2024 NATIVE HAWAIIAN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CONSORTIUM CONFERENCE
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u o h a l a Ho ! E V O O R G E H T N I K C A B G GETTIN
FEBRUARY 16, 2024 • KOʻOLAU BALLROOMS
2024 ʻELEU CONFERENCE NATIVE HAWAIIAN EARLY CHILDHOOD
Conference Agenda 8:00 - 8:30
Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 - 9:00
Welina and Pule
9:00 - 9:45
Opening Keynote Speaker*: Kamaka Dias, Director of Outreach for Hawaiiverse
9:55 - 10:55
Breakout Session #1
11:00 - 11:40
Lunch
11:45 - 12:30
Afternoon Keynote Speaker*: Tiare Agpaoa, Education Manager of Papahana Kuaola
12:40 - 1:40
Breakout Session #2
1:45 - 2:30
Final Group Activity and Closing*
*Both Keynote Speakers and Final Group Activity will be in the Grand Ballroom
ALL POST-WORKSHOP EVALUATIONS
OVERALL 2024 ʻELEU CONFERENCE EVALUATION
Speaker Information Opening Keynote Speaker: 9:00 - 9:45am
Kamaka Dias is a Native Hawaiian from the Big Island
of Hawaiʻi. He grew up in Hilo attending Hawaiian Language Immersion schools throughout his life until he moved to Kaiser High School on O'ahu for his senior year. Before leaving for Madagascar to volunteer in the Peace Corps for three years, Kamaka attended the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa and graduated with a B.A. in Communications and a certificate in Spanish. Upon returning home from the Peace Corps in 2019, Kamaka started a campaign called, “The Race To 50k” where he paid off $53,757 of student loans in one year. He is currently the Director of Outreach for Hawaiiverse, a platform that supports local businesses. Kamaka also hosts the Keep it Aloha Podcast, which highlights local figures in Hawaiʻi to discuss what keeping it aloha really means.
Afternoon Keynote Speaker: 11:45 - 12:30pm
Tiare Agpaoa is a kupa ʻāina of Koʻolau, Oʻahu. Her passion for practicing and perpetuating all that is Hawaiʻi stems from her hula lineage. She has studied the art of hula for over 40 years under nā kumu hula Aunty Maiki Aiu Lake and her daughter Coline Aiu of Hālau Hula O Maiki and holds the title of ʻŌlapa, graduated dancer. Tiare has over 30 years of teaching experience from Pre-K through 12th grade. She has written, developed and implemented Hawaiian culturally based curriculums for vaious organizations from early childhood through adult education. She is currently the Education Manager at Papahana Kuaola where she has developed ʻāina and culture based programs for students, teachers, ʻohana and the community.
ʻAʻohe pau ka ʻike i ka hālau hoʻokahi All knowledge is not taught in the same school. ʻŌlelo Noʻeau #203
Breakout Session #1 9:55 - 10:55 am “Let’s write the books our keiki can relate to” with Kaila Alcoran-Gaston and Heather Eisen *This session will be available in Breakout #1 and #2
Kaila Alcoran-Gaston is the Site Manager for Tūtū and Me East Hawaiʻi. Kaila and her team serve the keiki and their ʻohana from Hilo to Pāhoa. She was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaiʻi in the homestead of Keaukaha. In her 5 years at Tūtu and Me, sheʻs moved from Teaching Assistant to Project Assistant and most recently Site Manager. She does not have any keiki yet, but she does have 4 fur "babies. Heather Eisen is the Assessment Specialist for Tūtū and Me East Hawaiʻi with almost 4.5 years of experience in total! She was born in Hilo, Hawaiʻi and currently resides in Pāhoa with her mother, sister and son. She has a B.A. in Philosophy and a certificate in Special Education. She enjoys learning about the families she works with and is always looking for ways to connect with them. Her favorite motto is, “Never Give Up!”
