Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 11, 1 November 2001 — Federal funds support health, education initiatives [ARTICLE]

Federal funds support health, education initiatives

By Naomi Sodetani More than $42 million in federal funding for fiscal 2001 and fiscal 2002 is slated to support Native Hawaiian education, heahh and communitybuilding. The U.S. Department of Education's Native Hawaiian Education Initiative has approved federal grants totaling $3,721,621 for 10 Native Hawaiian programs focusing on family-based education and curriculum development. "The grants awarded will propel Native Hawaiian education to new heights," said Senator Daniel K. Inouye. The senator praised the grantee organizations for "demonstrating innovation and a keen understanding of the unique needs • of Native Hawaiian families and the neh resources of Native Hawaiian culture," in offering "quality, eulturally sensitive educational services" and ensuring access to edueaūonal achievement. The grantees are: Partners in

Development; Keiki O Ka 'Āina Preschool, ine.; Kanu O Ka 'Āina Learning 'Ohana; Institute for Native Pacific Edueation and Culture, Edith Kanaka'ole Foundation; Ho'olu Lāhui; Ke Kula Kkiapuni O Anuenue; Alu Like, ine.; University of Hawai'i, College of Education; and Leeward Community College. Sen. Inouye, who had sponsored legislation for the Native Hawaiian Education Act, now pending reauthorization, is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. In a separate deveIopment, the Senate Appropriations committee recently approved $77.72 million in funding for Hawai'i labor, health and education programs for next year. Of this amount, $38.2 million is earmarked for Native Hawaiian initiatives. The Fiscal Year 2002 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill was approved by the committee in early

October. The measure includes funding for the Native Hawaiian Education Act and Native Hawaiian Heahh Care Act. Also, $33 million will go to education programs that develop curricula for Native Hawaiian students, train and recruit teachers, and support education councils statewide. This funding is $5 million above the amount appropriated in fiscal 2001. Native Hawaiians will also receive $3.5 million, or half of the $7 million allocated for the Strengthening Native Hawaiians and Alaska Natives-Serving Institutions program. The program is part of Title III, a statute that provides grant funding for colleges and universities with large populations of native Hawaiian and Alaska Native students. Additionally, $1.7 million will also be used to complete the planned Kuhio Park Terrace Community Resource Center, whieh is expected to open in August 2002. The Center includes a replica

of a traditional Polynesian structure, whieh will serve as a gathering plaee for Kuhio Homes and Kuhio Park Terrace residents and eommunity members. The center will also include office space for outreach health and human services; vocational, bilingual, and job skills training; business assistance; and drug abuse, domestic violence, and parental education programs. The bill also supports other programs that address educational, health, social, and vocational training needs in Hawai'i Initiatives serving Native Hawaiian eommunities include Papa Ola Lōkahi, children and adolescent health programs in Hāna, Maui, Moloka'i General Hospital, and Alu Like. Actual funding amounts for these programs will be finalized as the bi 11 makes its way through Congress. The bill is pending approval by the Senate, House-Senate Conference Committee, and final House and Senate votes before its transmittal to the White House. ■

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