families. PIDF will continue advocating aggressively, pursuing every available partnership opportunity, and communicating transparently as new information emerges. We also ask our community to continue sharing the impact of our programs and helping defend the essential services our communities still risk losing.

We remain deeply grateful to Senator Schatz and his team for their leadership and solutions-oriented efforts. This agreement may provide additional time to fight for longer-term stability, but the work ahead remains urgent.

Mahalo nui for your continued support, patience, and trust during this difficult period.

Naʻu nō me ke aloha,
Shawn Kanaʻiaupuni, President & CEO
Partners in Development Foundation

For nearly 30 years Partners in Development Foundation (PIDF) has provided culturally grounded, family-centered programs rooted in Native Hawaiian values and traditions – supporting keiki, ʻōpio, and ʻohana across the pae ʻāina. Today, our programs continue to operate and serve our communities as they always have. 

As we strengthen PIDF for a stronger and more resilient future, we want to inform you of the changes being made, in advance. Effective September 2026, we will be reducing the number of sites we serve with our early childhood education programs. Out of the collective 36 early learning sites, we have secured non-federal funding to stabilize 19 of PIDF’s Ka Paʻalana (KP) and Tūtū and Me (TTM) sites.

• Hilo, Hawaiʻi (TTM)
• Keaʻau, Hawaiʻi (TTM)
• Pāhoa, Hawaiʻi (TTM)
• Panaʻewa, Hawaiʻi (TTM)

• Lahaina, Maui (KP)
• Wailuku, Maui (KP)

• Kaunakakai, Molokaʻi (TTM)
• Kualapuʻu, Molokaʻi (TTM)

• Hope Shelter, Oʻahu (KP)
• Honolulu, Oʻahu (TTM)
• Kahaluʻu, Oʻahu (TTM)
• Kailua Elementary, Oʻahu (NP)
• Koʻolau, Oʻahu (TTM)
• Lanikūhonua, Oʻahu (TTM)
• Nānākuli, Oʻahu (KP)
• Nānākuli Elementary, Oʻahu (KP)
• Papakōlea, Oʻahu (TTM)
• Waiʻanae District Park, Oʻahu (KP)
• Waimānalo, Oʻahu (NP)

We are sincerely grateful for the generosity and support of the diverse funding partners contributing to PIDF’s efforts to stabilize program sites across the islands. Based on the funding currently available to us moving forward.

We are deeply saddened to share that 17 of our Ka Paʻalana and Tūtū and Me (TTM) sites, and 2 critical family-strengthening services cannot continue to operate beyond the current budget cycle: 

• Anahola, Kauaʻi (TTM)
• Hanapēpē, Kauaʻi (TTM)
• Kapaʻa, Kauaʻi (TTM)
• Kekaha, Kauaʻi (TTM)

• Honokaʻa, Hawaiʻi (TTM)
• Kailua Kona, Hawaiʻi (TTM)
• Mountain View, Hawaiʻi (KP)
• South Kona, Hawaiʻi (TTM)
• Waimea, Hawaiʻi (TTM)
• Virtual Tūtū and Me program
• Tūtū and Me Home Visiting and Caregiver Education

• Kahului, Maui (TTM)
• Kihei, Maui (TTM)
• Lahaina, Maui (TTM)
• Makawao, Maui (TTM)

• Ke Aka Hoʻona, Oʻahu (KP)
• Māʻili Valley, Oʻahu (KP)
• Waialua, Oʻahu (TTM)
• Ka Paʻalana Mālama Mobile

Our Piha Me Ka Pono program currently partners with 8 DOE public schools on Hawaiʻi and Molokaʻi, providing connection to community resources and additional school support through our team of Community School Coordinators (CSCs). Federal grants fund 3 of our CSCs, and other funds are year-to-year. The current federal grant funds for our Piha Me Ka Pono Community Schools program will come to an end on August 31, 2026.

Our Kīʻapu Workforce Development program empowers youth, ages 14-24, in West Oʻahu, Windward Oʻahu, and Molokaʻi through a holistic approach to workforce development and educational pathways. The current federal grant funds for our Kīʻapu Workforce Development program will come to an end on August 31, 2026. 

Like many organizations across Hawaiʻi, PIDF is navigating unforeseen and targeted attacks around federal resources that support programs for families and children. In response, we are taking proactive steps to strengthen our organization for the future. This includes diversifying funding sources, strengthening partnerships, and refining how our programs are organized so we can continue serving our communities for generations to come. 

