Hawaiian Airlines is adding a series of videos showcasing culture-based native Hawaiian education to their on-board offering.
The new series was produced by Kanaeokana, a network of more than 50 local schools and organisations focused on strengthening Hawaiian education, and will highlight how educators are turning streams, fishponds and Hokule’a into immersive classrooms, while using traditional Hawaiian practices to empower youth.
“We are excited to partner with Kanaeokana to present stories that demonstrate the importance and depth of our culture and its powerful impact on native Hawaiian youth,” said Evan Nomura, in-flight entertainment manager at Hawaiian Airlines. “It’s a privilege to be able to showcase the authenticity of Hawai‘i and its people to guests visiting from around the world.”
The content highlights three experiences from schools statewide; ‘He Moku He Wa’a, He Wa’a He Moku: Our Canoe is an Island; Our Island is a Canoe’, ‘Ho’okahe Wai: Let the Streams Flow’ and ‘Changing Tides: Ka ‘Umeke Ka’eo’s Education Movement’.
Kanaeokana’s videos will be available through June on all of Hawaiian’s international flights operated by its Airbus A330 aircraft.
“Expanding our reach helps us bring our message to different audiences. The experiences nurturing our students are valuable not just for Native Hawaiians but have relevance to everyone,” said Ekela Kaniaupio-Crozier, a member of Kanaeokana’s Komike Ho’okele (Steering Committee) and Kamehameha Schools Maui’s Hawaiian protocol facilitator. “We all should be sharing in the kuleana (responsibilities) to Malama Honua and each other.”
(Malama Honua is a Hawaiian concept simply translated as ‘to care for our Island Earth)
