{"id":194069,"date":"2024-03-20T16:40:02","date_gmt":"2024-03-21T02:40:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=194069"},"modified":"2024-03-21T08:53:26","modified_gmt":"2024-03-21T18:53:26","slug":"national-award-for-leeward-cc-kawaimanomano","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2024\/03\/20\/national-award-for-leeward-cc-kawaimanomano\/","title":{"rendered":"National award for Leeward CC<\/abbr> professional development program Kawaimanomano"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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From left, Erin Kanoelani Thompson, Carlos Pe\u00f1aloza, Pi\u2018ikea Hardy-Kahaleoumi, Momi Kamahele, Ron Umehira<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Leeward Community College<\/a>\u2019s professional development program, Kawaimanomano (The Many Waters) won “Best in Showcase” at the Annual Community College Futures Assembly held in San Antonio, Texas in February. Leeward CC<\/abbr> was invited to the competition as a 2024 Bellwether Award finalist, along with 29 other community colleges representing 18 states.<\/p>\n

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Leeward CC<\/abbr>‘s Kawaimanomano display and presentation materials<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“It was very emotional because we got a standing ovation and cheers. Several colleges came up to us after, saying that they want to replicate our program\u2026and a couple even got choked up,” said Erin Kanoelani Thompson, coordinator for Leeward\u2019s Innovation Center for Teaching & Learning<\/a>. “Kawaimanomano is and has always been a program of and for the people of Leeward. This award represents the hard work and dedication of the kumu (teachers) who helped to develop it, the employees who have engaged in it, and the students who have inspired it.”<\/p>\n

Successful collaboration<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2020, Kawaimanomano began as a collaborative endeavor between 10 Leeward CC<\/abbr> kumu who wanted to share cultural and \u2018āina (land)-based education with all Leeward CC<\/abbr> employees while creating a welcoming place where Native Hawaiian students feel they belong.<\/p>\n

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2024 Bellwether Showcase Award<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the four years since its initial implementation, the program has graduated 82 employees through four cohorts and has had a positive impact on the personal and professional lives of its participants by influencing their work practices and instructional approaches. This has led to an increased awareness about the importance of infusing Native Hawaiian values on campus, resulting in many projects that uphold Leeward\u2019s mission to “mālama (care for) all students and affirm our special commitment to Native Hawaiians.”<\/p>\n

Presented by the Bellwether College Consortium<\/a>, the Bellwether Awards recognize outstanding and innovative programs that address critical issues facing community colleges.<\/p>\n

Leeward CC<\/abbr>\u2019s team included Thompson, Chancellor Carlos Pe\u00f1aloza, Dean of Career and Technical Education Ron Umehira, Native Hawaiian Counselor aria-label=”Piikea”>Piʻikea<\/span> Hardy-Kahaleoumi and Hawaiian Studies Professor and Kīpuka Coordinator Momi Kamahele.<\/p>\n