Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 8, 1 August 2014 — Students reap reward of returning to earn a high school diploma [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Students reap reward of returning to earn a high school diploma

By Karin Stanton n June, Chasia-Rose Kauapoailani Zorabelle Palma finished her

high school equivalency degree and was one of seven Native Hawaiian adults to attend the Pane'e Mua Project graduation ceremony. She also received scholarship funds for nursing classes and recently passed the certified nursing assistant exam. "It's so great to see someone like her reach

her goals. She's working in her chosen field of nursing

and doing very well," Pane'e Mua Project Director Kahi Brooks-Richards said. "That's the outcome we hope for - stable employ-

ment. She is a great example." Pane'e Mua, a Native Nations Education Foundation project, serves Native Hawaiian adults in Hilo. The program offers classes toward a high school equivalency diploma, tuition scholarships toward collegelevel classes and job-preparedness training. The program also sup-

SEE PANE'E MUA ON PAGE 14

Pane'e Mua Project

Enrollment is ongoing forthe next session. For more information orto begin the enrollment process, eall 769-0060. For more information on Native Nations Education Foundation, visit www.nnfound ation.org.

Graduates of the Native Nations Education Foundation's Pane'e Mua Project sta_nd with their kumu, Nani Na'ope, left, and Jan Crum, right, atthe June 1 1 graduation ceremony, "Kau Kupulau 'Ūniki 201 4," atthe Keaukaha Elementary School cafeteria. The graduates, from left, are: Josh Akau, Kahealani Hernandez, Kalia Mainaaupo, Chase Palma, Davina Victorino, Malawaina Wong and Phillip Naki. - Courtesy: Pane'eMua Project

PANE'E MUA

Continued from page 6 ports graduates as they transition into the workplace. The project is open to Native Hawaiians in East Hawai'i who are at least 18 years old and either unemployed or underemployed. "We ean take our clients from high-school dropout to, potentially, a bachelor's degree," Brooks-Richards said. "Part of the curriculum helps our clients improve their self-esteem as a Native Hawaiian. That keeps our students plugging along toward their goals when they might have had a bad experience in the education system. It really makes a difference." Pane'e Mua has been awarded an Office of Hawaiian Affairs grant, totaling $200,000 over two years. "The funding has given us the opportunity to help students eontinue on in their education and career path," Brooks-Richards said. "Because it's a two-year grant, it gives us a ehanee to build a solid foundation." The OHA grant has allowed Pane'e Mua to offer more employment preparation, including writing

resumes, conducting moek job interviews, learning workers' rights and overcoming personal barriers to stable employment. About 30 clients have earned high school equivalency degrees since the project started in 2010. Two classes are offered eaeh year and are free to those who qualify. Clients typically are in their 30s, Brooks-Richards said, while the youngest are 18 and the oldest are into their 60s. "It varies from class to class,

but it's been slightly more women than men," she said. "Parenthood definitely plays a role in motivating people to eall us." On average, about one-third of applicants have a history of substance abuse or have been incarcerated, Brooks-Richards said. Often those clients might need additional support as they join the workforce. "Those first 90 days are so crueial. It's quite possibly the first time for some of our students in a work-

plaee," she said. "Job support gives them a more solid start." Brooks-Richards saidclients still face challenges. "Transportation is still a big issue, but the county bus service is getting better," she said. "And they have family obligations. We understand that and we make it family-style. Basically, we mostly just need them to show up." Those who do show up and eomplete their degrees are treated to a graduation celebration, where eaeh

graduate is treated like a valedictorian and given the opportunity to make a speech in front of their classmates, family and friends. The ceremony includes a diploma presentation, a certificate of achievement from Mayor Billy Kenoi and a meal. "It's a powerful thing to see another person who now has a positive view and a sense of aeeomplishment. That they now see what is possible," she said. Brooks-Richards said the teachers and staff eonhnue to be touched by the determination of their clients. Sharing one of her favorite stories fromthis summer's graduation, Brooks-Richards said one woman gave birth the night before the ceremony. "She checked herself out of the hospital, leaving her new baby there, and eame to the graduation ceremony," she said. "She just couldn't imagine not attending. It really reaffirmed all she had aeeomplished. It was a big deal." ■

Karin Stanton, aformer reporter/ editor at West Hawai'i Today, works for the Associated Press and Hawai'i 24/7.