History of Parents as Teachers in Hawaiʻi

Keiki O Ka ʻĀina’s (KOKA) journey with the Parents as Teachers (PAT) model began 25 years ago through its Native Hawaiian Education Programs. From the very beginning, the PAT model was thoughtfully chosen for its strong alignment with KOKA’s mission—to educate children, strengthen families, enrich communities, and perpetuate culture—while honoring parents as their child’s first and most influential teacher.

KOKA’s work is guided by Native Hawaiian values that shape every aspect of service delivery and relationships with families. Aloha is expressed through compassionate presence, deep listening, and respect for each family’s story. Mālama informs how Family Support Professionals care for parents, children, and themselves—prioritizing safety, healing, and well-being. Lōkahi guides the program’s holistic approach, recognizing the importance of balance between emotional, physical, spiritual, and relational health. Poʻokela inspires a commitment to excellence and continuous growth, uplifting parents and caregivers to reach their highest potential as leaders within their ʻohana and communities.

Over the years, as KOKA’s community-based home visiting programs grew, the PAT model was implemented across a wide range of settings. These included the Maui Community Correctional Center; the Women’s Community Correctional Center on Oʻahu; the Hawaiʻi Youth Correctional Facility in Olomana; the GRADS program at Maui High School (supporting pregnant high school students); community-based programming at Happy Valley in Waiehu, Maui; women’s transition programs in partnership with the Salvation Army in Mānoa, Oʻahu; and services for single mothers experiencing homelessness. In each of these spaces, the PAT model provided a steady, strengths-based foundation—one that supported attachment, honored resilience, and remained responsive to families lived experiences.

As KOKA’s programs continued to expand, the organization was awarded its first Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) contract in 2013. This milestone allowed KOKA to deepen its focus on serving underserved communities facing complex systemic challenges across Hawaiʻi. Today, KOKA’s MIECHV home visiting program, known as He Lei Piko, has supported families on Maui and continues to serve families on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island, and Kauaʻi. The program is a two-time Parents as Teachers Blue Ribbon Affiliate, reflecting excellence in model implementation, and has the distinction of being home to the 2023 Parents as Teachers National Parent Educator of the Year, further demonstrating KOKA’s commitment to high-quality, culturally rooted home visiting services.

As a long-standing member of the Your ʻOhana Network and in partnership with the Department of Health, KOKA’s He Lei Piko Home Visiting Program contributes to a shared vision of care that gently nurtures families from pregnancy through kindergarten entry. Services are delivered within identified MIECHV tract zones and are grounded in trauma-informed care, infant mental health principles, and positive parenting practices. Through its implementation of the PAT model, KOKA supports healing, strengthens attachment, and builds protective factors such as parental resilience, meaningful social connections, and nurturing relationships. Native Hawaiian values—aloha, mālama, lōkahi, and poʻokela—are practiced intentionally during every home visit, guiding how trust is built, strengths are affirmed, and families are supported in pursuing their goals. The adaptability of the PAT model allows Family Support Professionals to meet families where they are, honoring their lived experiences, culture, and pace while fostering reflection, growth, and confidence. Through this integrated and culturally responsive approach, early learning is strengthened and healthy relationships are supported, promoting long-term well-being for children, parents, and communities.

KOKA deeply acknowledges the powerful role culture plays in shaping parenting across generations. By weaving cultural identity into positive parenting practices, KOKA continues to uplift parents and caregivers as capable leaders and experts on their children, ensuring their voices guide every visit. As the program continues to grow and respond to the evolving needs of the community, KOKA remains committed to strengthening communities one parent–child relationship at a time—supporting and inspiring the next generation of community leaders.

“Keiki O Ka ʻĀina’s journey is built in everyday moments—sitting cross-legged on living room floors, celebrating first steps, pausing to breathe as another box of toys spills open, and honoring transitions as one season of parenthood gives way to another. We often hear parents say, ‘I wish I had this (PAT) when my kids were little.’ KOKA is grateful for the opportunity to help make that wish a reality in our hometowns. Together, we are nurturing connection, strengthening families, and raising the next generation of leaders—rooted in community and growing with purpose.”