The INPEACE Early Literacy Institute (ELI), an initiative which intertwines Hawaiian culture with the vital mission of nurturing early literacy. The program spans several locations across the islands, including Hilo, Waiʻanae, Nānākuli, Kapolei, and the island of Kauai. This program, deeply rooted in evidence-based practices, embraces the concept of “shared literacy” to cultivate children’s language skills through inclusive learning methods.

In 2014, INPEACE received a grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Native Hawaiian Education Program to support the growth and improvement of the Ka Lama Education Academy. Needing an external, third-party evaluation partner as part of its grant requirement, INPEACE reached out to McREL. Sanoe Marfil, INPEACE’s current CEO, was the Ka Lama program director at the time and worked with McREL staff to design an evaluation plan that would best capture the successes of the programs and areas for improvement.

INPEACE has named Sanoe Marfil its new Chief Executive Officer effective today, October 1st. Marfil came to INPEACE as a participating parent and later joined the INPEACE ‘ohana in 2006, working her way up to her current position as the Chief Program Officer.

Ka Lama Education Academy is the longest running program of INPEACE. With a deep commitment to our community in Waiʻanae, we cultivate homegrown educators through our Grow Your Own (GYO) Teacher Education program, embodying the spirit of “ka lama kū i ka noʻeau” – the standing torch of wisdom. The program strives to nurture educators deeply rooted in their cultural heritage and committed to serving their community with excellence in education. We envision educators who are not only knowledgeable but also confident, capable, and connected to their community.