Nawaʻa Napoleon receives Native Hawaiian Education Association Award
Kapiʻolani Community College
NHEA Educator of the Year award recipient Nawa'a Napoleon
The Native Hawaiian Education Association (NHEA) has announced that Nawaʻa Napoleon, Associate Professor and Chair of the Languages, Linguistics and Literature Department at Kapiʻolani Community College, is receiving the prestigious “Educator of the Year “award. This annual award recognizes three individuals for their exemplary work and who have “served to enlighten and uplift” the Hawaiian community through education.
Kapiʻolani Chancellor Leon Richards said: “Nawaʻa’s extraordinary skills and creativity make him a stand out in everything he does. He is passionate about student success and he considers it a privilege to teach. This award validates his achievements for the College and his genuine desire to promote student success through education.”
When asked how he felt about receiving this award, Nawaʻa said he feels the NHEA award does not belong to him, but to the students and to the College for it is they who brought him to a good place of honor and service.
Along with fellow recipients Noreen Mokuau and Maenette Ah Nee, Nawaʻa Napoleon will be recognized at an awards ceremony during the 2015 NHEA Convention which will be held on March 23rd and 24th at Windward Community College. For more information on the convention, please visit http://nhea.net.