Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 32, Number 12, 1 December 2015 — HOʻONAʻAUAO -EDUCATI0N [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HOʻONAʻAUAO -EDUCATI0N

"Since 2010 we've awarded $22.9 million toward education via grants, annual commitments, sponsorships, and events," said Watkins-Victorino. "Approximately 16,195 Native Hawaiians have been served by these funding sources."

Of the $22.9 million given, $ 14 million went to increase the reading and math test scores as well as other educational projects for students in K through 12, and $8.3 million went to increase the number of Native Hawaiian students who earn post-secondary degrees or certificates in the UH system. OHA has also made positive inroads at the younger end of the spectrum. "Children are our main priority." Says Kelly Pearson, Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Maui. OHA has awarded grants for multiple years to the Boys & Girls Club of Maui for its Power Hour Program, an after-school program that provides youth ages 6 to 12, in the Paukūkalo Hawaiian Homestead community a safe and nurturing environment to develop good study habits. In the Power Hour students complete their homework assignments under the supervision of both English and fluent Hawaiian speaking staff, with the goal of improving Native Hawaiian student proficiency in reading and math so that they ean increase standardized test scores. "We are giving young people hope and opportunity," said Pearson. "That's important." ■

llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll BY-THE-NUMBERS Ho'ona'auao/Education lncrease %> ofNative Hawaiian students who meet or exceeding reading standards from 55% to 65%and math standards from 32% to 45% • 2014: Reading upto 61% • 2014: Math upto 48% • $8,4 million in grants since 2010

//////////////////////////////////// • Approximately 3,466 students served lncrease %> ofNative Hawaiians who graduate from post secondaiy institutions by 2018 • 2009: baseline 1,209 degrees earned • 2014: 2,285 degrees earned • $8.3 million since 2010

The Boys & Girls Club of Maui's Power Hour Program provides keiki with a safe environment to study and do their homework. - Photo: Courtesy Boys & Gir/s Club ofMaui