Office of Hawaiian Affairs awards grant to ‘Aha Pūnana Leo

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs awarded a $79,514 grant entitled “Noiʻi OHA” to ʻAha Pūnana Leo, Inc.

These grants are focused on ʻohana based practices in perpetuation of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) to serve the Native Hawaiian community.

This Office of Hawaiian Affairs grant is funded by the Administration for Native Americans, made available under the American Rescue Plan, for Native American language preservation and maintenance, made to sub-recipients. This grant also aligns with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ mission, vision, and Mana i Mauli Ola Strategic Plan 2020-2035.

The purpose of Noiʻi OHA is to increase the Hawaiian language fluency of ʻohana in homes with children enrolled in Hawaiian Medium Early Childhood Education throughout the state to better support their child’s educational development and journey in ʻōlelo Hawai‘i.

“We are really grateful for the opportunity to work with OHA on this research project,” said
ʻAha Pūnana Leo Luna Ho‘okele Chief Executive Officer Ka‘iulani Laehā. “Our connection
to ʻohana is critical in the work of language revitalization. We put significant effort into
ensuring that the ʻohana can support their keiki in Hawaiian language medium settings so
that there is a bridge from classrooms to their homes.”

‘Aha Pūnana Leo is a non-profit, family-based educational organization dedicated to the
revitalization of the Hawaiian language. It is the world’s first accredited early education
program conducted through an endangered and indigenous language, accredited by the
World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium.

There are 13 Pūnana Leo childcare centers throughout the state located on the islands of Hawai‘i, Maui, Moloka‘i, O‘ahu and Kaua‘i.