Hawaiian education convention this month

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

Teaching strategies and professional development will be among the topics discussed at the Native Hawaiian Education Association's third annual convention March 26-29 at Leeward Community College.

Modeled after the National Indian Education Association, NHEA is a nonprofit umbrella organization that networks groups and agencies dedicated to improving education for Native Hawaiians. The convention provides an opportunity for educators from different specialities — such as language immersion, charter schools, the gifted and talented program and Hawaiian studies — to come together and share ideas.

"The coordinating effort is to bring people together. What we're doing is pretty exciting. I call this learning of new ideas cross-fertilization," said David Sing, a faculty member of the University of Hawai'i-Hilo who is director of the Big Island's Na Pua No'eau gifted and talented program.

NHEA is sustained by its dues-paying membership.

"We have no ties to any other organization, like Kamehameha Schools or the Office of Hawaiian Affairs," Sing said. "When you eliminate money and power, there's nothing to gain except to learn from each other by networking."

Reach Rod Ohira at 535-8181 or rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.