Family & Child Interaction Learning Program (FCILP)

Who We are

Nā Kamalei—K.E.E.P. is a tax exempt 503(c)3 non-profit organization begun in 1996 as an initiative of community and professional people. Our name, Nā Kamalei, means “precious children” and our motto is 'Apo i Ka Lama Kū which means “Grasp the torch of knowledge”. Both were given to us by Auntie Malia Craver.

Ho’āla Nā Pua is the focus of Nā Kamalei—K.E.E.P. We are a community-driven and community-based 50l (c)3 organization serving families in Ko’olau Loa, O’ahu, Hawai’i. Family-child interaction learning programs are early learning programs where children attend three time a week with their parents, grandparents or an adult from the family. Ho’āla Nā Pua program also offers home support, cultural and science activities in the Punalu’u Discovery Garden, and literacy/language development.

Ho’āla Nā Pua means “awakening flowers” and this name was given to us by Keoana Hanchett.

As a member with a child or children in the Ho’āla Nā Pua program, your participation in group meetings and other planned activities is important. There may also be opportunities to attend conferences, leadership training and/or various other workshops.

Ohana Participation

As a parent with a child or children in the program your participation in group meetings and other planned activities is important. There may also be opportunities to attend conferences, leadership training and/or various other workshops and seminars.

As a Ho’āla Nā Pua parent, attendance to the quarterly General Membership Committee meeting is MANDATORY. This is the decision-making, membership-governing body of Nā Kamalei-K.E.E.P.

Program Overview

Nā Kamalei—K.E.E.P has gone through s series of improvements over the years:

• Reorganized our program calendar to a school year, beginning 2009;


• Expanded the program to include families with children age’s zero-three (0-3).


• Implemented Lei Aku, Lei Mai (Lei Given, Lei Received) - The Reciprocal Exchange of Knowledge, A Hawaiian Family Curriculum. This pioneering curriculum was developed and produced by Nā Kamalei—K.E.E.P through national funding from the U.S. Department of Education and the Administration for Native Americans. Included are thematic weeks with scaffolding lessons. Educational stations are changed on a weekly basis and are built on foundational skills. There is usually one or more excursions, group meeting or workshop per month.


• Each family has a Family Focus Portfolio to store artwork, observations and developmental reports to show improvement over time.


• Increased our offerings per family to (36) hours per month;


• Expanded our Punalu’u Discovery Garden to be a lush acre of exploration and appealing activities every Friday with ‘ohana, grandparents and siblings.

Copyright 2008: Na Kamalei, All Rights Reserved