Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 7, Number 1, 1 January 1990 — Native Hawaiians eligible for grant aid [ARTICLE]

Native Hawaiians eligible for grant aid

Native Hawaiians aged 65 or older are the beneficiaries of a $1.3 million grant awarded by the federal Administration on Aging under the provisions of the 01der Americans Act. Hawaiians were included in Title VI of the 01der Americans Act along with American Indians and Alaskan Natives in 1987, when the Act was last reauthorized, according to Sen. Spark Matsunaga who is chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Aging whieh oversees the 01der Americans Act. Funding for a Native Hawaian program was included in a supplemental appropriations bill for fiseal year 1989. The grant applieahon was prepared by a eonsortium of Native Hawaiian organizations including Alu Like, ine. and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, with advice and technical assistance from the state Office on Aging. It was submitted by Alu Like, ine. and the funds were awarded by the Administration on Aging in October 1989. "The $1.3 million grant is the largest ever awarded by the Administration on Aging to a Native American organization," said Matsunaga. "The funds will help extend 01der Americans Act services to older Americans of Hawaiian ancestry, many of whom are not currently being served under the act." The statewide program will initially provide eongregate meals, health screening, nutrition and

health counseling, transportation and culturally relevant recreational activities to elderly Native Hawaiians at centers on five of the principal Hawaiian Islands: O'ahu, Maui, Moloka'i, Hawai'i and Kaua'i. One early objective will be the development of healthful and enjoyable menus based on traditional Hawaiian foods. In future years, the range of services will be expanded, said Matsunaga. He said additional funds for the program are included in the fiscal year 1990 appropriations bill for the Department of Health and Human Services. "The establishment of a special Older Americans Act program for Native Hawaiians is especially timely, since the number of Native Hawaiian elderly is expected to double within the next 20 years. "Moreover, despite Hawaii's favorable environment and the generally good health enjoyed by Hawai'i residents compared to those in other states, elder!y Native Hawaiians have not fared very well. They have a shorter life expectancy than any other group in Hawaii's populahon, and suffer a high incidence of chronic illness and preventable illnesses related to diet and lifestyle. During hear ings on the 01der Americans Act in 1987, the Subcommittee on Aging also received testimony indicating that over one-third of elderly Native Hawaiians live in poverty," Matsunaga concluded.