NEWS RELEASE

Kamehameha Schools invests $24 million in community programs, projects

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Honolulu - (December 28, 2017) – On the Wai‘anae Coast, the Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture’s Ho‘āla program uses a grassroots approach to connect Native Hawaiian families with early childhood education resources that meet the specific needs of keiki and their families.

Kamehameha Schools has awarded $24 million in community investment grants to support collaboration partners in more than 100 programs and projects like INPEACE and its Ho‘āla program for the current fiscal year which began July 1.

Nearly $14 million of that total amount has been awarded to projects statewide and on O‘ahu with the remainder distributed to organizations across the three neighbor island counties.

The grants target four primary priorities – $4.6 million for early learning, $12 million for kindergarten-to-grade-12 education, $4.25 million for college and career focus and $3 million for ‘āina and community engagement – with the goal of improving native Hawaiian learner outcomes in kindergarten readiness, 3rd grade reading scores, 8th grade math scores, on-time high school graduation rates and completion of post-secondary education.

“These grants support areas such as Hawaiian cultural-based immersion and charter schools, early education programs, ‘āina-based learning opportunities, vocational training and undergraduate and graduate internships,” said Lauren Nahme, Vice President of Strategy and Innovation. “As part of our Strategic Plan for 2020 and Vision 2040, we join with these community collaborators in working toward building a thriving lāhui.”

Statewide, several organizations received grants for multiple projects:

• ‘Aha Pūnana Leo – Funding support that includes per-pupil funding for Ke Kula ‘O Nāwahīokalani’ōpu‘u Iki Laboratory Public Charter School in East Hawai‘i and Ke Kula Ni‘ihau O Kekaha.
• University of Hawai‘i – To support a number of programs including teacher education, college readiness and internships.
• Ho‘okāko‘o Corporation – For support of Kamaile Academy, Ke Kula Kualapu‘u and Waimea Middle School.
• Kanu o ka ‘Āina Learning ‘Ohana – To support the West Hawai‘i school’s K-12 and early childhood education initiatives.
• Friends of the Leeward Coast – Includes support for Ka Waihona o ka Na‘auao Public Charter School’s per-pupil funding and integration of STEM and ‘ike Hawai‘i  practices.

For time first time, Kamehameha Schools is providing multi-year funding to core collaboration efforts with charter schools, organizations stewarding KS ‘āina, and other critical partners.

In addition to the $24 million, Kamehameha Schools is honoring another $3 million in continued commitments to projects such as:

• Polynesian Voyaging Society’s final year of the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage.
• The University of Hawai‘i’s Makalapua Na‘auao – a four-year scholarship program for Native Hawaiian students attending U.H.
• Chaminade University’s Ho‘oulu STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) to boost the number of Native Hawaiian students pursuing and earning degrees in STEM fields.

 “With this financial investment, we envision a brighter future for Native Hawaiians – a future that includes improved academic readiness, post-secondary success, increased career opportunities, a deeper connection to place, a focus on family engagement and a greater knowledge of Hawaiian values, practices and principles,” Nahme said.

For a list of other community resources, visit: www.ksbe.edu/ewa/  www.ksbe.edu/kona_oahu/  www.ksbe.edu/koolau/  www.ksbe.edu/waialua/ www.ksbe.edu/waianae_coast/