Listed below are brief updates on the progress of the Hawaiian Cultural Center Project, now in its 10th year. Since the revitalization of the HCCP in 2000, two community-generated proposals for the construction of a cultural facility at Kapālama campus have been submitted to the CEO and the Board of Trustees; the first on June 11, 2001, and the second on June 11, 2002.

Given the ongoing changes in governance and institutional focus at Kamehameha Schools, forward movement for the Hawaiian Cultural Center Project has been slow. At the same time, members of the Hawaiian community and the Kamehameha 'ohana continue to advocate for the revitalization of Hawaiian culture and language via this proposed Center and are committed to an ongoing campaign to persuade KS leadership to make this facility a reality.

Please check back for periodic updates on the project. For more information on how you can become involved, please contact Jamie Fong, HCCP coordinator at 842-8655 or at jafong@ksbe.edu.

June 14 to June 21, 2004

Fourteen KS leaders and staff traveled to Aotearoa (New Zealand) to do research for the Hawaiian Cultural Center Project, gain insight regarding Hawaiian cultural transformation at the Kapālama Campus and nurture cultural alliances with key Māori institutions. A key objective of this visit was to explore the possibilities of an annual staff development program that would feature cultural exchange between Maori and Kānaka Maoli.

Alliances were made with:

• Te Pua Wananga ki te Ao, School of Māori and Pacific Development, University of Waikato / Hamilton, Aotearoa;

• New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute Whakarewarewa Reserve / Rotorua, Aotearoa;

• Rakaumangamanga Immersion School / Huntley, Aotearoa.

KS Participants:
• Dee Jay Mailer, CEO of Kamehameha Schools
• Dr. Michael Chun, President and Headmaster of Kamehameha Schools, Kapālama Campus
• Randie Fong, Cultural Advisor, Tour Coordinator; Manager of Hawaiian Cultural Center Project (sponsor of the tour); KHS Perf. Arts Dept. Head
• Tony Ramos, Principal, Kamehameha High School
• Dr. Sandy Young, Principal, Kamehameha Middle School
• Holoua Stender, Principal, Kamehameha Elementary School
• Rowena Blaisdell, Director of Program Support
• Don Kawahakui, Director of Physical Plant
• Kapua Akiu-Wilcox, Department Head of Social Studies, KHS
• Lilinoe Ka'ahanui, Instructor of Hawaiian Language, KMS
• Kaleo Trinidad, Instructor of Hawaiian Chant & Dance, KHS
• Dr. Shawn Kanaʻiaupuni, Director or Policy Analysis & Systems Evaluation
• Lilinoe Andrews, Director of Pauahi Publications
• Alyssa Braffith, Character Education Coordinator, KHS

January 23 – 24, 2004

The second annual Hui Hoʻohawai‘i Assembly retreat was held at Kamehameha Schools, Kapālama Campus. The theme this year was He Huliau – Shifting Paradigms: Imperatives for Hawaiian Cultural Survival. Some 90 people representing cultural educators from the three KS campuses, various KS programs and the Hawaiian community were present to discuss ways to advocate Hawaiian language and cultural revitalization throughout the KS system and in the global Hawaiian community. The event was successful and overall there was a high level of interest to revitalize culture and to make KS truly a "Hawaiian educational institution." Information on future gatherings to be announced.

October 29, 2003

Charlene Hoe, interim vice president of education, agreed to meet with members of the HCCP committee on October 29th. The following people met with her: Randie Fong, Ke‘ala Kwan, Kēhau Abad, ‘Ulalia Woodside, Jamie Fong, Rowena Blaisdell. The meeting went smoothly and a positive atmosphere was created. Participants discussed the meaning of each of the points in the trustee memo and proposed ways to respond to them effectively. It was agreed that, after the meeting, an outline affirming the group’s collective understanding would be written and sent to Charlene for her review. It was also agreed that the final report would be submitted to Charlene some time in January 2004.

September 30, 2003

The HCCP planning committee convened for its weekly meeting on September 30th. The main agenda item was the trustee memo from Charlene Hoe. Initially, there was mixed reaction among committee members. Many expressed a sense of frustration at having to devote more time and effort to justify the validity and feasibility of the cultural center initiative to KS Trustees and executive leadership, particularly with the obvious and ever-increasing groundswell of support from both internal and external communities over the past 10 years. However, by the end of the meeting, it was agreed that the committee would diligently work on and complete the report as requested by the trustees, in as timely and thorough a fashion as possible. Lastly, there was general agreement that the committee would strive to promote harmony and goodwill, and would commit itself to creating nurturing relationships with School leadership.

A meeting will be scheduled with Charlene Hoe to review her expectations regarding content, format, and timeline for the report.

September 24, 2003

A memo dated September 24, 2003, was received on September 26, 2003, from Interim Vice President of Education, Charlene Hoe. It was addressed to the Hawaiian Cultural Center Planning Committee with copies to the board of trustees, Acting CEO Colleen Wong, and Kapālama Campus Headmaster Dr. Michael Chun. It contained a list of trustee-approved questions which Ms. Hoe had been working on since May (see May 22nd entry). Discussion on the memo was put on the agenda for the next HCCP meeting.

