Kamehameha Schools giving $8.7 million to boost Charter Schools and Homeless Education Centers

January 24, 2007

Contributed by Thomas Yoshida

At a news conference in Nānākuli this morning, Kamehameha Schools CEO Dee Jay Mailer announced, "All told, these grants will total $4.8 million dollars for Hawaiian focused charter schools and $3.9 million for the creation of family learning centers in conjunction with transitional housing developments now underway here on the Wai‘anae Coast.

Kamehameha Schools CEO Dee Jay Mailer announces the awarding of $8.7 million in one-time grants to various educational endeavors on O‘ahu, Hawai‘i and Kaua‘i.

"Kamehameha Schools was blessed by a beloved Princess's generosity and vision over 120 years ago. Bernice Pauahi Bishop, through her private Will, endowed a Trust to educate her people. As we believe she would have wanted, we want to share that blessing with those who have the same mission we have …to strengthen the capacity of all in our communities to address the educational needs of our children and support the families who look out for them. Our Hawaiian focused charter schools provide a rich, rigorous and quality education in our state, and through the $4.8 million in one-time grants, we hope to boost the already positive impact they are having on our haumana, the vessels of all of our futures."

CEO Mailer also said, "In addition to helping our Hawaiian-focused charter schools, we also know that Kamehameha Schools can join in the efforts to resolve house-lessness by joining with other community partners – the federal, state and county governments, other private charities, Native Hawaiian agencies and community providers – in supporting the creation of family learning centers in conjunction with transitional housing developments now underway in this community. Our part will be to provide $3.9 million dollars to fund the development of four Children and Family Learning and Resource Centers on the Waianae coast.

Selection Criteria
The one-time funding is intended to provide immediate support to education-related community efforts and that would have high impact on that program's ability to deliver educational services. Other criteria for selection of programs to be supported by the one-time grants include: 1. Aligned with Kamehameha Schools strategies
• Focus on children and family
• Focus on outreach – extending services to greater numbers of learners
• Provide or facilitate increased quality education and services to more people of Native Hawaiian ancestry
• Cultivate, nurture, perpetuate and practice ‘Ike Hawai‘i

2. Require minimal KS administrative and management attention
• Non-recurring
• Fully implemented within 12 months of receiving the award
• Managed by the awarded organizations as part of their agreement with KS

The 12 Hawaiian-focused public charter schools receiving one-time impact grants are:

Children and Family Learning & Resource Centers
Kamehameha is also joining public-private efforts to address the challenge of homelessness on O‘ahu's Leeward Coast by committing $3.9 million to fund Family and Children Learning and Resource Centers planned for development as part of four affordable and transitional housing community clusters beginning with a parcel in Ma‘ili. The Centers will be managed by third-party providers, and Kamehameha Schools will advise on the selection of appropriate programs.

Kaulana Park of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands outlines the department's plan to incorporate Kamehameha Schools' grant to create family learning centers in conjunction with transitional housing developments along on the Waianae Coast.

"These Centers, or Kauhale, will act as the piko of the entire transitional village project. It will be a place where Native Hawaiian children and families will re-set their foundation and be provided with on-site access to mainstream services from educational training, job placement assistance and housing assistance, to child care services and Hawaiian culture programs, to name a few. The kauhale will serve as a vital component towards long term self sufficiency for our homeless families and assemble the best resources to fit their needs. We are proud that Kamehameha Schools has stepped forward and partnered with us towards the Governor's effort in tackling the difficult issue of homelessness on the Leeward Coast." -Kaulana Park, HEART Team Leader, Leeward Coast.

Kamehameha Schools is a private, educational, charitable trust founded and endowed by the legacy of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. Kamehameha Schools operates a statewide educational system enrolling more than 6,700 students of Hawaiian ancestry at K-12 campuses on O'ahu, Maui and Hawai'i and 31 preschool sites statewide. Thousands of additional Hawaiian learners are served each year through a range of other Kamehameha Schools' outreach programs, community collaborations and financial aid opportunities in Hawai‘i and across the continental United States. |