Aha Punana Leo history

The first of these preschools was established in Kekaha, Kaua‘i in August 1984.

1986 | After years of advocacy, ‘Aha Pūnana Leo successfully works with the Hawai‘i State Legislature to pass a bill removing a 90-year ban on teaching in Hawaiian in public and private schools.

1987 | ‘Aha Pūnana Leo works with the Hawai‘i State Department of Education to develop curriculum for the first elementary indigenous language immersion classes in the United States, establishing the first Kaiapuni schools at Keaukaha Elementary in Hilo and Waiau Elementary in Pearl City.

1990 | The President signs the Native American Languages Act after ‘Aha Pūnana Leo and other Native American communities throughout the United States advocate to save around 200 remaining Native American languages from extinction.

2005 | ‘Aha Pūnana Leo expands its Hilo and Wai‘anae sites to offer the Hi‘ipēpē Infant Program.

2009 | ‘Aha Pūnana Leo launches its Niuolahiki Distance Learning Program, which provides a flexible and affordable way for anyone to learn ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i through an online, self-directed Hawaiian Medium Education curriculum.

2010 | ‘Aha Pūnana Leo establishes the Hale ‘Ōiwi outreach project to assist Native American communities and organizations develop language curriculum and outreach programs

2014 | October 24th is proclaimed ‘Aha Pūnana Leo Day in Hawai‘i after the program receives the world’s first early education accreditation by the World Indigenous Nation’s Higher Education Consortium (WINHEC).

2018 | ‘Aha Pūnana Leo celebrates 35th anniversary with 6,000 Pūnana Leo preschool and Hi‘ipepe Infant Program alumni and more than 3,000 Niuolahiki Distance Learning Program students from around the world.