Member Education Session: Language Acquisition and Preservation

A Native Hawaiian mother, educator, cultural practitioner, and executive, Dr. Waiʻaleʻale Arroyo is committed to the restoration of her people's Hawaiian identity, culture, language, and practices for Ea (self-determination).  

She is Vice President at Kamehameha Schools leading community education, engagement, and partnerships across the state of Hawaiʻi, impacting about 70,000 Native Hawaiian children and families annually. 

Kamehameha Schoolsʻ mission is to fulfill the legacy of Ke Aliʻi (Princess) Bernice Pauahi Bishopʻs desire to create educational opportunities in perpetuity to improve the capability and well-being of people of Hawaiian ancestry. The schoolʻs work is to ensure a strong Native Hawaiian identity in every keiki (child) and ʻohana (family) it serves. This includes education rooted in Hawaiian knowledge, language, and worldviews, the perpetuation of our cultural practices and traditions, instilling a life-long kuleana (responsibility) to our people and place, and the development of our people in ʻŌiwi (Native Hawaiian) leadership to prepare them to lead locally and globally. 

Dr. Arroyoʻs previous background and experience includes being an educator and non-profit CEO, Hawaiian Culture-based program development and evaluation, and Hawaiian language medium public charter Head of School. She holds a Doctoral degree in Education, Masterʻs in Private School Leadership Development, Masterʻs in Business Administration, and Bachelorʻs in Elementary Education. She is a Mea Hoʻōla, a traditional Hawaiian healing practitioner restoring ʻōiwi-based healing practices in the home.

Celeste comes from the Pueblo of Cochiti and has been an educator for 16 years. Her background of language revitalization and retention stems from her support of the Cochiti Summer Youth Language Program (CSYLP) as the program coordinator for several summers. She has a passion for working with Indigenous students and strives to connect with them because of her deep cultural background. 

Celeste believes that the Keres Children’s Learning Center (KCLC) is a vital component of the Pueblo because it upholds the community’s cultural values. Children are highly encouraged to learn the ways of the Pueblo through cultural and academic curricula that are grounded in the Keres language. It warms her heart to hear children speaking Keres daily at the school. She recognizes and values that the elders of the community hold significant knowledge that helps keep the mission alive. She’s excited to be part of the leadership team at KCLC as the Education Director. She has a passion to contribute her knowledge to improve and support the school and its endeavors to reclaim the education of Cochiti Pueblo children.