A team from the University of 撸sir视频ʻi at Mānoa tasked with groundbreaking efforts to help advance the campus as a Native 撸sir视频ian Place of Learning launched an immersive initiative with an inaugural cohort of executives, faculty, staff and 撸sir视频 this spring. On March 18, the 撸sir视频 Mānoa (NHPoL AO) started a weeklong professional development series guiding more than 50 participants in activities focused around Native 撸sir视频ian values and traditions such as mapping various moʻokūʻauhau (genealogies that shape us) mālama ʻāina (care for the land), oli (chants), and pilina (connection) circles.
“If we want our 撸sir视频, the next generation, to be more connected to each other and to this place we have to model that and sometimes that means we have to go learn that and so we are growing the next generation by also growing the sources that nourish them,” said Kaiwipunikauikawēkiu Punihei Lipe, director NHPoL AO.
- Related 撸sir视频 News story: Leading 撸sir视频 撸sir视频 to become a Native 撸sir视频ian place of learning, March 6, 2024
Cohort lessons to inform long-term goals
This launch marks the start of a two-year journey for the first cohort of 撸sir视频 Mānoa units, called Cohort Kumukahi. These efforts are part of a multi-step process to achieve goals articulated in the , which outlines 撸sir视频 Mānoa’s main priorities and strategies for achieving them.
The NHPoL AO team will help units, schools/colleges and departments across campus work toward creating five-year strategic plans focused on how each can take steps toward becoming a Native 撸sir视频ian place of learning in four specific focus areas; Native 撸sir视频ian student success, staff and faculty development, Native 撸sir视频ian environments and Native 撸sir视频ian community engagement.
While on this Indigenous-based path, participants will delve deeply into exercises based on Native 撸sir视频ian ideals and perspectives.
ʻIke 撸sir视频ʻi (Ways of knowing)
- Moʻokūʻauhau (the many genealogies that shape us)
- Kaikuaʻana and Kaikaina (Intergenerational interdependent relationships)
- Kuleana (our responsibilities and privileges)
- Hānai and Hoʻomalu (nourishing and protecting each other)
- Mālama (tending to and caring for one another)
History Professor Karen Jolly expressed her enthusiasm for incorporating Indigenous perspectives into classroom curriculum.
“I want to be able to do that…to integrate Native 撸sir视频ian ways of thinking and being and doing into my classroom and research,” Jolly said.
With this initiative, 撸sir视频 Mānoa is taking significant steps towards fostering an inclusive and culturally rooted educational environment that pays homage to 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈’蝉 Indigenous people.
A total of 13 units comprise Cohort Kumukahi:
- 撸sir视频 Cancer Center
- College of Arts, Languages and Letters
- College of Engineering
- College of Social Sciences
- Division of Student Success
- 撸sir视频ʻi Institute of Marine Biology
- Institute for Astronomy
- John A. Burns School of Medicine
- Nancy Atmospera-Walch School of Nursing
- Office of Communications
- Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health
- 撸sir视频ʻi Sea Grant
- School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology
This May, more than 90 participants will join this work and begin training.
