Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 12, Number 4, 1 April 1995 — OHA tutorial program builds academic skills, self-esteem [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA tutorial program builds academic skills, self-esteem

Sometimes students need a little extra help in making the grade. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is there for Hawaiian students needing help in school. OHA is providing $180,000 this school year to 29 schools statewide through its tutorial program. These programs are helping students make the most of their minds while making school a plaee where they experience success. At Honoka'a High and Elementary on the Big Island, OHA is funding Holomua, an after-school tutorial program for 50 participating Hawaiian students and athletes in grades 9-12. In addition to offering individual tutoring in math, English, science and social studies, Holomua also assists students who need to take correspondence courses in order to graduate with their class. The program includes attendance at the annual Hawaiian Leadership Development Conference at the University of Hawai'iHilo, meeting adult Hawaiians who offer positive role models during the school's "Hawaiian week," and workshops covering life plans, career and college opportunities. Holomua project coordinator Kū Kahakalau has seen student achievements and enthusiasm for study change because of the tutoring project. "Onee they're good in one subject, it's infectious. Onee they feel they ean do it in one area, it affects their feeling of success in another." She said

there have been a number of students who have brought up their grades and were mainstreamed out of the program. Holomua tutors encourage students to apply for scholarships and assist them in eompleting forms. Kahakalau says, "We've noticed an increase in students applying for scholarships to attend eollege." In Kona, at Kahakai School, OHA is funding an after -ehool instruction program for 35 Hawaiian students. It provides tutoring in reading and writing and a plaee to do their homework with guidance clo.se at hand. Homeroom teacher and tutor Jennifer Toledo says, "I see a lot more confidence in stu- 1 dents who attend the program.

A lot of them don't have a quiet plaee to study at home." She added that because their skills improved, some students no longer needed the tutoring and were able to exit the program, making room for others. Parents also like the program because they see their children being successful. Toledo says, "Unfortunately we

cannot accept all who would like to be in it. Classes need to be small to work." At Keaukaha Elementary school, a tutorial project for 50 students in grades K-8 in the Hawaiian Language Immersion Program is in its third year of OHA funding. Tutors fluent in Hawaiian provide assistance in math, lan-

guage arts or wherever the student needs it. Project coordinator Nako'olani Warrington says that immersion students need the same kind of services as their peers

Photo courtesy of Kū kahakalau in the English classroom. "The Kula Kaiapuni (Hawaiian Language Immersion Program) is an ever-growing program with wonderful haumana (students) of varying abilities and skills. The keiki (children) are brought up to grade level with the help of their Hawaiian-speaking role models, who integrate the necessary curriculum with

Hawanan values. "We are grateful to OHA for its support in providing us with Hawaiian-language tutors to meet the needs of our keiki." For information about OHA eāueaūonal programs, eall 1(808) 594-1888.

Learning about Hawaiian values: Holomua students pulling taro in Waipio.