Namahana Leadership Attends International Big Picture Learning (BPL) Conference

Namahana School’s Dr. Kapua Chandler and Taeko Onishi recently joined the Hawai‘i State Charter Commission and global colleagues from Big Picture Learning schools across the U.S., Caribbean, Canada, Africa, and Europe for an International Conference. Hosted by Big Picture Learning Australia, Kapua and Taeko were joined on the trip by the Executive Director of the State of Hawaiʻi Charter School Commission, Ed Noh. 

Kapua was invited to join a panel of Indigenous women from Australia, Kenya, and Canada to reflect on supporting Indigenous students in BPL environments. She shared Namahana’s ʻāina-based model and the importance of honoring students’ passions, including cultural and community-rooted pathways.

They also visited Launceston Big Picture School and Hobart Big Picture in Tasmania, experiencing student-led learning and gaining insight into the BIGA International Big Picture Learning Credential (IBPLC). Tasmania was a meaningful space to build pilina with our international group and BPL Australia. 

Kapua and Taeko are now home with ʻike to hānai for Namahana! Check out more photos from the trip on Instagram here.