A’o Makua (Hawaiian Cultues classes) Curriculum Design

The knowledge imparted from the papa olelo (Hawaiiana classes) is fundamental to understanding Hawaiian truths and origin of knowledge. The mana’o (higher thought) of the program developers was that the wisdom of our ancestors would always be available to help us, to grow and nurture our knowledge in Hawaiian culture, language, and perspective, and with that knowledge inspire us - the participants - to share the wisdom with our ‘ohana and community.

The curriculum within each class of the A‘o Makua courses is divided into sections, each cleverly embodies the parts of an ‘ulu (breadfruit) tree: mole (root), kumu (trunk), lālā (branches), and hua (fruit). Ka Mole, the main root is also known as the ancestral root embodies the lesson, and includes ancestral knowledge within each papa (class). Ka mole (root) provides a firm foundation in the earth and allows the tree to grow toward the sky.

Kumu is a Hawaiian word that has many meanings: teacher, a source of knowledge, or an entire tree. However, in the A‘o Makua curriculum, ke kumu refers to the trunk of a tree which supports the branches and conducts water from the roots to the rest of the tree. Applicable, contemporary knowledge in this context is known as ke kumu. Lālā, the branches of the tree connect ke kumu (the trunk) to ka hua (the fruit). Like ke kumu, lālā represents even more contemporary knowledge taught in A‘o Makua.

Finally there is the hua (fruit). A strong foundation from ka mole (roots) and support from ke kumu (trunk) and lālā (branches) is needed to produce healthy hua (fruit); similarly, it takes a loving, supportive ‘ohana (family) to produce a healthy, successful keiki (children). In A‘o Makua, ka hua (the fruit) contains activities for students to share with their ‘ohana (family).

A’o makua is a student-centered distance learning program, and therefore the student, ke kumu is personified as the trunk, central to the tree (a’o makua). We are taught that knowledge of our kūpuna (ancestors) strengthens our mole (roots), our sense of self so that our hua (fruit), our keiki (children) can become successful in the world by first knowing who they are and where they came from.

As haumana (students) of the A‘o Makua program, we simultaneously become kumu (teachers) entrusted with a great responsibility to carry on the timeless wisdom of our kupuna (ancestors). This is truly the a‘o aku, a‘o mai concept of giving and receiving knowledge, central to the Hawaiian way of thinking, the mindful way of being, growing, and sharing. Together as a learning community, we learn to mālama (care for) our trees of cultural knowledge and ancestral wisdom, and we grow hua, fruits to share with our ‘ohana (families) and with our communities.