Pacific Center Book Review

Education in Hawaii

By Joann Sebastian Morris

Culture and Educational Policy in Hawaii: The Silencing of Native Voices by Maenette Kapeahiokalani Ah Nee-Benham and Ronald H. Heck (Matawah, NJ: L. Erlbaum, 1998).

This scholarly and compelling book provides a comprehensive assessment of Native Hawaiian education. Through four case studies, the two authors depict over 150 years of interaction between Native Hawaiians and the West. They explore the differences between Native Hawaiian and Western value systems and describe the marginalization of Native Hawaiians in a dual school system and in society at large. Western values dominated educational policy from the early 1900s, and the authors argue that the disconnect between opposing value systems undermined the integrity of Hawaiian culture and devalued native ways of knowing and behaving. An ambivalence toward formal schooling developed among Native Hawaiians as a result.

In addition to providing a powerful statement about interlaced historical, social, and cultural influences on Hawaiian education, Benham and Heck add to the current debate about educational reform. While many reform efforts suggest uniform models that, if followed slavishly, promise success (for example, if standards are raised, outcomes will go up), they do not consider the unique needs, cultures, and languages of diverse learners. The authors close with suggestions for reforming the educational system through a genuinely multicultural curriculum that affirms the values of Native Hawaiian and other cultures.
More than a fascinating case study, this book makes a valuable contribution to national debates about educational policy and theory. Just as important, it does so through a Native Hawaiian voice.

Using Nature to Learn About Cultures
By Jennifer Maluenda

Moontellers: Myths of the Moon From Around the World by Lynn Moroney (Flagstaff, AZ: Northland, 1995).

No matter where you are in the world, you can always see the moon. In this book the author describes how the moon is represented in different cultures.

Kii and Lii: A Story from the Stones by Jeremiah Hookuu Gruenberg (Honolulu, HI: Goodale, 2001).

A brother and sister are on their way to their cousin’s house. Through the eyes of the siblings, readers can learn about the ancient petroglyphs found throughout Polynesia. An afterword by Edward Stasack provides a wealth of information on petroglyphs.

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