Mala‘Ai

Awards Issued Prior to January 20, 2025, Were Funded Under Previous Administrations and May Not Reflect the Priorities and Policies of the Current Administration. Ke Kumu Uluwehi: an Indigenous Garden Mentorship Program Will Train and Equip K-12 Teachers to Conduct 'AINA-BASED (cultural, Place-based) Educational Experiences With Academic Rigor. the Program Will Develop a Cadre of 60 Garden Educators Who Can Provide Ongoing Indigenous Mentoring and Support to Their Garden Education Peers Across HAWAI'I County. Through This Nucleus of 60 Educators, We Expect to Indirectly Benefit at Least 1,800 or About 8-10% of All County K-12 Students, Positively Impacting Their Academic Performance; Social Emotional Learning; Agricultural Knowledge and Skills; and Sense of Stewardship. the Program Will Recruit Teachers Who Are Currently or Aspire to Become Garden Educators. Each Participant Will Be Mentored by an Experienced Garden Educator. Since Most Garden Education in HAWAI'I Is 'AINA-BASED, a Native Hawaiian Cultural Approach Will Be Used. This Indigenous Mentorship Emphasizes Kilo (observation), Ma Ka Hana Ka 'IKE (learning by Doing), A'O Aku A'O Mai (reciprocal Learning Between Mentor and Mentee), and the Building of Pilina (relationships Between People, Land, Culture, and Food). Ke Kumu Uluwehi Addresses the Variability in Expertise Among Garden Educators, as Well as the Lack of a Critical Mass of Garden Educators. Largely Due to Teacher Turnover, School Gardens Often Fizzle Out When Schools Lack the Staff to Take Over Garden Duties When Previous Garden Educators Leave. the Indigenous Garden Mentorship Program Aims to Systematize Mentorship and Build Communities of Support So That More Teachers Can Acquire Garden Education Experience and Know How, Thus Increasing the Pool of Qualified Garden Educators.