Our PIDF Leadership team and Board of Directors  remain deeply committed to serving families and communities and to advancing our mission: to inspire and equip ʻohana and communities for success and service using Native Hawaiian values and traditions. We also remain vigilant and focused on securing diversified funding to support the long-term strength and sustainability of our work.

Mahalo for your understanding, and for trusting our organization to support your ‘ohana.

For additional information, please visit our FAQ page: pidf.org/pidf-2026-faq/

If you have any questions or would like to connect, please reach out to us at communications@pidfoundation.org. If you or someone you know would like to help, we welcome the support – please visit https://pidf.org/giving/ to learn more. Mahalo for your continued partnership and support. 

Me ke aloha,
Shawn Kanaʻiaupuni, President & CEO
Partners in Development Foundation

Honolulu-based nonprofit Partners in Development Foundation has been intentional about stabilizing its early childhood workforce over time, according to COO Terry Nakamura.

He told Aloha State Daily that despite ongoing challenges, the organization has been “trying to increase the salary for entry-level positions.”

“Incrementally, we raised their pay from $15 to $16 and then to $17,” Nakamura explained. “So, it was a deliberate attempt to make it affordable for folks. And it does make a difference, it helps.”

“I feel seen. Being in this field we never enter for the pay, we enter to make a difference, so living paycheck to paycheck is just a part of my life, but to have the extra help is such a blessing.”
– Testimony from Staff

So has offering stipends to workers.

With early childhood educators in mind, PIDF dispersed a grant, then called Early Childhood Workforce Stabilization and Compensation Assistance Award (ECWSCA), to employees in May of 2025 from Hawaiʻi P-20 Partnership for Education, which includes the Executive Office on Early Learning, the state Department of Education and the University of Hawaiʻi System.

The total amount awarded was $176,250 to 85 early childhood education staff via one-time stipends. The 56 full-time staff received $2,500 and the 29 part-time staff received $1,250.

“These stipends have been a huge benefit. For both the first and second rounds of this, it was a surprise. I was the one that primarily submitted our application, and we did it per program.”

Of PIDF’s 10 free community programs offered statewide, three are dedicated to early childhood education: Ka Pa’alana Homeless Family Education, Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana and Tūtū and Me.

Most recently, the organization was awarded a total of $153,750, which was used for stipends distributed to 62 early childhood education staff.

To read the full article written Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros, click here.

KEALAKEHE, Hawaii (Island News) — October is Walk and Roll to School Month in Hawaii—it’s a month to encourage communities across the islands to lace up their shoes or jump on their wheels and get to school safely while getting in some physical activity. Teachers at two Hawaii Island schools see more than just health benefits.

It’s called the Kealakehe Hawk Walk.

Spearheaded by the Partners in Development Foundation, volunteers, donned in bright yellow shirts and safety vests, get up early to pick up students on the Kealakehe Elementary and Intermediate Walking School Bus.

“We go through the neighborhoods and collect the students to promote on-time and consistent school attendance, its importance, and safe walking,” says Malaea Spencer, Kealakehe Elementary Student Activities Coordinator.

It’s not all about safety. It’s about having fun too. Music, cheers, and even Pikachu await the children upon arrival.

“I think it just gives the children a great start to the day, which helps them throughout the day; it keeps them happy. If they are happy, they say, ‘Oh my gosh!’ They get a snack, they get a token, and they go off to their classes. It just gives them a great start,” says volunteer Susie Villasenor-Yamane.

To read the full article written by Sunshine Kuhia Smith, click here.

The “Pewa,” a traditional Hawaiian wood joinery symbolizing strength through unity, is the guiding symbol of the annual event. This year, PIDF honored two extraordinary women dedicated to youth mentorship, recognizing Carla Houser of RYSE and Kumu Michelle Pieper of Hānai Kaiāulu as living pewa, mending the fractures of adversity and reawakening the dreams of Hawaiʻi’s youth. From serving houseless teens and young adults to reconnecting West Oʻahu youth intentionally with ʻāina and sustainability, these women and their initiatives exemplify what it means to create thriving connected communities. 

The evening also showcased the heart of PIDF’s mission. A powerful panel discussion, led by PIDF’s President and CEO, Shawn Kanaʻiaupuni, featured voices from across PIDF’s programs: Adelina Crowell (Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana Project Coordinator and former participant), Gail Omoto (Founding Member of Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool and current participant), and Armond Jason Kahawai (KAʻA Project Director and long-time Ka Paʻalana staff). Their heartfelt testimonies offered guests a firsthand look at the lasting impact of PIDF’s work to inspire and equip Hawaiʻi’s families for success through timeless Native Hawaiian values.  

