A logo for la 'i 'opua 2020 is shown on a white background.

Aloha and Welcome
to the La‘i‘ōpua 2020 Enrichment Program 

Established in 2018, the La‘i‘ōpua Enrichment Programs are free Spring Afterschool and Summer Programs, serving students in West Hawai‘i.


Enrollment for the Spring 2025 session is now open:


Click Here to Apply

The mission of La‘i‘ōpua 2020 is to identify community needs, foster the creation of community facilities, and coordinate programs for native Hawaiian Homesteaders, Native Hawaiians, and those residing in the greater Kona Coast community. La‘i‘ōpua 2020 has secured a Native Hawaiian Education grant through the USDE to offer afterschool and summer enrichment programs which support academic achievement for students in the Konawaena and Kealakehe Complex areas.


We look forward to sharing this educational enrichment opportunity focused on Hawaiian language/culture, STEAM, and literacy with your family.


Inā ʻoe e hoʻolālā no hoʻokahi makahiki, e kanu i ke kalo. 

Inā ʻoe e hoʻolālā no nā makahiki he ʻumi, e kanu ʻoe. 

Inā hoʻolālā ʻoe no hoʻokahi haneli makahiki, e aʻo i nā keiki.


If you plan for a year, plant kalo. 

If you plan for ten years, plant koa. 

If you plan for one-hundred years, teach the children. 

– Puanani Burgess


Our Curriculum

English Language Literacy 

Our literacy program is story driven. We start with engaging literature from the KidzLit program, choosing titles that intersect Hawaiian and Pacific culture as well as bilingual English/Hawaiian texts. The aim is for haumāna (students) to strengthen their reading comprehension skills, expand their vocabulary, and develop their ability to think critically. It is not intended as a tutoring service. 


STEAM 

What is STEAM? STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. STEAM = STEM + the inclusion of the Arts. STEAM is an integrated approach to learning that encourages haumāna to think more broadly about real-world problems. The STEAM method of teaching encourages keiki to ask questions to spark discussions.


Past STEAM curriculum included fun, hands-on, and challenging projects like building robots and balloon propelled race cars.

Hawaiian Language and Culture 

In Hawai‘i, our ʻōlelo (languge) and culture bind us together as a community and connect us to the lani (sky), āina (land), kai (sea), and wai (water). Language and culture help our keiki develop a sense of pride in where they come from and a positive sense of self. Our island and people serve as the inspiration for a rich curriculum which combines the natural environment, history, and the arts. 


Haumāna will explore Hawaiian culture and language through hands-on cultural- and placed-based experiences that will include mele (music), oli (chant), hula (dance), and moʻolelo (stories). Past lessons have included learning about the kalo (taro) plant and mapping one’s family tree, petroglyphs, and the Makahiki (festival) games. Each subject provides haumāna the opportunity to learn vocabulary in the Hawaiian ʻōlelo in addition to gaining a deeper understanding of Hawaiian history and culture. 


Field Trips 

Huakaʻi (field trips), exploring culturally significant sites in the Kona area, are an exciting part of our hands-on cultural- and placed-based Summer Enrichment Program experiences. Past huakaʻi included exploring Kīholo Bay, Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Ho‘okena Beach Park and the Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Gardens. Our island truly is the best classroom. 


Our spring afterschool and summer programs are FREE to all students. Registration is on a first come, first serve basis. 

Classroom Culture

Our program is based on the foundation of our ALOHA code of conduct: 


  • Akahai - show KINDNESS in words and actions to fellow students and teachers.
  • Lōkahi - show UNITY by working together in program projects.
  • ʻOluʻolu – be GENTLE in interactions with others and with school property.
  • Haʻahaʻa – be HUMBLE and willing to help others.
  • Ahonui – have PATIENCE with others, teachers, and one’s self.


Program Details 


Our Spring and Summer Enrichment Programs are FREE to all students! Registration is on a first come, first serve basis. 

Contact Information

Email: laiopua.enrichment@laiopua.org

Phone: (808) 365-3005

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1764, Kailua-Kona, HI 96745

Benefits

What makes our program unique?


  • Small class sizes, with a near 10:1 student to teacher ratio.
  • Interactive and hands-on projects that engage the imagination.
  • Creative expression through the arts (e.g. drawing, music, and dance).
  • Hawaiian language and culture are interwoven throughout the curriculum.
  • Opportunity for children to meet new friends from different schools.
  • Mentorship of younger students by older students.
  • Character and ethics development with the ALOHA code of conduct.
  • Positive ripple effect in each student’s family and community.

Our Teachers 

Our amazing staff include current teachers from local schools and retired educators who are passionate about the subjects they specialize in. Our teachers give students more one on one attention and support with a near 10:1 student teacher ratio.


Are you an educator interested in getting involved? Contact Us! 


Mahalo to Our Funders & Partners

We are grateful for the continued support from the following organizations that make the La‘i‘ōpua Enrichment Programs possible since 2018:


  • United States Department of Education - USDE NHE Grant  
  • Kaiāulu - Kamehameha Schools
  • Konawaena Elementary School
  • Kealakehe Elementary School

Stephens Amendment Acknowledgement Statement

The Laʻiʻōpua Enrichment Program is currently funded by the Native Hawaiian Education Program (NHEP) of the U.S. Department of Education as part of an award totaling $2,627,355 from May 2021 through April 2024. The program does not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by NHEP, the U.S. Department of Education, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit www.ed.gov

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