While volunteering with keiki at Pūnana Leo o Kawaiaha‘o preschool during the fulfillment of her Hawaiian language requirement as a University of Hawai‘i student, Dr. Meahilahila Kelling had an “Aha!” moment.
“Education actually found me,” said Kelling.
“At that moment, I was committed. I realized the power of education and especially the significant impact that Hawaiian language and culture have on the total well-being of families and communities.”
Today, Kelling is director of Ke Kula ʻo Samuel M. Kamakau Laboratory Public Charter School – a preschool-grade 12 Hawaiian medium school – and mother of three.
In recognition of her work in educating Native Hawaiians over the past two decades, Kelling was honored with the Kamehameha Schools 2017 Native Hawaiian Community Educator of the Year award as part of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement’s Native Hawaiian Convention at Sheraton Waikiki Hotel & Resort.
The Native Hawaiian Community Educator of the Year award was presented on Tuesday, Oct. 10, and recognizes visionary education leaders in Hawai‘i who create learning environments that successfully engage Native Hawaiian learners. Award recipients are contributors to the practice and perpetuation of the Hawaiian culture and/or language and are known for involving families and communities in the learning process.
“I would welcome and encourage anyone considering Hawaiian culture-based education as a career with this ʻolelo noʻeau: ‘E lauhoe mai nā waʻa; i ke kā, i ka hoe, i ka hoe, i ke kā; pae aku i ka ʻāina,’ which translates as ‘Everybody paddle the canoes together, bail and paddle, paddle and bail and the shore is reached,’” Kelling said. “It takes everyone to paddle in unison to get to our destination and when we arrive, there are always other places to go.”
Kelling advanced through Chaminade University’s teacher certification program before eventually earning a Master of Education degree in early childhood education/elementary education as well as a Doctor of Education certification from the University of Southern California.
“Dr. Kelling has devoted countless hours to the Hawaiian-focused charter schools (HFCS) and Kula Kaiapuni (Hawaiian language immersion), and her dedication to the educational well-being of all Native Hawaiian learners exemplifies leadership in Hawaiian education,” said Kūamahi Community Education Managing Director Waiʻaleʻale Sarsona. Kūamahi is a division within KS’ Community Engagement and Resources Group, which focuses on connecting KS and community resources to address educational needs specific to individual communities.
Kelling noted that there is still plenty of work to be done as HFCS are redefining “success” to include students’ readiness to serve and lead their communities in addition to being college and career ready.
“We have developed a shared ‘vision of the graduate’ in a collaborative effort across all 17 HFCS and are currently piloting six culturally relevant assessment tools to measure our students’ community, college and career readiness,” Kelling said. “Students are uplifted daily in our schools where learning is contextualized, and as they are rooted in their language and culture.”
Ke Kula ʻo Samuel M. Kamakau Laboratory Public Charter School is a member of Kanaeokana – the kula Hawai‘i network of ʻōlelo Hawai‘i, Hawaiian culture and ʻāina-based schools from the preschool to university level aimed at strengthening Hawaiian education. Kamehameha Schools is among the educational partners of the network.
Dr. Kelling has devoted countless hours to the Hawaiian-focused charter schools and Kula Kaiapuni, and her dedication to the educational well-being of all Native Hawaiian learners exemplifies leadership in Hawaiian education.
Waiʻaleʻale Sarsona, KS Kūamahi Community Education Managing Director
Kelling received the award at the Oct. 10 Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement’s Native Hawaiian Convention at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel & Resort.
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