Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, Number 11, 1 Nowemapa 1985 — Determined Grandmother Seeks College Degree - [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Determined Grandmother Seeks College Degree -

By Kenny Haina, Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA

Virginia Halemano Kalua is a young 43-year-old grandmother of a two-year-old who was disappointed when her three children indicated they were not interested in going to college, a dream she had harbored for a long time. Their action, however, did not ruffle her feathers. She decided "that since my kids weren't interested in college, why not me? Why couldn't I fulfill my own dream?" she asked. Armed with several application forms for financial aid from a multitude of sources, this native Hawaiian (three-fourths Hawaiian and one-quarter German) set the gears in motion to finance her education. When all the papers eame back, she found herself with some financial support and this added more fuel to her intense desire to get a college education. She applied for admission to the University of Hawaii Manoa and was accepted. She began the fall 1985 semester as a full time freshman student taking 12 credit hours. "At this p>oint in time, I see communications as my major field of study with Hawaiian Studies as a possible minor. I'm not certain yet where exactly I'm going but communications will definitely be one of my goals," Kalua said. She isn't sure yet whieh field of communication she will follow but if its the printed-word, she is already well on her way. Kalua has been editor of two newsletters — The Aider and Abetter of the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii and The T orch for Hilton Hawaiian Village employees. As her work study project at UH, Kalua has taken on duties as editor of No Kou 'Ikena, a newsletter published by the Hawaiian Studies Program.

Kalua enjoys being newsletter editor, a job she explains, she learned through hit and miss. "Mostly misses," she jokingly interjected. She describes herself as being a "nomadic person." A brief background of her work history bears this out. Kalua was not

always the ealm, easy-going person she is today. Quite the contrary. A graduate of McKinley High School, Kalua worked at a variety of jobs before seemingly settling down as beverage and catering cashier at the Hawaiian Village. She quit this job, however, and briefly lived on the mainland. Upon her return home and without employment, Kalua and her three children went on welfare and lived at Kuhio Park Terrace where she soon became heavily involved in the anti-poverty movement. "I was president or vice president of 12 organizations directly involved in the anti-poverty program. This was all non-paying voluntary work. It was during this period I !earned a lot about paper work, bureaucracy, red tape and whatever else there was to know," she recalled. She finally got back on a payroll by being involved with Legal Aid. After four years, there was a falling out with the organization's executive director and Kalua latched on with the Comprehensive Employment Training Act (CETA), teaching Hawaiians at Hale O'ulu. This is an alternative high school program at Ewa emeompassing alienated students from the Leeward district. Kalua said she enjoyed the work because she could see "it gave the kids a sense of pride and changed their lives." The program is still in existence but administered by Child and Family Service.

With such a diverse and broad background, it is no surprise to leam that Kalua reigned as 1980 Aloha Week Queen during whieh time she and her court, along with the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, went to London to eom memorate the 100th anniversary of King David Kalakaua's trip around the world. Kalua says she enjoys college and doesn't feel out of plaee at all because of her late start and age . "There are some other full time students in their 50's and 60's who are just as eager to get their degrees. They're in school for the same reason as me. Our kids eame first, we raised them and now they're on their own. Its our turn to do our thing," she observed. To all other Hawaiians hesitant about going to school, whether it is to complete high school or just starting co!lege, Kalua has this message: "If you've been thinking about it, don't put it off. All you need are guts and backbone. If you want something bad enough, there's always a way to get it. "You're never too old for education. Don't let economics prevent you from getting an education. There are many sources of financial aid. All one has to do is spend some time looking, inquire and go for it." Her very supportive husband, Robert Kalua, is security officer for Times Supermarkets and two of her three children are also McKinley graduates. They are daughter, Haunani, who is in sales work and son, Cheyenne, who is in the automotive business. Youngest son Kalae "is just coasting" after graduating from Kaimuki last June. Kalua is determined to achieve her goal. With spunk, perseverance, patience and a strong head on her shoulders, there is no reason why her goal would be an impossible dream.

Virginia Halemano Kalua