Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 6, 1 June 1994 — OHA Update [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA Update

Education The Education Division has been busy preparing for 'Aha 'Ōpio, OHA's youth legislature, whieh will be held June 12-18. The week-long residential pro-

gram gives Hawaiian high school juniors hands-on experience in the workings of government. The division recently published a booklet titled About Native Hawaiians, whieh gives a brief description of Hawaiian history,

culture and politics. Groups or individuals may request copies of the booklet by calling the Education Division at 594-1912 during regular business hours. NAGPRA workshop Representatives from Hawaiian organizations met last month at Bishop Museum for a one-day workshop organized by OHA's Land and Natural Resources division on the Native American

Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. NAGPRA was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1990 and has been the legal basis for nearly four years of effort to return Hawaiian ancestral remains from across the Mainland and in Hawai'i. The return and reburial of nā 'iwi kūpuna however is only one aspect of NAGPRA. The law also addresses the appropriate return of sacred and cultural patrimonial objects, and this was the gathering's topic of discussion.

The workshop included an overview and discussion of Public Law 101-601 (NAGPRA) by Tim MeKeown, NAGPRA coordinator in Washington, D.C., as well as a tour of selected eollection areas at Bishop Museum, conducted by museum staff.

Operation 'Ohana The Operation 'Ohana open house originally scheduled for this month has been postponed until July. Hawaiians who have registered with Operation 'Ohana but who haven't received a copy of the newsletter should eall 5941960 or 594-1961.

Housing The grant request made by

OHA's Housing Division to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle has been recommended for approval. The division asked for $500,000 to plan and develop a kupuna housing project in Waimānalo. Housing officer Stephen Morse is waiting for the bank's final approval, but is characteristically optimistic. "Maybe we'll build some houses this year," he says.

Grants June 24 is the deadline to apply for the next cycle of OHA grants. Applications must be postmarked or received in OHA's Honolulu office or one of its neighbor island offices by that date. Onee completed applications are received, they will undergo a review process. Applicants will be notified within 1 20 days of the deadline whether or not they will be funded. Application packets and more information are available from OHA offices, or by calling 5941964.