Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 13, Number 6, 1 June 1996 — OHA's education division encourages lifetime learning [ARTICLE]

OHA's education division encourages lifetime learning

^■or many people education means going to ^L^school. For OHA's education division it means | everything from pre-school study to restoring the cultural pride of Hawai'i's kūpuna. "Education is a life-long experience of leaming, integration, and applieaūon of life skills," says OHA education officer Rona Rodenhurst. The division's focus is broad. Its programs include scholarships, tutorials, and a student recruitment and retention project. Annual events include a youth legislature, an award for excellence in Hawaiian education, and a convocation of Hawaiian elders. An important part of their activities is their kūpuna program whieh plays a critical role in "sensitizing"

schools and service providers to Hawaiian leaming styles and culture. The kūpuna program also has an education component where elderly Hawaiians, many of whom were part of a generation that were taught to reject their Hawaiian culture, are encouraged to recover past traditions and educate future generations. Division activities also include staff members sitting on important board and advisory committees. They also work with various agencies whieh serve Hawaiians to ensure that they are communicated to in a culturally sensitive manner. Tutorials OHA annually supports tutorial programs across the state with the goal of improving students' academic skills, cultural pride and self-esteem. Programs range ffom math tutorials, to after school art programs. (See story page 10.) "We do just about everything," explains Rodenhurst, qualifying that they generally support innovative programs that consider the needs of

a particular community. In 1995 OHA's education division supported 29 tutorial programs servicing 1,519 students in selected Department of Education (DOE) schools. Scholarships OHA works in cooperation with Kamehameha Schools to provide scholarships for Hawaiians seeking a post secondary school education. In 1995, OHA awarded a total of $50,000 in scholarships to 62 students. Assistance ranged from $500 to $1000. The Kamehameha Schools Financial Aid Program processed the applications and served as a clearing house for Hawaiian scholarship and līnaneial aid information. OHA provided scholarships to students in an eeonomie " gap group" as well as on a merit basis.

'Aha 'Opio O OHA Held every year in June, 'Aha 'Opio is a one-week leadership development conference for up to 60 high school juniors. In a structure that mimics Hawai'i's own Legislature, students practice public speaking, parliamentary procedure and polkieal interaction while focusing on Hawaiian concems such as the environment, native rights and resources, and self-determina-tion. More than 350 students have completed the program since it began nine years ago. Last year's class was made up of 57 participants including students from Alaska, Washington and California. Through interaction with OHA staff, kūpuna and volunteers, students acquire a better appreciation for Hawaiian cultural values and traditions. continued page 10

Education division /

Ke Kukui Mālamalama This annual award recognizes outstanding efforts in Hawaiian education by honoring individuals and groups in the Hawaiian community who have made significant contributions to academic and/or cultural education. Nominees must be dedicated to furthering the education of Hawaiians, inspire students of Hawaiian ancestry to excellence, and have the respect and admiration of students, parents, and colleagues. All nominees are honored at a reception in December at whieh the Ke Kukui Mālamalama awards are presented.

Student recruitment and retention The student recruitment and retention project is designed to increase the number of Hawaiian students enrolling in and graduating from college. The project is aimed specifically at the UH-Mānoa and UHHilo campuses although recently they have provided grant assistance to a student retention program at Maui Community College. (See story page 11.) Rodenhurst says that, "getting Hawaiian kids wanting to go and getting them to complete higher education is a must." The UH-Hilo program supports students through its Hawaiian leadership Development Program. It offers internship mentor partnerships as well as leadership course work. The UH-Mānoa's Kua'ana Student Services project provided

tutoring and high school recruitment. Kūpuna Program The OHA Kūpuna Program provides workshops and presentations on Hawaiian values, traditions and culture to a variety of groups, agencies and institutions. It began as a program to help the DOE recruit participants for the state program and has since grown to provide services for a wide range of organizations. OHA's kūpuna also participate in the education division's other programs. They play an integral part in transmitting the Hawaiian culture to all members of the Hawaiian eommunity. The education division's aim through the Kūpuna Program is

to assist the Hawaiian 'ohana in strengthening the island culture. Part of the program includes reacquainting kūpuna with their past. Many grew up being told not to speak Hawaiian, rejecting an important part of their cultural heritage. Under the leadership of Aunty Betty Jenkins and Aunty Nālehua Knox, kūpuna are encouraged to rediscover their heritage and then become transmitter of that culture. "If we ean begin to rekindle traditions within the kūpuna and have them pass it down to younger generations," Rodenhurst explains, "then we will begin to rebuild our cultural and education component and, in the process, help the 'ohana" support the education of their ehildren.

' Aha Kūpuna An important part of the kūpuna education program is 'Aha Kūpuna. This convocation of Hawaiian elders is held in the fall of eaeh year, with activities, speakers and events built around a significant eultural theme. Its purpose is to assemble kūpuna statewide to plan for their future as cultural and 'ohana leaders. "What we want to do is get kūpuna back into the roll of kūpuna," explains Rodenhurst. Approximately 100 kūpuna attended last year's conference held in Maui. The gathering stressed putting Hawaiian values and traditions into action and included workshops on a range of cultural activities. The cultural theme was "Kulu Waimaka, Ola Ka Lāhui (700 years of their tears and their wishes and their hopes for something better).

Hawaiian sensitivity seminars To ensure that Hawaiians are adequately and appropriately served, the education division provides information, support and assistance to agencies, institutions and organizations by conducting seminars aimed at familiarizing service providers and others with the Hawaiian leaming process, culture and values clarification. They also offer strategies to incorporate Hawaiian concepts into the classroom and workplace.