Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 8, 1 August 1991 — UH Hilo center receives grant for gifted kids [ARTICLE]

UH Hilo center receives grant for gifted kids

by Gail Chun At the University of Hawaii-Hilo, Dr. DavidSing is on a roll. Sing is of director Na Pua No'eau, a program established in 1989 for the educational enrichment of gifted native Hawaiian children throughout Hawaii. In May, the program won the 1991 Award for Excellence from the University of Hawaii at Manoa's College of Education for promoting "Educational Excellence: Hawaii's Special Children." Recently, the program received its third year grant award of $864,000 from the U.S. Department of Education. "The center has made a significant impact in identifying many more gifted children than are identified through regular school procedures," Sing said. Using the university faculty as resources, the program has impacted 500 students and 100 parents. Drafting, field geography, and aquaculture are some areas the faculty contribute their time to in helping the gifted students. Some new areas the center has started to develop are gifted and talented academic programs in a variety of areas, such as leadership and visual and performing arts. Culturally appropriate criteria and procedures for identifying gifted children are some other ways program officials hope to boost the number of Hawaiian children participating in gifted activities.