Pünana LeoLanguage Nest

The Pünana Leo language nest provides a culturaleducational environment that emulates Mauli OlaHawaiÿi (Hawaiian Language and Culture).Currently, the program consists of 11 Pünana Leopreschools, one Hiÿi Pëpë infant-toddler program,and a family learning enrichment program.

Balanced with a developmentally appropriatecurriculum, our program builds the foundation for children to be kindergarten ready andculturally grounded, successful global citizens, and for parents to have an active involvement in the educational process of their keiki (children).

Pünana Leo has become the model for earlylearning in an endangered and indigenouslanguage revitalization movement and serves as the foundation for an integrated preschoolthrough doctoral program (P-20 system) ofeducation through the medium of Hawaiianlanguage.

The Pünana Leo is a member of a kuÿikahi(consortium) of an internationally recognizedassociation of schools, organizations anduniversity programs in Hawaiÿi dedicated to re-establishing Hawaiian as the first and mainlanguage of the home.

Nä KeikiChildren

Pünana Leo keiki are at the heart of our program.Students are immersed in the language and learnquickly with the help of highly fluent kumu(teachers) and fluent classmates. Many, if not all,Pünana Leo preschoolers are fully fluent inHawaiian within 3-4 months.

n Academic Excellence – Students who enroll in Hawaiian medium education consistentlyperform as well or better than their English-only peers here in Hawaiÿi.

n Early Literacy Development – The traditionalHawaiian syllabic reading structure used inPünana Leo accesses early child cognitivedevelopment, leading to rapid readingfluency, often as early as age 4.

n Ma Ka Hana Ka ÿIke – Children are taughtthrough a process of learning that encouragesanalysis and testing theories through practice;strengthening problem solving skills andpreparing them to understand theirrelationship to the broader world.

Nä ÿOhanaFamilies

ÿOhana (family) is the core of all Pünana Leoprograms and are supported through variouscommunity engagement activities provided by the program that enrich both the immediatefamilies and benefit the local community. Parentsare empowered through the papahana ÿohana(family component), which includes:

n Hoÿihoÿi Honua (in-service program) – PünanaLeo families complete over 19,520 in-kindservice hours, per year, which support ourschools and organizations in the largerHawaiÿi community.

n Hui Kïpaepae (Family Education Program) –Families attend weekly classes that followalong the curriculum of our students includinghula (dance), mele (song), and ÿike naÿauao(knowledge), so parents can learn beside theirchildren while also strengthening their use ofthe Hawaiian language.

n Häläwai ÿOhana (Family Network Meetings) –Pünana Leo’s parents, teachers, and staffmembers gather every other month to discussprogram activities, plan and organize eventssuch as Lä ÿOhana (family day) and help planyearly fundraisers that not only benefit ourstudents, but also provide a larger system ofsupport for the entire family.

Ke KaiauluThe Larger Community

Pünana Leo has continued to provide thecommunity with cultural enrichment experiencessince it was first established. Continuing this trendof indigenous language revitalization througheducation, Pünana Leo created the NiuolahikiDistance Learning Program, which is widely usedacross the globe to support Hawaiian languagelearning in many different environments, for example:

n ÿOhana Support – Modules are availablethrough video and audio recordings, interactivepractice exercises, quizzes, and access to chatrooms and discussion forums moderated bynative Hawaiian speakers.

n Staff Development – College-level courseworkprovided on the site maintains Pünana Leo’shigh educational standards and serves as afoundation of support to our teachers and staff.

n Global Learning – Niuolahiki serves as a hub forHawaiian language learning for high schoolstudents, local business people, hälau hula,Hawaiian language supporters as far asGermany and Japan and hopefully you.

We welcome you to take a look at the enrichmentopportunities available on our site. Registration isyear round and can be found at:www.ahapunanaleo.org

E Ola Ka ÿÖlelo Hawaiÿi

The ‘Aha Pünana Leo is anon-profit, family-based educationalorganization dedicated to therevitalization of the Hawaiianlanguage. We are committed toproviding the community with highquality programs that align with our vision and mission.

We rely on the generosity of thecommunities we impact to ensure that our programs continue.

Partner with us by donating today atwww.ahapunanaleo.org and inquireabout legacy giving.

Ka NuÿukiaPünana Leo VisionE Ola Ka ‘Ölelo Hawai‘iThe Hawaiian language shall live

Ke Ala NuÿukiaPünana Leo MissionUa ulu mai ke aukahi Pünana Leo mai lokomai o ka ‘i‘ini e ho‘okumu pa‘a ‘ia a puni ‘o Hawai‘i nei ke külana mana o ka ‘öleloHawai‘i ola mai o Kikilo mai. ‘O ka hana a ka ‘ohana Pünana Leo, ‘o ia ka ho‘okumu,ho‘olako, a mälama i nä kaiapuni ‘öleloHawai‘i like ‘ole. ‘O nä ‘ohana ke ola o iamau kaiapuni, a ma ke aloha akua, aloha‘ölelo, aloha lähui, aloha ‘äina, a me ke aloha na‘auao e pono ai käkou.

The Pünana Leo movement grew out of a dream that there be reestablishedthroughout Hawai‘i the mana of a livingHawaiian language from the depths of ourorigins. The Pünana Leo family initiates,provides for, and nurtures various Hawaiianlanguage environments. Our families are theliving essence of these environments, and wefind our strength in our spirituality, love ofour language, love of our people, love of our land, and love of knowledge.

Fifty to ninety percent,of the 6,000 endangered native languagesare estimated to die by the year 2100. Withthe extinction of each of these languagesdie the cultural history, distinct identity,and the perspective on life of its people. In1983, with less than 50 native speakers ofHawaiian language under the age of 18, asmall group of parents and educatorsconceived and initiated the Pünana Leolanguage nest immersion program. Sincethen, thousands have attended PünanaLeo preschools and matriculated intoHawaiian-language medium elementaryand high schools.

E Ola Ka ÿÖlelo HawaiÿiThe Hawaiian Language Shall Live

96 Pu‘uhonu Place • Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720Toll Free: 1-800-498-4979 • www.ahapunanaleo.org

© Kuleana Kope ‘Aha Pünana Leo

... kipa mai. komoE Emai i loko.” –Oli Hoÿokipa (Welcome Chant)

“Welcome to the ÿAha Pünana Leo family. Join us as we share what is ours.”

“Ua hamama ka ‘ïpuka.

‘O ko makou wahi opu weuweu la,

nou ia...

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