Niihau School of Kekaha

Niihau School of Kekaha (NSK, Hawaiian: Hale Kula Niihau o Kekaha), also known as Kula Aupuni Niihau A Kahelelani Aloha Public Charter School (KANAKA PCS), or Ke Kula Niihau O Kekaha Learning Center, is a K-12 charter school in Kekaha, Kauai, Hawaii catering to Niihau people living on Kauai.[1]

According to Christine Hitt of Hawai'i Magazine, the school is trying to keep the Niihau language alive due to a growing Niihau diaspora in Kauai,[1] where the dominant languages are instead English and Hawaiian Pidgin.

Efforts to establish the school began in 1993 and its current version was established in 1999.[2]

Demographics

In 2016, there were 54 students, with about 50% being native speakers of Niihau Hawaiian, and with all 54 students being from Niihau. Many of the students are members of the same families. 95% of the students were native Niihau speakers in 2004.[1]

In 2017, there were three teachers for preschool and two other teachers.[3]

Curriculum

Secondary courses are taught in English and elementary courses are taught in the Niihau language.[1]

References
  1. Hitt, Christine (2016-05-12). "Keepers of the Flame: How cultural practitioners are preserving Niihau's unique traditions". Hawai'i Magazine. aio Media. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
  2. https://content.schoolinsites.com/api/documents/030f931902af4ce5ab5876f03f6dc046.pdf
  3. McCracken, David (2017-04-02). "Ke Kula Niihau O Kekaha Public Charter School works to save language, culture". The Garden Island. Retrieved 2020-10-19.


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