Jaydene R. Kaleʻa Silva

Jaydene R. Kaleʻa Silva serves as Associate Professor in the Education Social Sciences division at Leeward Community College (University of Hawaiʻi system), where she bridges Hawaiian cultural knowledge with contemporary teacher education. Her institutional roles span multiple high-impact committees including the Hawaiian Asian and Pacific Focus Designation Board (HAP), Keoneʻula Hawaiian Language Board, and AʻO Teaching Excellence Program.

Her academic preparation includes:

• BA in Hawaiian Studies, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
• MEd in Secondary Education, Chaminade University
• PhD in Curriculum Studies, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Professor Silva's research integrates indigenous epistemologies with educational practice, focusing on culturally sustaining pedagogies that center Hawaiian language and Aloha ʻĀina principles. Her work emphasizes community-embedded teacher development through initiatives like the Neighbor Island Pipeline for Stay at Home Grow Your Own Teacher Pipeline, creating pathways for local educators rooted in place-based knowledge.

She actively mentors through University Partnerships for Teacher Education Pathways and P-20 Partnerships, fostering collaborations between K-12 schools and higher education. Her committee leadership across Teacher Academy Partnerships and Aloha ʻĀina initiatives demonstrates sustained commitment to transforming educational ecosystems through Hawaiian cultural frameworks.

While no formal research lab is documented, Professor Silva's leadership in Keoneʻula Hawaiian Language Board and related partnerships establishes her as a central figure in Hawaiian language revitalization efforts within Hawaiʻi's educational landscape, driving community-engaged scholarship that connects classroom learning with cultural practice.