In Hawai‘i, the use of older family members to care for children ages birth to five is a very familiar practice. Grandparents, or tūtū, are often the primary caregivers of their young grandchildren because of socio-economic conditions, as well as the value of ‘ohana (family).
Tūtū and Me aims to identify, recruit, and service this underserved segment of the Native Hawaiian population through an innovative traveling preschool program done in cooperation with churches and community organizations serving the Hawaiian and part-Hawaiian community. Tūtū and Me aims to meet the developmental needs of these young children and to support the grandparents — as well as parents and other primary caregivers — who are raising them.
Teacher and aide teams, comprised of early childhood educators, travel to pre-selected communities where they set up, conduct, and facilitate the program. The curriculum is organized around learning themes, and cultural aspects as well as values that continue to influence the lives of native Hawaiian children are incorporated into the curriculum. Today, this traveling preschool program reaches hundreds of children and their caregivers through a hands-on curriculum provided at six sites on the island of O‘ahu and two sites on the Big Island.
This project is funded by the U.S. Department of Education in cooperation with the Association of Hawaiian Evangelical Churches of the United Church of Christ (AHEC).
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Gail S. Omoto
Director of Research, Evaluation, and Development
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Tūtū and Me Statewide Program Director, Gail Omoto, was raised on the island of Moloka‘i. She has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Communication Arts and Sciences from the University of Southern California, and a Master's degree in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education, from California State University, Northridge. Gail has had over 20 years of experience in the field of early childhood education, and has led the Tūtū and Me program since its inception. Gail is married and is the mother of two girls. Her dream is to see every child in the State of Hawaii have an opportunity to receive a good educational foundation and experiences that instill values and the love for learning very early in life.
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Dawn Lui
Operations Manager
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Wednesday, May 21, 2008
East Hawai‘i visits JAMS Victory Garden
Uncle James and Aunty Beth teach keiki about interacting with nature with lessons in recycling and respecting animals.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Tūtū and Me Tutu Visits Kahului Community Center Annex
Keiki and their caregivers excitedly participate in all of the program’s activities...
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Kupuna Edna Cathcart Comes to Tūtū and Me on Moloka‘i
Aunty Edna shares her knowledge of Hawaiian culture.
More Tūtū and Me news at www.tutuandme.org »
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