“E Ho’i Ke Ola - Let Life Return” with Me’ja Kaniho Me’ja Kaniho, MA, IECMH-E®, is the Statewide Program Director for Keiki O Ka ʻĀina’s He Lei Piko Home Visiting Program. Born and raised in Lahaina, Maui, she has the honor of overseeing and supporting a diverse team of talented Parent Educators and home visiting program staff who are invested in helping parents become their child's first and best teachers. Cultural Based Education is the foundational core of Keiki O Ka ʻĀina and Me’ja intertwines her experience as a former preschool director, crisis home visitor, substance abuse counselor and her current work in the infant mental health, trauma informed care, and social work fields to formulate best practices within the agency of integrating culture with Western standards and ideologies.
“He Kanaka ʻEpekema Au” with Kanaloa Bishop Kanaloa Bishop is a proud Kaʻalaea native. Born and raised in Kahaluʻu, Oʻahu, Kanaloa is a native Hawaiian and grew up both in ocean and land. As the oldest of four boys, Kanaloa and his brothers learned to dive and fish for their own food with their father at a very young age. It was also at this age when he was exposed to his parent’s work with Mauka Loʻi, a group of farmers’ restoring old loʻi kalo and the fight for water rights along the Windward side of Oʻahu in the late 1980-1990’s. Kanaloa’s life work has focused on educating the community and his students on the importance of growing and eating our own foods especially staple crops important to native Hawaiians and our relationship to fresh and salt waters. Kanaloa’s values on food, water and cultural abundance for Hawaiʻi is exemplified in his years of experience in advocating for revitalization of ancient Hawaiian fishponds and farmlands across the paeʻāina. Ola i ka wai. Ua lawa mākou i ka pōhaku.
Breakout Session #1 9:55 - 10:55 am “Stories from the Field - Pilina as the Vehicle for Successful Families” with Denise Mazepa and Dolly Naeole Denise Mazepa is a parent educator and home visitor with Partners in Development Foundation's Ka Pa’alana Program. She works with a team that supports the families in Waianae. She has worked with families in crisis for over 30 years. She believes she was given a gift to support families in some of their hardest times; she finds herself sharing her life experiences. Seeing families thrive and regain a new meaning in their lives feeds her passion. Building trusting relationships with caregivers is the most rewarding thing about her work. In her personal life, she enjoys time at the beach reflecting and relaxing, she loves to watch her grandson play Football, his passion! Dolly Naeole was born and raised in Nanakuli on the west side of Waianae. She comes from a big family of eight girls and six boys, and they all reside in Nanakuli homestead. She has been the Parent Educator/Home visitor for Ka Paʻalana for the past eight years; before working at Ka Paʻalana, she worked as a developmental therapist/home visitor. Working with families from the community is Aunty Dollyʻs passion. Her mission is to inspire and equip families and communities for success using Native Hawaiian values and tradition.
“Living in both worlds!” with Germaine Tauati and Chantal Richie Germaine Tauati is the Program Director for the Early Literacy Program at INPEACE. Germaine has been employed by the Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture (INPEACE) since 2003, and has served as a Parent Participant, teacher, trainer, Mentor Coach, and Manager. Germaine is the wife of Reef Tauati, mother to Kamaka, Javen, Isaiah, and Chalet, and grandmother to Zoram, Maia and Lataʻema. In her spare time, you can find her serving the YSA, the Keaukaha Panaʻewa Farmers Association, and the Keaukaha Ward. Chantal Richie has been employed with INPEACE since 2016, and is currently an Early Literacy Coach. Since working with INPEACE, Chantal has also served as a Parent Participant, ʻOhana Advocate, and Teacher’s Aide. Chantal loves helping people, and is actively involved in ministry. She is the wife of Charles Richie, and mother to Gabrielle, Janelle, Charles Anthony, and JoshuaIn her spare time, you can find her being an “uber mom” and a Master’s student.
