3rd Annual He Aliʻi Ka ʻĀina Educator Conference
Dates: Thursday, October 8 and Friday, October 9, 2026
Time: 8:15 am to 3:00 pm daily
Location: Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Middle School - 1887 Makuakane Street Honolulu, HI 96817
Scholarships are available for early childhood educators serving ages 0-8. Submit your ECE scholarship request here. Mahalo!
Registration is now open for the 3rd annual He Aliʻi Ka ʻĀina Educator Conference – a transformative 2-day professional development gathering dedicated to integrating the principles of aloha ‘āina and ea into educational practices.
This year's conference theme commemorates 1976, a significant year in our island history. In this year, the Hawaiian Renaissance peaked with the historic maiden voyage of the Hōkūleʻa to Tahiti, alongside the "Kahoʻolawe Nine’s" occupation to protest U.S. Navy bombing, sparking the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana (PKO) movement and the long fight to return the island to Native stewardship. It was a pivotal year of cultural revival, land activism, and the first inclusion of men's hula in the Merrie Monarch Festival. Additionally, the University of Hawaiʻi established its first B.A. programs in Hawaiian Language and Studies, and Hale Nauā III was established to perpetuate and revitalize traditional Hawaiian arts and crafts. The events of 1976 were part of a broader, decade-long movement that began with the Kalama Valley protests (1970–1971) and culminated in the creation of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) in 1978. Together, these defining moments of 1976 illuminate a powerful resurgence of Hawaiian identity, activism, and cultural pride that continues to inspire and shape Hawaiʻi today. This conference encourages educators to prepare all students to be informed, respectful, and responsible members of this place, grounded in Hawaiian values, history, and ways of knowing—while still honoring the diversity each student brings.
Held at Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Middle School on October 8 and 9, 2026 from 8:15 am to 3:00 pm, the 3rd Annual He Aliʻi Ka ʻĀina Educator Conference is designed to empower kumu with the tools, resources, and networks you need to incorporate place-based and Hawaiian Culture-Based Education (HCBE) in classrooms. Our hui of educators, community leaders, and cultural practitioners is committed to fostering a deeper connection between haumāna, ʻāina, ʻike kūpuna, and community through keynote presentations and over 20 unique workshop sessions focused on the following key areas:
ʻO kēia ʻuʻuku e nui ana: Small Beginnings, Enduring Futures
Ea: Civics, Political Engagement, & Activism
Hawaiian Histories, Hawaiian Futures
Hana Noʻeau: Honoring Intellectual Rigor Through Aesthetic and Artistic Practice
Aloha ‘Āina: Nurturing Future Protectors of Hawai‘i
Hawaiian Culture-Based Education (HCBE) Pedagogy: Translating Theory to Practice
Evolution of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi: From Renaissance to Regeneration
Visit the website for last year’s sold out conference at sites.google.com/ksbe.edu/hakaconference2025, and register today to secure your spot in what is sure to be an inspirational and invigorating gathering for educators of all subjects and interests.
Mahalo to our conference organizers:
Atkins, Trevor - Kanu o Ka ʻĀina and Ke Ea
Austin, Aulia - Office of Hawaiian Education
Cosma, Kalei - Kamehameha Schools
Furuta, Moani - Kealaiwikuamoʻo, Kamehameha Schools
Holt, Gabby - Hanahauʻoli School
Isara, Kēhau - Kamehameha Schools
Kalama-Macomber, Kaʻanohi - Office of Hawaiian Education
Makaiau, Amber - UH Mānoa and Hanahauʻoli School
Peters, Manuwai - Kealaiwikuamoʻo, Kamehameha Schools