As the awards were presented and stories shared, guests responded with overwhelming generosity. From spirited auction bidding to countless acts of kōkua throughout the night. Together, our partners, donors, and community members helped ensure that PIDF can continue to provide critical programs for Hawaiʻi’s keiki, ‘ōpio, and ʻohana. 

Mahalo to our sponsors, donors, and volunteers who made this year’s Ulu Hana: Pewa Awards such a remarkable success. With your support. The legacy of care and aloha continues to grow. 

For more information about PIDF’s Ulu Hana: Pewa Awards, please visit https://pidf.org/ulu-hana/  

Nominations for our 2026 Ulu Hana: Pewa Awards are now open! To nominate a community hero you admire, submit a form here.

This well-deserved acknowledgment reflects Shawn’s unwavering dedication to our mission of uplifting our community through Hawaiian culture-centered education, sustainable farming, and ʻohana-strengthening services. Her leadership continues to inspire positive change, and we are excited to see the lasting impact she will make in the years ahead.

Shawn, mahalo for your hard work, vision, and commitment to serving our community.

Originally published by Hawaii Business Magazine, written by Vicki Viotti. Check out the full article here.

The nonprofit’s president and CEO leads unique educational initiatives, including a mobile preschool and assistance for homeless families.

Shawn Kana‘iaupuni learned much at the Polynesian Voyaging Society, including a deeper understanding of Hawaiian culture’s connection to the human spirit.

That’s carried through to her work with the Partners in Development Foundation, a nonprofit founded in 1997 that she now leads. “The community-based organization provides educational programs to keiki and ‘ohana, supporting them for success and service,” Kana‘iaupuni says.

Before joining PIDF in 2020, Kana‘iaupuni, an educator and Kamehameha Schools alumna, directed her alma mater’s Public Education Support Division and worked for the schools’ research and evaluation arm. That included studies on culture-based education and how it affects student outcomes.

Her own culture-based education included beginning sailing as a crew member in 2015 on part of Hōkūle‘a’s worldwide voyage.

“When I was on the ocean, I was like, ‘Oh, wow, this is home to me,’” she says. “But my kūlana (role) on the wa‘a (canoe) was, I was a newbie and I was a rookie. So I just learned to follow and be as helpful as possible and try to learn as fast as I could.”

The pursuit of learning and strengthening communities are core elements of PIDF’s programs, which include Tūtū and Me, a mobile preschool that trains families in early education, and the Ka Pa‘alana Homeless Family Education Program.

In 2022, PIDF and its partners won an eight-year, $20 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for their collaborative work on the Kawailoa project’s  restorative programs to reduce youth incarceration. Laura Dang, PIDF VP for administration, says Kana‘iaupuni’s ability to “analyze situations and think outside the box” enables the foundation’s broad reach.

PIDF’s focus on family resilience led it to partner with American Savings Bank to help children build financial literacy. The Keiki Assets Account (KA‘A) helps parents save for their children’s educational futures while giving them more confidence in handling their own money, says Beth Whitehead, executive VP and chief administrative officer at the bank.

“This program gives children a better start by helping their parents build a strong financial foundation,” Whitehead says. “The stability and opportunities it creates will have a huge impact on their lives as they grow up.”

Kana‘iaupuni sums up PIDF’s mission: “Mālama i ka ‘ohana, ola ke kaiāulu, which translates to when you care for family, you build healthy communities.”

This article appears in the March 2025 issue of Hawaii Business Magazine.

At the end of October, President Joe Biden formally apologized for the Federal Indian Boarding School Policy, saying “I have a solemn responsibility to be the first President to formally apologize to the Native people – Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, Native Alaskans for the Federal Indian Boarding Schools. It’s long, long, long overdue. Quite frankly, there’s no excuse that this apology took 50 years to make.” Watch here – President Biden’s apology can be heard at about the 27-minute mark.  

President Biden stated that the Federal Indian Boarding School era, over 150 years from the early 1800s to 1970, was one of the most horrific chapters in American history and that a vast majority of Americans do not know about it and how it resulted in lost generations, cultures, languages, and trust. 