September 23, 2003

Hui Ho'ohawai'i (Kapālama Campus HCCP planning committee, in conjunction with Hawaiian cultural committees and supporters from the Hawai'i and Maui campuses and other KS divisions), submitted a position paper entitled "Hawaiian Culture at Kamehameha Schools" to the board of trustees, CEO, and interim vice presidents of education and legal affairs. The paper proposed new and meaningful ways in which KS leadership might come to understand and approach Hawaiian culture today. The paper concludes with two main generalizations:

• Kamehameha Schools supports and perpetuates "elements of Hawaiian culture."
• Kamehameha Schools as an institution, does not, at this time, actively perpetuate "Hawaiian culture," as defined here [in the position paper]. That is to say, KS, generally speaking, does not appear to be a culturally fertile environment that promotes the holistic interaction and coexistence of a wide range of Hawaiian cultural beliefs, behaviors, and practices to form a cohesive and viable native Hawaiian way of life for the indigenous people of Hawai'i. In short, Hawaiian culture is not a way of life at Kamehameha Schools.

Fourteen specific recommendations were made to encourage KS leadership to be responsive to the Hawaiian community's desire for the revitalization of Hawaiian culture. Critical to the survival of Hawaiian culture is the creation of cultural centers (kīpuka) on all KS campuses, and the immediate development of a cultural center on the Kapālama Campus.

The paper was based on feedback from discussions that took place on all three KS campuses and directly represents the na‘au-based convictions of 71 individuals who were identified by name. This effort was motivated by concerns over the KS admissions lawsuits.

September 2, 2003

The first HCCP planning meeting of the 2003-2004 school year was convened on September 2, 2003. There was a record attendance of over 30 committee members representing various departments and divisions within Kamehameha. The goals and work plan for the year were discussed. Presentations were made on the new compact disc and the new interactive website, both of which are scheduled to be launched on November 15, 2003.

June 5 & 6, 2003

Some thirty-five KS staff representing the Kapālama, Hawai‘i, and Maui Campuses as well as the Land Assets Division and other KS departments, convened at a retreat sponsored by the HCCP and hosted by the staff of the Hawai'i Campus. During the two-day gathering, staff experienced a strong sense of camaraderie and shared purpose. On June 6th at Kahuwai, the group agreed to organize itself as a multi-campus body of Hawaiian cultural advocates, committed to the revitalization of Hawaiian language and culture throughout the KS system, as well as the construction of cultural centers on the respective campuses. The general group sentiment indicated support for the HCCP to move ahead first with its plans to construct a center at the Kapālama Campus. A week after the gathering, the retreat theme, "E Ho‘ohawai‘i Kākou!" became the inspiration for the name of the group, "Hui Ho‘ohawai'i Assembly."

May 22, 2003

A meeting took place with Acting CEO, Colleen Wong, Charlene Hoe, Dr. Michael Chun, Rowena Blaisdell (director of program support), and representatives of the HCCP planning committee. The urpose of the meeting was to discuss and agree upon the next steps for the project. Charlene Hoe shared that she had been working on a set of questions that she would share with the trustees to affirm that it representated the board's thinking. It was projected that the entire summer would be needed to affirm the trustees' agreement on the set of questions.

March 12, 2003

Trustees, CEO, and members of the HCCP Planning Committee met at the Bishop Museum. The purpose of the meeting was to engage in discussion about the cultural center in an environment other than the Kawaiaha‘o Plaza boardroom. Some attendees brought food and there was brief socializing before the meeting began. The atmosphere was cordial and a range of passionate expressions were shared. After two and half hours, the meeting ended with the understanding that the project would need to be brought up through the system by Kapālama Headmaster Dr. Michael Chun, and guided by Interim Vice President of Education Charlene Hoe. There was also a collective desire to maintain direct contact together and to continue positive dialogue.

January 7, 2003

Some two and half months later, a follow-up meeting occurred on January 7, 2003. At the outset, board chair Trustee Connie Lau clarified that the board preferred to take up decision making on conceptual approval at a later date.

Subsequently, a discussion of various issues related to the project occurred. There was considerable rehashing of previously discussed topics and there was some frustration at the lack of direction for the meeting. The committee requested that the trustees become more deeply involved in the project and help guide the development of the project concept. The trustees committed to the development of a process in the near term for providing the guidance requested by the committee. At this same meeting Trustees indicated they were expecting the submittal of an RFA (Request for Action) supporting continued planning and selected programs. An RFA was submitted and later approved in April of 2003 to fund the implementation of HCCP program initiatives.

October 15, 2002

Four months after the plan was submitted, the board of trustees scheduled a meeting with members of the Kapālama Campus Hawaiian Cultural Center Planning Committee. The committee presented a report to the trustees on the status of the project. The committee was seeking conceptual approval to move forward on Phase III: Program Implementation and Facility Construction. A lively discussion ensued about the project and the session concluded without formal Trustee action. It was agreed that the discussion would continue at a future meeting. There was trustee agreement that the project would move forward and that the committee would feel free to communicate this to the community of supporters and participants.

June 11, 2002

On June 11, 2002, a detailed cultural center plan was submitted to the CEO and the board of trustees. Included in the plan were conceptual facility designs, program designs, and a report indicating overwhelming endorsement by over 25 community groups and key Hawaiian agencies. Some 600 individuals directly contributed to the development of the cultural center plan.