On February 12th, the State Capitol\u2019s rotunda was transformed into a Family Child Interactive Learning (FCIL) site. Hundreds of families from across the island gathered in support of Native Hawaiian early childhood education. \u2018Eleu, the Native Hawaiian Early Childhood Consortium, coordinated the family-engagement event to illustrate the many benefits of involving parents and caregivers in their keiki\u2019s early learning. Colorful activities blanketed the rotunda floors as Kealani Makaiwi of Keiki O Ka \u02bb\u0100ina opened the event with a k\u0101hea, followed by \u02bboli from participating \u2018Eleu programs: The Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture (INPEACE), Keiki \u02bb\u014c Ka \u2018\u0100ina Family Learning Centers (KOKA), and Ka Pa\u02bbalana, N\u0101 Pono, and T\u016bt\u016b and Me Travelling Preschool of our Partners In Development Foundation (PIDF).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speakers greeted families and praised families\u2019 commitment to their keiki\u2019s education and encouraged policymakers to support our family-strengthening programs. Senator Jill Tokuda said, “We need to do more for our youngest of keiki to make sure that we had resources, to make sure that our babies could start right when they started Kindergarten and put more towards early learning.\u201d Representative Andria Tupola and Representative Lauren Matsumoto also came and spoke words of encouragement and support that meant so much to families. They all spent some time interacting with keiki in the different centers laid out on the mats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alex Santiago, coordinator for No Vote No Grumble and the Pono Policy Academy, commented, \u201cWe have a lot of people here who want to educate our legislators, our policymakers, about the importance of early childhood education. We want to just make sure that our policymakers know that there are a lot of people out there that really care about their support for these programs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PIDF President, Jan Dill, asked, \u201cPehea n\u0101 keiki? Pehea n\u0101 k\u016bpuna? How are the children? How are the elders?\u201d These questions is a gauge to measure the health of the community. Thankfully, we know that when families become part of our Native Hawaiian FCIL programs, they are being supported, mentored, and surrounded by rich learning opportunities that embrace Hawaiian cultural values. FCIL programs support our \u2018ohana in two key ways: 1. They provide preschool experience for keiki who may not be able to attend traditional preschool and 2. They support parents, grandparents, and other caregivers as keiki\u2019s first and most important teacher. Keiki gain educational and social skills needed for successful transition into Kindergarten, while caregivers learn teaching techniques and advocacy skills that help them to support their keiki. Research has shown that family involvement in keiki\u2019s early learning is linked to improved verbal, motor, and adaptive skills as well as academic success in school, and that when parents are involved in the early years, they are more likely to continue to support their keiki\u2019s learning in the years ahead. To contact policymakers to encourage their support of our FCIL programs, click on the links below to locate your district representatives and their contact information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022(Senate) List of Senators and Districts<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022(House) List of Representatives and Districts<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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