While acknowledging the harm and intergenerational trauma of Federal Indian Boarding School policies and practices, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland shared that “the painful loss of our Indigenous languages has been a consistent topic” as she met with former boarding school students “from Hawaiʻi to Michigan to right here in Arizona,” where Secretary Haaland and President Biden spoke at the Gila River Indian Community. Secretary Haaland also celebrated the perseverance of Indigenous communities that, despite being affected by the Federal Indian Boarding School System, are still here. President Biden and Secretary Haaland discussed the administration’s work with Indigenous communities to counter the effects of the Federal Indian Boarding School Policy. 

President Biden noted the apology was a culmination of decades of work by so many courageous people, including former attendees and descendants, allies, and advocates, including the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition.  

Oral History Project in Hawaiʻi  

The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition (NABS) has announced Hawaiʻi as its next and final Oral History Project location for 2024. Please see the attached NABS press release about the Oral History Project and its purpose to “document and make accessible the experiences of the generations of Indigenous children who attended the federal boarding school system” to ensure such experiences “can be heard, and learned from, by current and future generations.”  

In addition to the press release, we can confirm that the two locations and dates for the Oral History Project in Hawaiʻi are:  

• Hilo, Hawaiʻi – November 17 (Sun) – November 19 (Tue); and  

• Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu – November 22 (Fri) – November 24 (Sun).  

NABS will support the participation of past attendees who wish to participate at either location and currently live on a neighbor island. Past attendees who wish to participate at future locations on the continent should also make NABS aware of their interests. 

Interested former attendees should visit the NABS Oral History Project webpage at https://boardingschoolhealing.org/oral-history-project/, scroll down, and click on the “Hawaiʻi Interview Sign-Up” button.  

Visit the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative for more information about the Department of the Interior’s Initiative and to see the 2-volume Investigative Report and its findings and recommendations. 

If you are interested in attending the Oral History Project Interviews, please view the following flyers: 

Hawaii #1 Flyer 

Hawaii Agenda Flyer 

OHP Hawaii Info Session 

Located in west Molokai, Maunaloa Elementary School serves approximately 50 K-6th grade students each year. As a Title I school with CSI MRI status, it faced challenges in student performance and attendance. The partnership with PIDF’s Piha Me Ka Pono program, implementing the Full-Service Community School (FSCS) strategy, has been instrumental in this turnaround.  

“The resource of having an extra person to coordinate things, bring families in, and find resources has been huge for us this year,” said Principal Kimberly Kaʻai. The school’s success is attributed to strengthening connections between home, community, and school.  

Susan “Omi” Seumalo, a respected community member, was hired as a Community School Coordinator in the Piha Me Ka Pono program. “We all know how important relationships are, and with Omi being a part of the community for many years, there’s that trust and relationship already established,” Principal Kaʻai explained.  

The school has also launched new initiatives, including a career day event, a summer reading program, and a Mālā (garden) program. These efforts have not only improved attendance but also boosted school spirit and family involvement.  

“I believe it’s a total accomplishment for all of us – our staff, our teachers, our principal who supports everything that we do here. It’s a big thing!” Seumalo shared.  

The success at Maunaloa Elementary School demonstrates the power of community-driven and family-centered education models. Principal Kaʻai was also a recipient of PIDF’s 2024 Ulu Hana Pewa Award in August, celebrating Hawaiʻi’s unsung heroes who bring their community together. Thanks to her leadership and her staff’s unwavering dedication to their school, they celebrate many school-wide “wins” that benefit families beyond their child’s education journey.  

PIDF is proud to support this and other schools through its Piha Me Ka Pono program, which currently partners with seven schools across Hawaii. 

(KAPOLEI, HI) – Partners in Development Foundation (PIDF) Ka Paʻalana Homeless Family Education Program located in Kapolei has earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)—the world’s largest organization working on behalf of young children. 

NAEYC Accreditation is a rigorous and transformative quality-improvement system that uses a set of 10 research-based standards to collaborate with early education programs to recognize and drive quality-improvement in high-quality early learning environments. “This was a major endeavor and accomplishment and benefitted the entire program by this continued effort to ensure poʻokela (excellence) in all aspects of program staffing, curriculum, and practices,” said Terry Nakamura, PIDF Interim Vice President of Operations and Program Manager at Ka Paʻalana Homeless Family Education Program.” 

Ka Paʻalana provides comprehensive family education programming for homeless/at-risk families with young children on the west coast of Oʻahu and East Hawaiʻi Island. Annually, the Ka Paʻalana program serves about 400 children ages birth to five and their caregivers by preparing children for school, equipping caregivers to be their child’s first teachers, and empowering adults to move toward self-sufficiency and give back to their community.  

