Pūpū A ʻO ʻEwa wins Wo Learning Champion Community Builder Award!
On November 29, 2014, Pūpū A ʻO ʻEwa was named the winner of the Wo Learning Champion Community Builder Award. The award recognizes projects within the past five years that are designed to expand and enrich campus communications, spirit, collaboration and/or community connections. The award letter says in part:
The reviewers were impressed by the way Pūpū A ʻO ʻEwa truly embraces community building, involving current and former students as well as faculty and community members. Students are contributors but also serve as volunteers to maintain the digital space. Through this online access to expressions of Hawaiian culture, the community is enriched and the contributors are celebrated.
On behalf of our talented artists and writers as well as our dedicated volunteers, Pūpū A ʻOʻEwa is honored to receive this award.
October 5, 2014 – Pūpū A ʻO ʻEwa gets shout out in Leeward CC Library blog (see the original post)
School Pride: Pūpū A ʻO ʻEwa included in Ulukau
October 5, 2014 by Carina Chernisky |
Pūpū A ʻO ʻEwa, the Leeward CC Native Hawaiian Writing and Art website, is featured as a resource in Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library. The purpose of Ulukau, according to its website, is to “make these resources available for the use, teaching, and revitalization of the Hawaiian language and for a broader and deeper understanding of Hawaiʻi.” Pat Kamalani Hurley, Leeward CC professor and editor of Pūpū A ʻO ʻEwa, is thrilled at the website’s inclusion as a “special feature/Noiʻi Nowelo” as it’s a fantastic way to not only promote writing and art about anything-Hawaii, but it also showcases the hard work of our students, faculty, and other contributors throughout community. According to Hurley, “most of the works [featured on the website] are by students, faculty, and community members who aren’t professional artists and writers. Our kuleana is to provide a creative space for our community to tell our stories in whatever form these stories — mele, photos, poetry — take.”
Congratulations to Pūpū A ʻO ʻEwa, as they continue to accomplish great feats.
August 25, 2014 – Pūpū included in Spring 2014 Convocation Remarks
Pūpū A ʻO ʻEwa was included in the Spring 2014 Convocation Remarks by Dean of Arts and Sciences Jim Goodman, Leeward Community College. The remarks as intended as a record of the accomplishments and directions of Arts & Sciences. The remarks state:
The Native Hawaiian Writing and Arts website Pūpū A ʻO ʻEwa (pupuaoewa.org) enjoyed a very busy Spring semester. They were nominated as an Edublog Best New Blog of the Year and news articles in UH News, MidWeek, and Ka Wai Ola ʻO OHA helped bring widespread recognition to our campus and our students. Ulukau, The Hawaiian Electronic Library (ulukau.org) invited Pūpū to be included as a resource, which means a wider audience for the original Native Hawaiian-focused artistic works that Pūpū publishes. Twelve artists and writers, most of them current and former Leeward CC students, were featured in New Release Mondays last Spring. Finally, Pūpū , together with Student Life, awarded $600 in cash and prizes in their Ka ʻUmeke Kāʻeo Achievement Awards to up-and-coming student artists and writers. Everyone at Pūpū A ʻO ʻEwa thanks the many faculty and staff members for their support and look forward to serving our community this Fall.
Mahalo, Dean Goodman!
March 2014
Ka Wai Ola O OHA, Office of Hawaiian Affairs publication, Malaki 2014 “Hawaiian-focused writing and arts website get international attention”
Student Hiʻilei Manoʻi-Hyde is interviewed (great job!) and two of Shawn Kahoʻolemana Naoneʻs photos are featured (fantastic!) Rokki Midro, our wonderful volunteer videographer, has a photo credit (sheʻs a miracle worker for making me look better!) Mahalo to Kathleen Cabral for your generosity and aloha.
Weʻre so proud of all the students and writers and artists who make Pūpū A ʻO ʻEwa a special creative space for ke ano Hawaiʻi! Much aloha to you all!
March 2014
WHIAAPI News (White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders) Newsletter, March 2014
Congratulations, Auliʻi Silva! Mahalo a nui for being such a strong advocate for our Native Hawaiian students!
Excerpt: AANAPISI Spotlight: Leeward Community College – Ke Ala ‘Ike (The Road to Knowledge)Pearl City, Hawaii, is best known for its rich Hawaiian history and natural resources. It has also gained recognition as a growing academic center through the efforts of Leeward Community College. Leeward proudly serves the Wai’anae region, home to one of the world’s largest Native Hawaiian population. At Leeward, 27% of the student body is Native Hawaiian, 21.5% Filipino, 8% Japanese, 3% Pacific Islander, 2% Chinese, and since its establishment in 1968, the Native Hawaiian student population has steadily grown to over 2,100 students.
Leeward’s mission is to help students attain their goals through “high-quality liberal arts and career and technical education”, and encourage students to become responsible citizens. Leeward advances the educational goals of all students with a special commitment to Native Hawaiians. This mission is exemplified by the Ke Ala ‘lke (The Road to Knowledge) program, where student participants research their genealogy, interview Native Hawaiian elders, and perform land stewardship services. Ke Ala ʻIke scholars are granted the privilege of wearing kīhei (shawl or cloak,) that embodies the meaningful people, experiences, and knowledge acquired through their journey at commencement. Additionally, the program offers scholars information about scholarships, financial aid, academic advising, and internships. In the past 2 years, Ke Ala ‘Ike has enrolled 250 students of all majors and ethnicities. Students who participated in the program graduated at much higher rates compared to the entire student population, and a majority of its graduates have enrolled at baccalaureate campuses and graduate programs.
Along with the Ke Ala ‘Ike program, Leeward also has other programs promoting student success including:
- S.T.E.M. Success—this program aims to foster Native Hawaiians’ interest in science, technological, engineering, and math career fields. The program also helps to nurture all Leeward students’ passion for place-based sciences. Learn more.
- (Pūpū A ʻO ʻEwa) Native Hawaiian Arts & Writing Online Literary Magazine—this program helps to encourage Native Hawaiian excellence in writing. It provides a creative space for writers and artists to nurture creativity, self-expression and innovation. Learn more.
Leeward’s programs have made lasting impacts in students’ lives. Take Mike Chang. He struggled with poverty, the loss of his wife and children, and over 25 years of drug addiction before enrolling at Leeward at the age of 45. When Mike started out at Leeward, he didn’t know how to use a computer, struggled with writing, and started with introductory math classes. Ke Ala ‘Ike provided the necessary support structure so that, despite these hurdles, Mike was able to gain an education and embark on a career path. Mike completed the Ke Ala ʻIke program, moved onto a four-year institution, and is now a junior with a strong academic record.
West Oahu Islander (Midweek), February 26, 2014
University of Hawaiʻi News January 29, 2014
