Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 7, 1 July 1987 — Kiesel Assumes New Hawaii Literacy Post [ARTICLE]

Kiesel Assumes New Hawaii Literacy Post

Lani Kiesel, former literacy coordinator for the Native Hawaiian Library Project at Alu like ine., has beeome the first native Hawaiian to serve as statewide program director for Hawaii Literacy ine., a non-profit organization. Kiesel assumed her new role June 15 with headquarters on the grounds of Central Union Church. A Leilehua High SchooI graduate who went on to get her education and psychology degrees at the University of Hawaii Manoa, Kiesel has worked in a variety of eommunity projects locally and on the mainland. She did graduate work at New Mexico State University and was the educational coordinator for VISTA in Las Cruces, N.M., where she served five years. Kiesel also worked with the New Mexico Department of Education handicap program and did a stint in Texas. Born and raised in Palolo, Kiesel has worked locally with the Waianae coast group home project and with the Komo Mai office at Leeward Community College for students with special needs. She has also worked with the Headstart Program out of the Honolulu Community Action Program (HCAP) office in Waianae. In addition to being the first native Hawaiian director for Hawaii Literacy, Kiesel also has a eouple of other notable "firsts." She is one of only two certified to train tutors in the national certified tutoring methods. Kiesel, a single parent, and her 10-year-old son, Matthew, are the first such mother and son combination to enter the Y Indian guide program. Florence Baine is executive director of Hawaii Literacy ine.