NEWS RELEASE

Kamehameha Schools invests nearly $7 million in Hawai‘i Island programs, projects

Clients of the Big Island Substance Abuse Council in East Hawai'i participate in the Po'okela Vocational Program, which received a KS community investment grant.

Hui Ho'olei Malu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HILO, Hawai‘i - (December 28, 2017) – Hui Ho‘olei Maluō is an organization involved in the restoration of a brackish water loko i‘a or fishpond, known as Honokea Loko in Waiuli, along the Keaukaha coast of East Hawai‘i.

Hui Ho‘olei Māluo, which translates to “cast a net of replenishment and thriving resources,” is among more than three dozen programs on Hawai‘i island which are collaborating with Kamehameha Schools to enable kīpuka kānaka to flourish.  

Kamehameha Schools has awarded  nearly $7 million in community investment grants to support collaboration partners in more than three dozen programs and projects in East and West Hawai‘i for the current fiscal year which began July 1.  For Hui Ho‘olei Maluō, the investment will help provide opportunities for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) skill-building, place-based learning, and community engagement through the rehabilitation and management of a native Hawaiian ecosystem

Overall, Kamehameha Schools has awarded $24 million in grants statewide for this fiscal year.

The grants target four primary priorities statewide – $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.

Investments in programs and projects in East and West Hawai‘i totaled more than $6.7million with some of the larger awards going to organizations such as:

• Kama‘aha Education Initiative for several funding needs including Ka ‘Umeke Kā‘eo per pupil funding and Kai Kohola Hawaiian language immersion preschool program.
• State Department of Education Early Childhood Education in West Hawai‘i addressing needs in Native Hawaiian and rural communities particularly in Hōnaunau and Kohala.
• Three Mountain Alliance Foundation for its ‘Imi Pono no ka ‘Āina Environmental Education Program of Three Mountain Alliance.
• Hawaii Forest Industry Association for Ho‘ola Ka Makana‘a o Ka‘ūpūlehu - Healing the Place Budding Up Out of the Lava – for education, restoration and stewardship.
• University of Hawai‘i at Hilo’s Kahuawaiola Indigenous Teacher Education program.
• Nā Kālai Wa‘a’s  Holokai Sustaining Voyaging Traditions, provides year round opportunities for Hawai‘i Island learners to experience the teachings of voyaging and navigation.
• Big Island Substance Abuse Council for its Po'okela Vocational Training Program.
• Hui Mālama i ke Ala ‘Ūlili for its Hō‘ale a Maninini proactive aloha ‘āina restoration initiative.
• Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island for Program Ho'ai Pono which provides quality out of school youth development and character building programming for children and young adults.

“On Hawai‘i island, we take a cue from nature and the way the natural environment creates kīpuka for the regrowth of forests and coral and we look to collaborate with those organizations who will provide the right elements through Hawaiian cultural-based education for the growth of kānaka,” said Kilohana Hirano, East Hawai‘i Regional Director. “We look at how the different kīpuka kānaka in our community address kuleana – from the littlest babies through graduation, college and careers to create lāhui lifters.”

For a list of other community resources on Hawai‘i island, visit www.ksbe.edu/east_hawaii/ and www.ksbe.edu/west_hawaii/.