Pacific Island Studies: Education

Abstract

Students educated in Hawaiʻi are exposed to a unique environment comprised of distinctive ecological qualities and cultural values. Educational programs that emphasize cultural knowledge, skills, and values help students develop the social emotional balance and intellectual mindset to succeed in college, careers and communities. Punahou School's Holokū Pageant is a cultural performance-based program aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of the Hawaiian culture through hula (dance), mele (songs), and oli (chants). This study explores the impact of the Punahou School's Holokū Pageant through practitioner inquiry that focused on addressing the research question: "How does the Punahou School's Holokū Pageant impact participans' connection to Hawaiʻi?" Using an indigenous research design and methodologies, the study examines the experiences of program participants' connection to Hawai'i and my experiences in the program as practitioner leader through moʻokūʻauhau (genealogy) and moʻolelo (storytelling). Twelve Holokū Pageant participants, representing a succession of generations organized by decades (1980-1989; 1990-1999; 2000-2009; 2010-2016), participated in semistructured, one-to one interviews and the findings identified four major themes: Building Belonging, Fostering Pilina (Relationships), Developing Aloha, and Enriching a Sense of Hawaiʻi. Insights gained from this study have promoted a deeper understanding of both Native Hawaiian and Non-Hawaiian participant experiences in relation to the perceived value of the Holokū Pageant.