Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 7, 1 July 1988 — UH Hilo Awaits Federal Funding for Program [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

UH Hilo Awaits Federal Funding for Program

$1 Million for Gifted, Talented Hawaiian Students

By Deborah Lee Ward, Assistant Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA The University of Hawaii at Hilo may receive this fall as mueh as $1 million a year for five years to develop programs to meet the needs of gifted and talented Hawaiian students. If federal funds earmarked for them are appropriated under H.R. 5, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that took effect in April as Publie Law 100-297, UH Hilo will establish a center to develop demonstration projects for gifted and talented Hawaiian students in elementary and secondary schools. Legislation for the Act was co-sponsored by Representative Daniel K. Akaka and Senators Daniel K. Inouye and Spark M. Matsunaga were conferees. While the Act calls for spending to begin in the next fiscal year starting October 1, 1988, according to Dr. David Sing, UH Hilo acting director of Student Development, funding for the Native Hawaiian Gifted and Talented Demonstration Pro- . gram has not yet been released, so it is not known how mueh will be received or when. According to a Department of Education study in 1980, Hawaiian students represented only 6.8 percent of statewide gifted and talented program enrollment in elementary schools, though they make up over 20 percent of the student body. A 1987 report by Kamehameha Schools/Bernice Pauahi Bishop Estate put the number of Hawaiian students (grades K-12) at 36,330 in the DOE system. The State of Hawaii defines "gifted and talented" students as "children and youth whose superior performance or potential indicates possible giftedness in intellectual, creative, or specific academic abilities, leadership capability, psychomotor ability or talent in the performing and visual arts." Hawaiian students now may be overlooked by some gifted and talented programs whieh focus on the traditional area of academic achievement. They may also be underachievers who may pass unnoticed in the classroom due to cultural differences or behavioral problems. Establishment of

the gifted and talented center may lead to better ways to identify and involve these students in program that ean enhanee their growth. Gifted and talented programs funded by the Act will follow the federal definition of "native Hawaiian" and provide service to all Hawaiian students who qualify, regardless of blood quantum. In anticipation of receiving the funds, the university last May 20-21 held the first of a series of seminars on "Enriching the Educational Opportunities of Hawaiian Students." About 75 educators, administrators, parents and other interested persons attended the seminar on the UH-Hilo campus. The seminar had two purposes: to define the institutional and personal barriers Hawaiian

students face in school; and to eome up with creative ideas for gifted and talented programs in the schools. The ideas shared in the day-long brainstorming session may serve as a guide to developing demonstration projects through the gifted and talented center. A further goal was to develop an advisory network of resource specialists to support future gifted and talented center programs. In relaxed but serious discussions, participants probed the numerous obstacles facing Hawaiian students, including stereotypes in the schools, eultural conflict in values toward education, mismatched learning and teaching styles and low selfesteem. Admittedly many difficulties stem from •See $1 Million, page 2

A discussion group shares issues whieh hinder Hawaiians in education. From left to right are Lynette Paglinawan, Stanley Ki'ope Raymond, Paula De Morales, Charles Mills and Charlene Masuhara.