Ka Paʻalana first earned NAEYC accreditation in 2013, and every five years, pursues reaccreditation through an extensive self-study and quality-improvement process, followed by an on-site visit by NAEYC Assessors to ensure that the program meets each of the ten program standards, and hundreds of corresponding individual criteria.  

In the 30 years since NAEYC Accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. Nationally, less than 10 percent of all childcare centers, preschools, and kindergartens achieve this recognition.   

“NAEYC-Accredited programs have committed to a process that takes time, energy, and dedication to complete,” states Alissa Mwenelupembe, Senior Director Early Learning Program Accreditation. “Ka Paʻalana has demonstrated their commitment to young children and their families.” 

What a marvelous testament to the staff and families that work to make the Ka Paʻalana Homeless Family Education Program so special. Congratulations to you all!! 

For more information about NAEYC Accreditation, visit the NAEYC website.  

“Our Kahiau partners have shown unwavering dedication to serving the community, providing essential services and bringing hope to those who need it most,” Ann Teranishi, president and CEO of ASB, said in a statement.

American Savings Bank announced Monday that its annual Kahiau Giving Campaign raised $368,268 this year. Funds were distributed to local nonprofits including Child & Family Service, Kapiolani Health Foundation, Kupu Hawaii, Partners in Development Foundation and local United Way chapters, according to the announcement.

This year’s donation represents the financial institution’s largest Kahiau donation since the program’s inception in 2011, with nearly 94% of ASB employees having participated in this year’s workplace giving initiative. The campaign received $218,268 in employee donations, with the bank contributing a matching donation of $150,000 to further increase the impact, according to ASB.

“Our Kahiau partners have shown unwavering dedication to serving the community, providing essential services and bringing hope to those who need it most,” Ann Teranishi, president and CEO of ASB, said in a statement. “We are honored to support their missions and proud of our 1,100 teammates for their ongoing commitment to making a positive impact.”

This year’s Kahiau theme was “Planting Seeds for a Thriving Community.” In Hawaiian, the word “Kahiau” means “to give from the heart without expecting anything in return,” as stated in the announcement. Since 2011, the Kahiau Giving Campaign has raised more than $2.9 million, according to ASB.

“We extend our heartfelt appreciation to American Savings Bank for its invaluable partnership in our mission to enrich the lives of Hawaii’s residents,” John Fink, president and CEO at Aloha United Way, said in a statement. “American Savings Bank’s generous support through its tremendous Kahiau Giving Campaign enables AUW to drive significant impact in addressing important community needs, from education and financial stability to health and well-being.”

Keola Klaus Virtual Toy Drive

For the second year in a row, Raising Cane’s teamed up with 102.7 da bomb’s Keola Show to raise money for PIDF’s keiki and ʻohana this year. Not only that, they collected toys that were gifted to keiki participants of Ka Paʻalana preschool. Thanks to Hawaiʻi’s listeners and their generosity this holiday season, Keola and his team helped raise $17,500! Plus, Raising Cane’s matched up to $7,500, for a total of $25,000 that fed directly into PIDF programs. Our hearts are overjoyed by the aloha we felt this season! 

Nomi Health Book Drive 

Ashley from Nomi Health was inspired to launch a book drive campaign that collected over 250 preschool books for keiki in PIDF’s early childhood education programs. Only two years before, Ashley and her husband benefitted from PIDF’s Open Arms Harbor Iso-quarantine Facility that provided a safe place for those exposed to or tested covid positive to heal. Since then, she’s been inspired by the health field and is dedicated to giving back. 

“It means a whole lot to me being able to give back, especially to the keiki of Hawaiʻi. I’m just so honored to be able to bless as well as being blessed,” said Ashley. 

We are so grateful to all the community members who donated books, as well as to Ashley and the Nomi Health team for supporting keiki education and providing fundamental health support to our Hawaiʻi communities. 

Friends from Duke’s Waikiki, Hula Grill Waikiki, & Outrigger Beach Resort 

Our long-time friends from Duke’s Waikiki, Hula Grill Waikiki, and the Outrigger Beach Resort donated 140 wrapped and ready to receive makana (gifts) for our keiki enrolled at Nā Pono No Nā ʻohana and Tūtū and Me keiki. This holiday season, our programs are especially grateful to give to ʻohana who continue to feel the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Smiles stretched from ear to ear as PIDF staff handed their program keiki their gifts this year. 

Project Pilina – Fuel up. Do good. 

