It's Tongan Language Week (Uike ’o e Lea Faka-Tonga), I want to share a recent presentation delivered to our Manaiakalani staff.
A focus of my sharing was exploring how Indigenous Pacific conceptual frameworks directly inform and support Tapasā—Aotearoa’s cultural competency framework for teachers of Pacific learners. Specifically, we examined Professor Konai Helu Thaman’s updated 2006 Kakala Framework, which uses the traditional Tongan art of garland-making as a philosophy for culturally responsive pedagogy and research.
As a key supporting document to Tapasā, Kakala provides the cultural foundation for how teachers can build relational ethics (Teu le vā) and high-expectation teaching practice. The six phases of the 2006 Kakala framework align seamlessly with our core Manaiakalani kaupapa of Learn, Create, and Share:
TEU & TOLI (Preparation & Selection) LEARN: Teu (preparing the ground) and Toli (selecting and gathering the finest flowers and scents). This underpins Tapasā Turu 1 & 2 and mirrors how our tamariki Learn—preparing their minds, researching, and harvesting knowledge rooted in their heritage and curriculum.
TUI (Making & Weaving) CREATE: Tui (carefully weaving the garland together with purpose and skill). This aligns with Tapasā Turu 3 (Pedagogical Practice) and reflects how our learners Create—synthesising their ideas into meaningful, high-quality digital outputs and creative work.
LUVA, MĀLIE & MĀFANA (Gifting, Appreciation & Transformation) $\rightarrow$ SHARE: Luva (gifting the finished kakala with humility) leading to Mālie (relevance/joy) and Māfana (warm empowerment). This embodies how our students Share—presenting their work to authentic audiences (whānau, peers, and community) to inspire and bring about real-world impact.
As we celebrate Tongan Language Week, this presentation serves as a powerful reminder that grounding our teaching in frameworks like Tapasā and Kakala ensures our Pacific learners thrive in their identity, language, and culture.
