Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 8, 1 October 1984 — ANA Official Visits OHA [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ANA Official Visits OHA

By Wendy Roylo Hee Planning and Development Officer

William L. Engles, commissioner of the federal Administration for Native Americans (ANA) since January, visited OHA last month to learn about native Hawaiians and to answer any questions about his agency, whieh exists to help American Indians, Alaskan natives and native Hawaiians become self-sufficient through social, eeonomie and government leadership programs. Engles, an Oneida Indian who grew up on a Sioux reservation, knew mueh about problems American Indians face, but wanted to learn more about native Hawaiians. During his OH A visit, Engles viewed the ceded lands slide show. "That's a very impressive presentation of Hawaiian history," he noted. It greatly enhanced his understanding of Hawaiians and their plight today. OHA was able to report to Engles steady progress on its ANA-funded project, the Comprehensive Services for Hawaiians Office, whieh is designed to survey social agencies in the state. The survey will lead to the compilation of a directory; development of a referral serviee for Hawaiians; and identification of gaps and barriers in the service delivery system as it related to Hawaiians. When Trustee Thomas K. Kaulukukui informed Engles of other OHA plans in the social services field, such as an aleoholism project, Engles responded enthusiastically, "I plan to work with other agencies in the federal government to focus in on the alcoholism problem." "As you may know," he continued, "alcoholism is also a major problem in Indian communities." 1 ... aiMKi

OH A noted that many eeonomie development projects in Hawaii whieh recently received ANA funding were related to agriculture, and inquired if agriculture was also a priority direction for ANA. Engles assured OHA that ANA entertains and funds all sorts of projects as long as they are shown to be viable and that they lead to social and eeonomie selfsufficiency of the native group. " Y ou tell us what you believe is needed in your community to meet the goal of self-sufficiency," he responded. Engles did caution, however, that ANA has a new policy against the purchase of eomputers. He does not want to start a trend of computer hardware purchases without adequate thought and study of the appropriate uses of such expensive equipment. Engles also reminded OHA of ANA's open, competitive grant application process in whieh all applications are measured against eaeh other in determining whieh ones will be funded. The deadlines for submitting grant applications are Oct. 10, 1984; Feb. 28, 1985; or June 30, 1985. These grants are available to any Hawaiian group interested in implementing projects that meet ANA's goal in assisting native groups to become more self-sufficient.

William L. Engles