Breakout Session #1 9:55 - 10:55 am “Mālama Lāhui” with April Shiraishi and Twila Kawai April Shiraishi is an Associate Program Director at the Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture (INPEACE) - Hi’ilei Program. She is responsible for curriculum, supervision, professional development, and quality assurance. April graduated from Chaminade University of Honolulu with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Minor in History. She has over 17 years of experience, working with families and young children in various early childhood settings on the Waianae Coast. Twila Kawai is a Parent Educator at the Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture (INPEACE) - Hi’ilei Program. She provides home visits with prenatal mothers and ‘Ohana with keiki under 3 years old. Twila graduated from the Grand Canyon University with a Master of Science in Mental Health and Wellness. She has over 14 years of experience, working with families and young children in various early childhood settings on the Waianae Coast.
“Aloha Rituals: Critical Elements of Pilina for Life-Long Connections” with Lani Bowman Lani Bowman is employed with the Partners in Development Foundation. Initially, she worked with the Hui Hoʻomalu Foster Care Program and has been serving as a Home Visitor with Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool since 2016. Lani currently serves as a Caregiver Educator with Tūtū and Me ʻOhana Support on the Hawaiʻi Island. Over the last six years, Lani has been involved with Conscious Discipline, a trauma-informed social-emotional learning system. She is the owner of SET IT UP (Sensible Education Through Innovative Techniques and Uplifting Programs). Lani is a guardian and adoptive parent to ten grown children. During her free time, she enjoys long-distance swimming to reconnect and revive herself.
Breakout Session #2 12:40 - 1:40 pm “Hoʻokumu: Laying the Foundation for Growing Our Own Teachers in Waiʻanae” with Ka Lama Education Academy Francine Medeiros has been with INPEACE since 2022, and is currently serving as Ka Lama Education Academy’s Program Director. She is the wife of Leland Medeiros Jr., and mother to Tori and Micah. Francine loves to help others, to cook, be in the ocean, and spend time with ‘ohana and friends. Kauinohea Peneku has been with INPEACE since 2018 and is a Program Assistant for Ka Lama Education Academy. She is a single-mother of two daughters and loves to bake, craft, and travel. Shaina Caspino is an Educational Pathway Coach, and has been with INPEACE since 2023. Shaina loves family time, whether that be family outings, game nights, and even dinner debates. She is passionate for serving others and supporting communities. Kamakani Palakiko has been with INPEACE since 2023, and is currently an Educational Pathway Coach. Kamakani loves singing, playing music, hanging out with ‘ohana and friends, gaming, going to the beach, and being a fun uncle to his 3 nephews and 3 nieces. Natashya Nihipali is an Educational Pathway Coach, and has been with INPEACE since 2023. She loves to help others, read, hang out with ‘ohana, go to the beach, and be a great aunty to her 6 nephews. Mark Pinho has been with INPEACE since 2021 and is the STEM Curriculum Development Specialist. He loves Star Wars, Harry Potter, Marvel and DC Comics, and exercising. In his free time, you can catch Mark playing video games or the guitar, practicing jiu-jitsu, running, hiking, or watching anime and 80's and 90's Saturday Morning Cartoons. Dr. Donna A. Camvel, Ph.D. is an Education System Specialist, and has been with INPEACE since 2021. She manages 2.5 acres of ‘Aina Kuleana in ‘Iolekaʻa and Heʻeia. Dr. Camvel is the proud mama of three young men, and an awesome tutu to eight moʻopuna.
“He Aupuni Palapala Koʻu: Pedagogy & Philosophy of the Lāhui Hawaiʻi” with Gabrielle Ahuliʻi Ferreira Holt Gabrielle Ahuliʻi Ferreira Holt is an ‘Ōiwi author & school librarian. She has published a series of adaptations of moʻolelo with Beach House Publishing (Hawaiian Legends for Little Ones) and a graphic novel adaptation of Hiʻiaka and Panaʻewa (published by Capstone). She works at Hanahauʻoli School, a 106 year old progressive school in Makiki.
