Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 3, 1 March 1988 — Hawaiian Civic Clubs Carrying Out Mandate [ARTICLE]

Hawaiian Civic Clubs Carrying Out Mandate

Followup Conference on Ka'uTask Force April 16

A followup conference on Ha'aheo O Hawaii: A Seminar on Ka'u, the Report of the Special Task Force for the Hawaiian Studies Department at the University of Hawaii Manoa, is scheduled for Saturday, April 16, at the Campus Center Building of Leeward Community College. Registration begins at 8:15 a.m. with the conferenee running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is being sponsored by the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs and its Oahu District Council and hosted by Leeward Community College. Pre-registration is being accepted by Dexter Soares at 842-8217, Lucy M. Gay, 455-0230, or Candice C. Hurley, 455-0230 and 677-4474. Luneh will be provided at a modest cost and parking is free. Subject matters to be discussed at this spring or followup conference centers around Student Recruitment and Retention; Faculty Development and Facility; and Site Provisions. A special part of the conference will be the presentation of the Ha'aheo O Hawaii Excellence in Education Award to an individual or individuals who have contributed greatly to the field of education, especially for the Hawaiian student.

The conference is a followup of one held last Dec. 5 at the Kamehameha Schools Princess Ruth Auditorium. This followup will update people as to what has happened since then in the three subject areas mentioned above. It will also provide information as to legislative action taken to assist Hawaiian students. There will also be guest speakers. Guest speakers at the December conference included Gladys Ainoa Brandt, chairwoman of the UH Board of Regents; Senator Malama Solomon, chairwoman of the Senate Higher Education Committee; Anthony Marsella, UH vice president for academic affairs; Dr. Richard Kekuni Blaisdell, acting director, UH Department of Hawaiian Studies; Dr. Lilikala Kamaeleihiwa and Dr. Haunani Kay-Trask, both of the Department of Hawaiian Studies. Many other Hawaiian educators from statewide positions participated in the group presentation. The outcome of the December conference was an outpouring of affirmation of the AOHCC and UH in the direction of the total education of the Hawaiian student in the UH systems. Returned evaluation questionnaires mandated the upcoming

spring followup. There also were affirmation and aeelaim for the Ka'u Report. It was felt, however, that a planning document or action plan was needed. The AOHCC Education Committee under Soares' (Kalihi-Palama HCC) chairmanship will formulate such a document. Others on the committee are Robert Lindsey (HCC of Honolulu), Melvin Kauila Clark (Nanaikapono HCC), Mrs. Gay and Miss Hurley (both of Princess Ka'iulani HCC). Soares also chairs the Oahu District Council Education Committee. AOHCC was instrumental in mandating the creation of the Hawaiian Studies at UH and that the Association is carrying on its objective of paying special attention to the quality of education provided for the Hawaiian student, especially in the University system. Through its Education Committee and the legislative efforts of the Hawaiian Civic Political Action Committee (HACPAC), the Association eontinues to monitor all situations impacting on education in the state.