Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 12, Number 10, 1 October 1995 — Pauahi's vision was to benefit all Hawaiian children [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Pauahi's vision was to benefit all Hawaiian children

by Samuel L. Kealoha, Jr. Trustee, Moloka'i & Lāna'i Bemice Pauahi Bishop envisioned the continued suffering of her people if they did not receive the advantages of a good education. What she believed over a century ago is still true today - tho.se who are poorly educated will struggle in life. The psychological and cultural devastation of the Hawaiian people were evident during Pauahi's time and she believed that with the advantages of a good education, the Hawaiian people would survive. It is for this reason that Bemice Pauahi Bishop decided that she would adopt the children of her people and they would

be her heirs. For over 20 years. when Kamehameha Schools / Bishop Estate expanded its service to eommunities through their COMMUNlTY EDUCATION AND EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAMS, they have been a part of the SOLUTION to help Hawaiian children and youth survive in modem day society. But now, Bishop Estate trustees have decided that financially, they

WILL NOT support both their new elementary and pre-schools and the Community Education and Early Education programs. In addition, their philosophy has changed and they now believe that they are more successful with their Kamehameha campus programs. Beginning June 30, 1995, when 170 Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate positions were eliminated, communities throughout our state lost valuable programs that have been serving thousands of Hawaiian Students, adults and families in their communities. After an ll-year partnership, Kamehameha Schools / Bishop Estate has informed the Department of Education that they will no longer service students in the public school through their Community Education or Early Education Programs. This means that more than 26,000 (1993-94 annual report figures from KS/BE) students and families will not be serviced this September (26,167 - KS/BE educ. group annual report). WHY THE CUTBACKS? The trustees have publicly announced their reasons for the cutbacks and I would like to offer the following responses: IF YOUR REASONS ARE FINANCIAL — Community Education and Early Education Programs account for approximately 20% of the educational budget. Eighty percent (80%) is allotted for campus programs. Now, the trustees are saying that they will allot 100% of the educational budget for Kamehameha campus programs. In addition, the trustees have invested more than

40 million dollars in an exclusive golf-course and country club on the East Coast that serves the wealthy. Is this venture generating ineome for the schools? Is it asking too mueh to spend less than 1/4 of the educationai budget to reach and educatc thousands of Hawaiian studcnts and lamilies in their communities? ĪF YOUR REASONS ARE PHILOSOPHICAL AND YOU BELIEVE THAT KAMEHAMEHA'S CAMPUS PROGRAMS ARE MORE SUCCESSFUL, think about this: Success is relative. If a Kamehameha student comes from a supportive family, has numerous experiences and opportunities, has access to a quality education at Kamehameha, graduates with honors and is accepted at a prestigious college, wouki that be

considered success? Definitely. Now, what if you have a student being assisted by a Community Education Program who lives in a family that uses / deals drugs, who has a parent in prison and this student aecomplishes the following: stays away from drugs, makes the honor roll, works part-time, helps the family, graduates from high school and obtains a decent paying iob. Is this success? Definitely. Is

one student's success more important than the other? YOUR MESSAGE IS LOUD AND CLEAR: By pulling out of the Department of Education and communities throughout the state, Kamehameha will serve only 6.000 of the best and brightest of the Hawaiian children and the state or other agencies ean take care of those who do not meet the competitive requirements for entry into Kamehameha Schools. Having worked for the Department of Education for 27 years, Mrs. Lindsey has firsthand knowledge that the D.O.E. does not have the resources nor the programs to specifically meet the needs of a large number of Hawaiian students in the puhlie schools. They are responsible for All students. Who has the funds or commitment to help the students that are currentīy being serviced by the Community Education and Early Education Programs? Alu Like? OHA? Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center? NO ONE? All Hawaiian students should be serviced. I am asking the Trustees of the Bishop Estate to sit with the Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to continue the partnership with the Department of Education in order to provide the valuable and needed services to our Hawaiian children and families. I implore you to reinterpret Bernice Pauahi Bishop's vision and allow her legacy to benefit not only the academically talented but to include those who are struggling in their educational efforts.