Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 15, Number 2, 1 February 1998 — Native Hawaiian Education Council Emerges [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Native Hawaiian Education Council Emerges

By Noelle M . K . Y . Kahanu. Esq. ON JAN. 9, the Native Hawaiian Education Council presented the first report of its activities to the members of Hawai'i's Congressional delegation. This report, mandated by federal law, embodies the goals of the eouneil, a federally-fund-ed, state-wide entity with membership ffom five island education councils and other Native Hawaiian and educational organizations. "For nearly a year, we have labored and continued to endeavor to set the foundation upon whieh we will build a new framework for Hawaiian education," said eouneil chair Ki'ope Raymond. "We believe it will be a firm foundation, firm thanks to the wisdom of our ancestors, firm, due to our shared knowledge and input, and firm enough

for the unfolding knowledge of thefuture. While the federal government has set the parameters within whieh we are

to operate, we have the responsibility to set our priorities and decide how to accomplish our goals." In 1994, in response to a recommendation whieh emerged lfom a two-day Native Hawaiian Education Summit, the Congress amended the Native Hawaiian Education Act to establish an education eouneil in order to "coordinate the educational and related services and programs available to Native Hawaiians, assess the extent to whieh such services and programs meet the needs of Native Hawaiians and provide direction and guidance through the

issuance of reports and recommendations to appropriate federal, state and loeal agencies." The

act required that the eouneil be made up of not more than 25 members of federal, state and

private educational organizations serving Hawaiians. In order to ensure adequate

representation of island and community interests within the eouneil, the law also authorized the Office of Hawai-

| ian Affairs to facilitate the establishment of five island councils and guaranteed eaeh island eouneil one seat on the statewide eouneil. These island councils were to be made up of parents, students and other community members with an interest in the education of Native Hawaiians. The eouneil was formed in January 1997 and the islands councils followed shortly thereafter. OHA, consistent with state requirements,

serves as fiscal agent for the eouneil, and, on its behalf, receives funds ffom the U.S.

Department of Education. With the first year's activities completed, including the first annual report to the Congress, the eouneil must now advocate for Native Hawaiian education, provide guidance and expertise to policy makers and work towards the accomplishment of its own goals and recommendations. "As we mark the passage since the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai'i, we remain steadfast in embracing the values, language, culture and aspirations of our ancestors in this, our native land and plaee of birth," said the report. "Before us stand the ehallenges of supporting the successful Native Hawaiian educational programs, improving the educational experiences of Native Hawaiians within the existing educational systems, and, above all, envisioning a system that is uniquely our own — whieh places out values and traditions at its very foundation." ■

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OHA Administrator Randall Ogata, Aliee Paet-Ah Sing, OHA coordinator of the Native Hawaiian Education Oouneil, and Dr. David Sing, director of Nā Pua No'eau and NHEC member, celebrate the presentation of the council's first annual report with educators, state officials and the congressional delegation at Washington Plaee.

PHOTO: PAULA DURBIN