UH Hilo’s Kahuawaiola Program Trains Future Hawaiian and Indigenous Teachers

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo is addressing a shortage of Hawaiian immersion teachers through the Kahuawaiola Hawaiian and Indigenous Teacher Training Program. According to the university, the program prepares future kumu by combining Hawaiian language instruction with professional mentorship to support Hawaiian medium education.

The initiative operates within Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikolani College of Hawaiian Language. It focuses on creating a pipeline of qualified educators capable of teaching in environments where Hawaiian is the primary medium of instruction, a critical need for the sustainability of immersion schools across the islands.

The program’s structure relies on a dual approach of linguistic proficiency and practical application. Students engage in rigorous study of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi while receiving guidance from experienced mentors who are already established in the field of indigenous education.

Tahiti Chong is involved in the program’s efforts to grow the number of available teachers. The training is designed to ensure that new educators are not only fluent in the language but also equipped with the pedagogical tools necessary to manage a classroom in a Hawaiian medium setting.

The demand for these teachers is driven by the growth of Hawaiian immersion programs and the ongoing effort to revitalize the native language. A lack of certified immersion teachers has historically posed a challenge to the expansion and stability of these educational institutions.

By integrating mentorship into the curriculum, the Kahuawaiola program aims to bridge the gap between academic study and the actual practice of teaching. This model allows candidates to learn the nuances of cultural transmission and instructional methods directly from veteran kumu.

The program is part of a broader strategy at the University of Hawaiʻi system to support indigenous language revitalization. Through the College of Hawaiian Language, UH Hilo provides the academic framework required for teachers to meet state certification standards while maintaining the cultural integrity of Hawaiian medium education.