Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 32, Number 10, 1 October 2015 — OHA GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT Powering hope and opportunity [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT Powering hope and opportunity

OHA gnant helps the Boys & Ginls Glub of Maui nurtune keiki By Francine Kananionapua Murray i I f hildren are our ī main priority." So I says Kelly Pearson, \ Chief Exeeutive Offieer of the Boys & Girls Club of Maui. Earlier this year OHA awarded the B oy s & Girls Club of Maui a grant of $375,600 for its Power Hour Program, an after-school program that provides middle and high school youth a safe and nurturing environment to develop good study habits. Pearson said, "I believe we provide a safe plaee and we take care of children."

Approximately 2,000 members register for the program annually, and, because the Power Hour Program is mandatory for members during the school year, they attend. The Power Hour is an educational assistance program, whieh consists of tutoring and homework help. "Sometimes it lasts an hour and sometimes it's longer depending on how mueh homework the kids have," Pearson explained. "The staff helps them by checking their planners to see what needs to be done." The objective is always to have the kids finish their homework before they leave the club. The Boys & Girls Club was chartered in 2000, and has been tutoring children after school ever since. The program motivates its members to strive to do their best academically, getting parents

involved in supporting their studies from the moment they register their children. In the program, the students are in a safe environment and only staff and members are allowed in the club. "When they are doing their homework they see the staff every single day," said Pearson. "They know it's safe, and are comfortable enough that when they are doing their homework they ean ask for help, whieh I think is very important." The grant assists with the larger goal of improving Native Hawaiian student proficiency in reading and math, thus increasing standardized test scores. A large number of Boys & Girls Club members that are enrolled at the Paukūkalo Club also attend Hawaiian immersion school. "They eome over to our club on the bus and we have staff who speak fluent

Hawaiian," Pearson elaborated. "They help the students with their homework." The Power Hour has both English and Hawaiian speaking staff so they are able to help eaeh student thrive. "I love the organization. I believe

in what we do," said Pearson. "No matter what I do in my day while I'm at work, I'm making an impact in the lives of ourkids. Just knowing that we make a difference, that we are giving young people hope and opportunity, that's important." ■

Students receive tutoring and homework help at the Boys & Girls Club of Maui's Power Hour Program. The program received a grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. - Courtesyphoto.