This paper describes how the Center for Research on Education, Diversity, and Excellence (CREDE) Standards for Effective Pedagogy, research-based strategies for culturally and linguistically diverse students, have been used in classrooms for Native Hawaiian students. Historically, Hawaiian students have not been well served by formal education. The CREDE Standards can provide a culturally relevant foundation for teachers to design educational activity that increases Hawaiian learners’ engagement and learning. The Standards cover: (a) joint productive activity; (b) language and literacy development; (c) contextualization; (d) complex thinking; (e) instructional conversation; (f) modeling; and (j) student-directed activity. The CREDE Standards are aligned with indigenous Hawaiian values and cultural practices. Compared to more typical instruction, the CREDE model offers a culturally relevant context for Hawaiian students, focusing on the sociocultural aspects of learning and emphasising peer-assisted, cooperative learning.