Research

Culture-based Education Research Resources

Culture-based education (CBE), and more specifically Hawaiian culture-based education (HCBE), is a key lever to achieving Kamehameha School’s (KS) Vision 2040 of a thriving lāhui. We believe that HCBE instills confidence and resiliency in Native Hawaiian learners to improve the well-being of the lāhui. An HCBE system engages Native Hawaiian learners to reach positive socio-emotional and academic outcomes. For that reason, KS is committed to creating and promoting an HCBE system where all students, Native Hawaiian learners in particular, will thrive and reach their full potential.

What is Culture-Based Education?

CBE is grounded in the foundational values, norms, knowledge, beliefs, practices, experiences, and language of a(n indigenous) culture. It “places significance on Native language; place-based, and experiential learning, cultural identity; holistic well-being; and personal connections and belonging to family, community, and ancestors” (Alcantara, Keahiolalo, and Peirce, 2016). The literature base for CBE describes five basic elements that comprise this approach: Language, Family & Community, Context, Content, and Data & Accountability.

What is Hawaiian Culture-Based Education?

In HCBE, the five elements of CBE are applied specifically from a Native Hawaiian perspective. For example, HCBE practitioners strive to incorporate ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) in the classroom and involve family and community in the development of Hawaiian-centered curricula relevant to learners. By sustaining the values, traditions, and language of Hawaiʻi through HCBE, we hope to see Native Hawaiians grow in success and contribute to their communities both locally and globally.

Culture-Based Education Resource Collection

This HCBE collection includes exclusively research-focused resources that explore CBE and HCBE in varying contexts. Users should make their own assessments of the quality of the data from these sources. It is our hope that these resources will support your journey to ʻimi naʻauao, or seek wisdom, that would strengthen the lāhui.

If you would like a research study to be included in this collection, please email us at strategy.innovation@ksbe.edu.

Our goal is to disseminate the results of our work as broadly as possible to benefit our communities and lāhui.

Search our collection using the filters below to narrow results. You may select multiple filters.

Other criteria:
Age band(s): [X] Adulthood [X] Early Childhood [X] K-12
Type(s): [X] Brief [X] Journal [X] Map

Title	Author(s)	Year	Age band	Type	Topics
Use of Native Language and Culture (NLC) in Elementary and Middle School Instruction as a Predictor of Mathematics Achievement	Mark J. Van Ryzin and Claudia G. Vincent	2017	K-12	Journal	Education (general)
Triarchically-Based Instruction and Assessment of Sixth-Grade Mathematics in a Yup'ik Cultural Setting in Alaska	Robert J. Sternberg, Jerry Lipka, Tina Newman, Sandra Wildfeuer, and Elena L. Grigorenko	2005	K-12	Journal
Psychometric Properties of the Hawaiian Culture Scale - Adolescent Version	Earl Hishinuma, Naleen Andrade, Ronal Johnson, John McArdle, Robin Miyamoto, Linda Nahulu George Makini, Noelle Yuen, Stephanie Nishimura, John McDermott, Jane Waldron, Kenneth Luke, and Alayne Yates	2000	K-12	Journal
Native Hawaiians in Public Schools: Implications of AYP Status in Predominantly Native Hawaiian Schools	Wendy Kekahio	2007	K-12	Brief
Mohala i ka wai: Cultural Advantage as a Framework for Indigenous Culture-Based Education and Student Outcomes	Shawn M. Kanaiaupuni, Brandon Ledward, and Nolan Malone	2017	K-12	Journal
Measuring Native Hawaiian Leadership Among Graduates of Native Hawaiian Charter Schools	Amelia Rachel Hokule‘a Borofsky	2010	Adulthood	Journal	Oiwi (Cultural identity & intelligence)
Making Meaning: Connecting School to Hawaiian Students' Lives	Lois A. Yamauchi, Tasha R. Wyatt, and Alice H. Taum	2005	K-12	Journal
He Pūkoʻa Kani ʻĀina: Mapping Student Growth in Hawaiian-Focused Charter School	Shawn M. Kanaʻiaupuni	2008	K-12	Journal
Family Involvement in a Hawaiian Language Immersion Program	Lois A. Yamauchi, Jo-Anne Lau-Smith, and Rebecca J.I. Luning	2008	K-12	Journal
Education with Aloha and Student Assets	Katherine Tibbets, Kū Kahakalau, and Zanette Johnson	2007	K-12	Journal
Education and Native Hawaiian Children: Revisiting KEEP	Roland G. Tharp, Cathie Jordan, Gisela E. Speidel, Kathryn Hu-Pei Au, Thomas W. Klein, Roderick P. Calkin, Kim C.M. Sloat, and Ronald Gallimore	2007	K-12	Journal
Culture-Based Education and Its Relationship to Student Outcomes	Shawn M. Kanaʻiaupuni, Brandon Ledward, and ʻUmi Jensen	2013	K-12	Journal
Culturally Responsive Schooling for Indigenous Youth: A Review of the Literature	Angelina E. Castagno and Bryan McKinley Jones Brayboy	2008	K-12	Journal
Constant Perimeter, Varying Area: A Case Study of Teaching and Learning Mathematics to Design a Fish Rack	Anthony Rickard	2005	K-12	Journal
An Exploratory Study of Cultural Identity and Culture-Based Educational Program for Urban American Indian Students	Kristin M. Powers	2006	K-12	Journal
Academic Achievement Across School Types in Hawaiʻi: Outcomes for Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian students in conventional public schools, western-focused charters, and Hawaiian language and culture-based schools	Brennan Takayama	2008	K-12	Journal