Project Pilina was selected as the upcoming beneficiary of the Ohana Fuels ‘Fuel Up. Do Good.’ program. A portion of all sales from October until the end of December at participating Hawaiʻi Island Ohana Fuels locations have been donated to Project Pilina in support of foster care youth in Hawaiʻi. 

The funds raised from the Ohana Fuels ‘Fuel Up. Do Good.’ program will be used to support graduating East Hawaiʻi high school students in foster care to purchase prom attire including hair and makeup, as well as caps and gowns. Remaining funds will also be used to purchase meal gift cards for foster homes to host a welcome dinner for newly placed youth.

Plus, the Hilo Crescent Lions Club and Hilo Crescent Leos Club volunteered their time at the Car Wash Events held on Nov. 11 and Dec. 12 at the Puainakou Minit Stop in Hilo. The teams willingly showed up with their youth Leos and helped Project Pilina wash cars as part of the ‘Ohana Fuels Campaign. The car washes were both free and accepted donations. Collectively they raised $941 in car wash donations from both events which will directly benefit teenagers in East Hawai’i Foster Care.

Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool & Kupa ʻAina

Keiki and their ʻohana on Oʻahu ended their school year with their hands digging deep into ʻāina! Participating families enjoyed a farm scavenger, in which keiki took their map key of plants and plant foods they could find on the 5-acre farm. They spotted fruit like ʻulu and maiʻa, which many saw for the first time growing on a tree and even got to try the fresh apple bananas. 

Next, the preschool mahiʻai (farmers) potted plant foods like kalo to take home and enjoy. Many caregivers learned about new ways to cook and enjoy recipes using locally grown produce. Whenever possible, Kupa ʻAina engages with our community members to share more about the many impacts that our eating habits have, especially living on an island. The keiki were so excited to learn more from the farmers. 

Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana

Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana keiki went on a huakaʻi to their neighborhood site, Nalo Keiki Paniolo. Families interacted with animals like horses, goats, alpaca, pigs, and more. The keiki learned about what it’s like in the day of a Waimānalo paniolo, who shared about what kinds of foods and special facts each of these animals are known for. Keiki watched and even helped to use common command words like “whoa” that tell a horse to stop. 

PIDF early childhood education programs are so grateful for these opportunities to explore their communities with their ʻohana! The team at Nalo Keiki Paniolo invited Nā Pono to tour their ranch and experience the livelihood of the animals in a very exciting way. 

Ka Paʻalana 

Ka Paʻalana invited all of their ʻohana and staff to its 8th annual health fair and celebrated being “healthy, merry, and bright!” Keiki and their ʻohana stopped at booths with community partners like the Wai‘anae Coast Comprehensive Coast Center, Family Hui Hawaii, The state Department of Health, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, Ke Ola Mamo, and more. They played games like toss the ring over the Christmas tree or bean bag toss that landed on healthy practices like balancing a gift on their head while walking in a straight line or hopping five times.

ʻOhana learned about the importance of a balanced diet and nutritional foods, healthy habits like flossing and brushing teeth regularly, safe practices for social events, and how to recognize certain health concerns and when to get help. And with a focus on Native Hawaiian health and practices, keiki and their ʻohana learned about lomi lomi, lāʻau lapaʻau (traditional Native Hawaiian medicinal and spiritual practices), and the benefits of paʻakai (salt).

No Ka Paʻalana health fair is complete without a party! ʻOhana celebrated in the holiday spirit with their kumu and #KaPaalana preschool team who put together a Hawaiian Winter Wonderland! Keiki engaged in activities alongside none other than the grinch himself, as well as baby shark, a minion, and Santa Claus. Keiki, their ʻohana, and the whole team left the party with full hearts, smiles, and more equipped to care for themselves.

HONOLULU (HI Now) – The Commit to Keiki Initiative is a non-partisan education movement that ensures young children and families are at the top of the agenda for elected leaders. Rachel Pacarro meets with Nanci Kreidman (CEO, Domestic Violence Action Center) and Shawn Kanaʻiaupuni (President & CEO, Partners in Development) to discuss Commit to Keikiʻs plan to educate and encourage gubernatorial candidates to commit to the initiatives three priorities: child care and early learning, family violence prevention, and early childhood mental health. Candidate forums can be found on their website that allow viewers to hear what candidates have to say regarding their plans to help the children of Hawaii.

For more information, visit www.CommittoKeiki.org, and on Facebook @CommittoKeiki, Instagram @CommittoKeiki, or Twitter @CommittoKeiki.