Breakout Session #2 12:40 -- 1:40 12:40 1:40pm pm
“PATCH Hawaiʻi”
with Hanna Wingate and Brandi Oshiro Hanna Wingate is a Resource & Referral Specialist II at PATCH. Her primary role is to facilitate families' connections with childcare options, fee assistance, and other childcare resources. In addition, she has started to work closely with other organizations to help them understand how PATCH can better serve their communities. Hanna’s passion for early childhood education led her to pursue a Bachelor's of Applied Sciences in ECE from North Seattle College in 2021, and she has been working in the field since 2018. Working at PATCH is the perfect fit for Hanna, as she is strongly committed to promoting access and affordability for early childhood education for all. When not at work, you'll find her running, playing soccer, or spending time with her dog and husband. She is new to Oʻahu, having moved here from Seattle, Washington in July 2023, and so far, her time here has been an incredible experience! Brandi Oshiro is a Family Navigator Supervisor at PATCH. She started with PATCH as a Program Specialist for Preschool Open Doors (POD). It was then that she discovered her passion in working with our families. Most of Brandi’s time at PATCH has been with POD and as the Homeless Outreach Coordinator, which gave her the opportunity to be more involved in the community and various organizations. She has recently transitioned to PATCH’s Child Care Resource & Referral program as the Family Navigator Supervisor. The program assists the Child Care Subsidy program by helping their eligible families bridge the gap between finding a child care provider that suits their family’s need. When not at work you can find Brandi hanging out with her fiance and two dogs, being a plant mom, hiking, playing pickleball, finding new places to eat, practicing eyelash extensions and tattooing eyebrows, and last but not least, sleeping.
“Strengthening Families Affected by Incarceration” with Memory Ku Memory Ku was the program manager for the Supporting Families Affected by Incarceration (SFAI) programs at Keiki 'O Ka 'Aina Family Learning Center (KOKA). Her ten years managing the programs under SFAI included, the Mentoring Children of Prisoners Program (MCP) and Supporting Keiki of Incarcerated Parents (SKIP). She provided direct services to the children with a parent incarcerated, caregivers of the children, and the incarcerated parent. She provided training to potential mentors and matched them with a child or youth, did outreach in the community to reach caregivers and children for the mentoring program. She created play and learn groups for the children and their incarcerated parents behind the prison walls, conducted parenting classes for incarcerated parents, and provided support to the caregivers. Memory has a passion for this population because her daughter's father was also incarcerated.
Breakout Session #2 12:40 - 1:40 pm “New Beginnings, Keala Hou” with Earl Kawaʻa Earl Kawa’a is one of five children raised on a taro farm in Halawa Valley, Molokaʻi. With a Master’s in Social Work, he has worked at Queen Liliʻuokalani Children’s Center, the Department of Human Services, Waimānalo Health Center, and is currently a Hawaiian Resource Specialist at Kamehameha Schools. Kawa‘a, who is called Uncle Earl or kumu by many of his more than 5,000 students, is one of only 28 living mānaleo or native speakers left in Hawaiʻi. For nearly a decade, Kawa‘a has carried on the Hawaiian tradition of making hand-carved poi boards and stone poi pounders. He grew up on Moloka‘i during a time when almost every family he knew had a poi board and pounder. In 2006, a coworker asked him to go back to Moloka‘i to teach poi pounding. He was traumatized by what he called the end of Hawaiian cultural practice, as all he could find was one board and two stones. It had to be revived. With a degree in counseling and social work, he is schooled in both worlds. He is able to walk on both sides of the line comfortably, but his baseline is culture. Family strengthening and leadership are a focus of his efforts
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Breakout Schedule
Mahalo!
FOR SHARING YOUR FEEDBACK AFTER EACH SESSION ALL POST-WORKSHOP EVALUATIONS
In consideration for others, please change your cell phone to vibrate or mute during the conference. There are two designated “Cell Phone Zones” and Active Networking areas on-site, indoors. We kindly ask that you have your cell phone conversations away from the main conference and breakout areas.
Mahalo! Sending a special “Mahalo Nui Loa” to the U.S. Department of Education, Native Hawaiian Education. We also send YOU a “mahalo nui” for attending this year’s ‘ELEU Conference. We hope you had a fun day filled with new-found ‘ike (knowledge) to use as we teach Hawaiʻi’s keiki and support our communities. See you at the next ‘ELEU event!