Kūkulu Pilina: Professional Development
Kūkulu Pilina is a professional development series and PDE3 course for Maui DOE secondary school teachers focused on the potential for community partnership and ʻāina-based education to deepen HĀ (BREATH) through ʻāina aloha practices contextualized to their particular place and community. Both the PD series and the PDE3 course are facilitated by Maui Huliau Foundation staff in partnership with various ʻāina-based organizations on Maui. The program was created under the guidance of the Office of Hawaiian Education and centers around their Nā Hopena Aʻo (HĀ) framework.
Kūkulu Pilina Professional Development Series
After facilitating our Kūkulu Pilina summer PDE3 course for two summers, teachers in our 2022 program made clear that more support was needed during the school year to facilitate continuous and meaningful school-wide conversations on opportunities to implement HĀ-strengthening practices. Therefore, with the support of the Office for Hawaiian Education, we launched our Kūkulu Pilina Professional Development Series during the 2022-23 school year, working with four intermediate and high schools, and focusing on the potential of ʻāina-based learning and community partnership to expand HĀ-strengthening practices. The program consisted of three on-campus sessions during the 21 hours of allocated PD time at each school, and one ʻāina-based off-campus session hosted by a community partner. You can read a two page overview of results from this first year here, including common HĀ-strengthening practices identified by each school.
We offer culturally grounded professional development sessions, centered on Hawaiian language, cultural values, and traditional practices. Topics include customary protocol, creation stories, the Makahiki season, and Hawaiian worldview. Examples of interactive activities include Hawaiian language and chant practice, creating ʻŌlelo Noʻeau classroom tools, and identifying native plants in preparing ʻUlu Poke. All school sessions are uniquely designed to reflect teachers’ interests in deepening cultural understanding, with the goal of fostering stronger connections among educators and with the wider school community.
As we prepare for the 2025–26 school year, we will continue to offer in-school sessions and individual professional development opportunities within the mandated 21 PD hours. If you’re interested in implementing HĀ-strengthening practices, please contact kaiulani@mauihuliaufoundation.org
Kūkulu Pilina PDE3 Courses
NEW Kūkulu Pilina: Rooting Learning in Hawaiʻi PDE3 course
In its fifth year, the Kūkulu Pilina PDE3 course returns with a new format, now split into two! Starting this July, we are offering a NEW 3-credit course, Kūkulu Pilina: Rooting Learning in Hawaiʻi. This course is open to Hawaiʻi DOE secondary teachers and administrators who are new to Hawaiʻi or seeking to deepen their understanding of Hawaiian culture. Grounded in culturally rooted, place-based education, the course draws on key principles from OHE’s ʻĀina Aloha Framework to guide teaching and learning in Hawaiʻi. Through shared learning, ʻāina-based experiences, and applied practice, participants will deepen their understanding of Hawaiian language, moʻolelo, and place-based knowledge. These experiences are designed to support students’ sense of place, identity, and kuleana, while exploring how such approaches can strengthen Nā Hopena Aʻo (HĀ) outcomes.
DOE teachers can register on Learnsoft (#28037) beginning on 5/12/26!
NEW Kūkulu Pilina: HĀ in Action PDE3 course
Later this fall, we will begin entrance to a NEW PDE3 course: Kūkulu Pilina: HĀ in Action.
This advanced professional development course is designed for educators already familiar with Nā Hopena Aʻo (HĀ), culture-based learning in Hawaiʻi, or those who have completed a previous Kūkulu Pilina course. Participants will deepen their practice through reflection, place-based learning, and collaborative action research focused on strengthening HĀ outcomes. Through engagement with ʻāina-based pedagogy, exploration of their moku and the community groups who steward its significant places, and the design and implementation of a campus-based initiative, teachers will identify meaningful ways to strengthen students’ connection to place, culture, and community.
Course dates and registration on Learnsoft will be available in August.
Additional Resources for Teachers
ʻĀina-based Resources for Teachers
During the 2021-22 school year, we launched a new page on our website to provide resources to promote community partnership and ʻāina-based learning both in the classroom and in our Maui community. On that page you will find virtual huakaʻi (field trips) and online activities created with program partners during the 2020-21 school year as part of our Maui Aloha ʻĀina Virtual Classroom. We also added a list of community partners and teachers professional development resources.
Teacher Resource Page
Our teacher resource page contains information on all the support that we can offer teachers, from filmmaking, to climate change curriculum, to conservation career events.
Office of Hawaiian Education Hub
The OHE Hub website includes a large collection of resources for teachers related to Nā Hopena Aʻo, ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and resources for rooting learning in Hawaiʻi.
Lahainaluna focus group vision boarding
Native planting at Kekaulike with East Maui Water Partnership
Using canoe crops to create ʻUlu Poke
Kalama teachers showing off their lei lāʻī
Learning to weave coconut leaf at Waiohuli Kai
Lahainaluna Kumu showing off their fresh adornments with Wisdom Circles Ocenia
Kumu caring for Boarders Field at Lahainaluna
Lokelani teacher learning to fish at Kalepolepo
Students planting with Puʻukukui Watershed as part of Lā Hoʻomanaʻo
Kalama teachers mulching at Friends of Twin Falls in Haʻikū
Waʻa Teacher PD with Hui O Waʻa Kaulua
