Since 2000, Pihana Nā Mamo: The Native Hawaiian Special Education Project has been a collaborative effort between CRDG and the Hawai‘i Department of Education. This partnership identified, developed, and implemented effective programs to meet the unique needs of Native Hawaiian students.
A new phase of Pihana Nā Mamo began in 2006 with funding for two new projects that build upon Pihana Nā Mamo’s seventeen years of successfully working with students, families, and community agencies, and allowed the project to continue their work supporting at-risk students and early reading success.
Kāko‘o Piha focuses on providing at-risk Hawaiian students with systematic mentoring and transition planning, intensive academic support, and pro-social skills training to develop cultural competencies and resiliency. By the end of the three-year period, Kāko‘o Piha will have worked with ninety seventh graders as they progress through middle/intermediate schools and will continue to support them during their first year in high school. The project will also track 219 eleventh graders and continue to support them through the first year in their post-high-school, college, or work settings.
Nā Lama Heluhelu is designed to address the beginning reading needs of Native Hawaiian students in kindergarten through third grade. The project has established and supported fifteen beacon schools in communities serving large numbers of Hawaiian students at risk for reading difficulties. The beacon schools are supported to establish the following critical elements of effective school-wide reading programs: (1) reading as an established school priority; (2) an assessment system that screens, monitors progress, and informs reading instruction; (3) research-based core and supplemental reading programs and materials; (4) sufficient and protected instructional reading time; (5) differentiated instructional groupings, materials, and flexible schedules to assist struggling readers; (6) administrative leadership and ability to allocate resources to support reading; and (7) ongoing professional development that supports building school-level expertise and capabilities. The project anticipates serving approximately 6,300 students, including 3,676 Hawaiian and Part-Hawaiian students, 250 teachers and school-level instructional staff, and more than 800 parents and community members.
Pihana Nā Mamo Community Partners
Castle High School
Hale‘iwa Elementary School
Hāna High & Elementary School
Hau‘ula Elementary School
Jarrett Middle School
Kahalu‘u Elementary School
Kailua High School
Kaimukī High School
Kamaile Elementary School
King Intermediate School
Kapa‘a High School
Kapa‘a Middle School
Kapi‘olani Elementary School
Kaunakakai Elementary School
Kea‘au Elementary School
Kea‘au High School
Keaukaha Elementary School
Konawaena High School
Kualapu‘u Elementary School
Mā‘ili Elementary School
Mountain View Elementary School
Parker Elementary School
Waiāhole Elementary School
Waiākea High School
Waihe‘e Elementary School
Hawaii Department of Education
U.S. Department of Education