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Culture-based Education Research Resources

Culture-based education (CBE), and more specifically Hawaiian culture-based education (HCBE), is a key lever to achieving Kamehameha School’s (KS) Vision 2040 of a thriving lāhui. We believe that HCBE instills confidence and resiliency in Native Hawaiian learners to improve the well-being of the lāhui. An HCBE system engages Native Hawaiian learners to reach positive socio-emotional and academic outcomes. For that reason, KS is committed to creating and promoting an HCBE system where all students, Native Hawaiian learners in particular, will thrive and reach their full potential.

What is Culture-Based Education? 

CBE is grounded in the foundational values, norms, knowledge, beliefs, practices, experiences, and language of a(n indigenous) culture. It “places significance on Native language; place-based, and experiential learning, cultural identity; holistic well-being; and personal connections and belonging to family, community, and ancestors” (Alcantara, Keahiolalo, and Peirce, 2016). The literature base for CBE describes five basic elements that comprise this approach: Language, Family & Community, Context, Content, and Data & Accountability.

What is Hawaiian Culture-Based Education? 

In HCBE, the five elements of CBE are applied specifically from a Native Hawaiian perspective. For example, HCBE practitioners strive to incorporate ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) in the classroom and involve family and community in the development of Hawaiian-centered curricula relevant to learners. By sustaining the values, traditions, and language of Hawaiʻi through HCBE, we hope to see Native Hawaiians grow in success and contribute to their communities both locally and globally.

Culture-Based Education Resource Collection

This HCBE collection includes exclusively research-focused resources that explore CBE and HCBE in varying contexts. Users should make their own assessments of the quality of the data from these sources. It is our hope that these resources will support your journey to ʻimi naʻauao, or seek wisdom, that would strengthen the lāhui.

If you would like a research study to be included in this collection, please email us at strategy.innovation@ksbe.edu.



Our goal is to disseminate the results of our work as broadly as possible to benefit our communities and lāhui.

Search our collection using the filters below to narrow results. You may select multiple filters.


Other criteria:
Age band(s): [X] K-12   [X] College & Career  
Type(s): [X] Brief   [X] Journal  


TitleAuthor(s)YearAge bandTypeTopics
Use of Native Language and Culture (NLC) in Elementary and Middle School Instruction as a Predictor of Mathematics AchievementMark J. Van Ryzin and Claudia G. Vincent2017K-12JournalEducation (general)
Triarchically-Based Instruction and Assessment of Sixth-Grade Mathematics in a Yup'ik Cultural Setting in AlaskaRobert J. Sternberg, Jerry Lipka, Tina Newman, Sandra Wildfeuer, and Elena L. Grigorenko2005K-12Journal
Psychometric Properties of the Hawaiian Culture Scale - Adolescent VersionEarl Hishinuma, Naleen Andrade, Ronal Johnson, John McArdle, Robin Miyamoto, Linda Nahulu George Makini, Noelle Yuen, Stephanie Nishimura, John McDermott, Jane Waldron, Kenneth Luke, and Alayne Yates2000K-12Journal
Native Hawaiians in Public Schools: Implications of AYP Status in Predominantly Native Hawaiian SchoolsWendy Kekahio2007K-12Brief
Mohala i ka wai: Cultural Advantage as a Framework for Indigenous Culture-Based Education and Student OutcomesShawn M. Kanaiaupuni, Brandon Ledward, and Nolan Malone2017K-12Journal
Making Meaning: Connecting School to Hawaiian Students' LivesLois A. Yamauchi, Tasha R. Wyatt, and Alice H. Taum2005K-12Journal
He Pūkoʻa Kani ʻĀina: Mapping Student Growth in Hawaiian-Focused Charter SchoolShawn M. Kanaʻiaupuni2008K-12Journal
Family Involvement in a Hawaiian Language Immersion ProgramLois A. Yamauchi, Jo-Anne Lau-Smith, and Rebecca J.I. Luning2008K-12Journal
Education with Aloha and Student AssetsKatherine Tibbets, Kū Kahakalau, and Zanette Johnson2007K-12Journal
Education and Native Hawaiian Children: Revisiting KEEPRoland G. Tharp, Cathie Jordan, Gisela E. Speidel, Kathryn Hu-Pei Au, Thomas W. Klein, Roderick P. Calkin, Kim C.M. Sloat, and Ronald Gallimore2007K-12Journal
Culture-Based Education and Its Relationship to Student OutcomesShawn M. Kanaʻiaupuni, Brandon Ledward, and ʻUmi Jensen2013K-12Journal
Culturally Responsive Schooling for Indigenous Youth: A Review of the LiteratureAngelina E. Castagno and Bryan McKinley Jones Brayboy2008K-12Journal
Constant Perimeter, Varying Area: A Case Study of Teaching and Learning Mathematics to Design a Fish RackAnthony Rickard2005K-12Journal
An Exploratory Study of Cultural Identity and Culture-Based Educational Program for Urban American Indian StudentsKristin M. Powers2006K-12Journal
Academic Achievement Across School Types in Hawaiʻi: Outcomes for Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian students in conventional public schools, western-focused charters, and Hawaiian language and culture-based schoolsBrennan Takayama2008K-12Journal

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