Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 8, 1 August 1989 — Native Hawaiian education seeing federal boost [ARTICLE]

Native Hawaiian education seeing federal boost

by Lynn Oamilda Ka Wai Ola O OHA intern Native Hawaiian legislative achievements in education did not happen overnight. For the past decade and a half educators, political leaders and members of the Hawaiian community have proposed programs before Congress to meet the unique needs of the Hawaiian people. This year Congress appropriated $12 million for Hawaiian education, health and cultural programs. Under the Native Hawaiian Education Act, whieh became public law 11-297 in Apnl 1988, the following education programs were created by legislation: A model curriculum implementation project will provide $400,000 in grants to the State of Hawai'i Department of Education, the Kamehameha Elementary Education Program and the University of Hawai'i to continue the education of Native Hawaiian students in public elementary schools. Family-based education centers will provide

grants totaling $1.8 million through the Department of Education to Native Hawaiian organizations to continue parent-infant development and preschooling. Higher education fellowships will provide $1.5 million in fellowships and counseling (through the Kamehameha Schools) to Native Hawaiian students in two or four-year colleges based upon their academic potential and financial need. The gifted and talented program (through the University of Hawai'i at Hilo) will receive $800,000 in support of demonstration projects for gifted and talented Native Hawaiian students at the elementary and secondary school levels. A special education program will provide $500,000 in grants to the state or Native Hawaiian organizations in support of programs for children who are mentally or physically handicapped or in need of special education. A vocational education program will provide $2.2 million for Native Ffawaiian organizations toward vocational education and $612,000 to support libraryrelated personnel, materials, programs, buildings and facilities. According to Myron B. Thompson, trustee of The Kamehameha Schools - Bemice Pauahi Bishop Estate, federal funds were appropriated as follows: Family Based Education Centers . . $1,778,000 Elementary Reading/Language Arts . . . 435,000 Financial Aid for College 1,500,000 Gifted and Talented Programs 800,000 Special Education Programs 500,000 Vocational Education Programs .... 2,169,000 Drug Free Schools and Communities Program 435,000

Library Services and Construction . . . . 619,000 Health Planning/Mental Health 850,000 Culture and Arts 1,600,000 Elderly Programs 1,360,000 The legislative events in Hawaiian history leading up to these congressional support programs, according to Thompson, began in 1974 when Hawaiians were included in the Community Service Act. Alu Like was organized to assist Hawaiians in meeting their needs through various programs. In 1975 Hawaiians were legally recognized as Native Americans and were eligible to receive federal benefits to support their educational, eeonomie, social, cultural and health-related needs. In 1983 these needs were documented in a comprehensive study known as the Native Hawaiian Educational Assessment Project. Kamehameha trustee Thompson talking to the Oahu Civic Clubs, in Aprii said the NHEAP report showed educational needs of native Hawaiians begin before school age, Hawaiians were found to laek necessary verbal skills, were over-repre-sented in special education classes, had high school drop-out rates and lower paying jobs as adults. According to the NHEAP executive summary, "Persons of Native Hawaiian ancestry have suffered disproportionately from educational and social inequality for some time . . . they are sometimes referred to as 'strangers in their own land'." Thompson said it is the responsibility of agencies and everyone concerned about the welfare of Native Hawaiians, to insure that money from the federal government is effectively to change the lives of Hawaiians.