Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 9, 1 September 1988 — NHCAP Report [ARTICLE]

NHCAP Report

by Moses K. Keale, Sr., Chairman Native Haweūian Culture and Arts Program

NHCAP receives $1.6 million federal funds

The Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Program (NHCAP), established last year under Title XV of the Higher Education Act, has just received a federal appropriation of $1.6 million for fiscal year 1989. Congress awarded these funds with the understanding that $600,000 would go towards NHCAP's program operations and continued planning, and $1 million would go to the Hawai'i Maritime Center to ensure preservation of the

Hokule'a and interpretation of our people's mantime history and culture. As Chairman of the NHCAP Board of Trustees, I would like to thank Senator Daniel K. Inouye and Representative Daniel K. Akaka for their hard work in successfully supporting our organization's $600,000 request for funding. These funds will enable us to begin program operations late this fall.

Last year, Congress had provided NHCAP with a $200,000 planning grant for FY1988,to allow our Trustees to develop an initial five year plan. The first step in this planning process was to develop a mission statement, goals and objectives, whieh were submitted as a preliminary report to Congress in early February. Our mission statement reads: The Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Program

is dedicated to preserving, revitalizing, perpetuating and developing native Hawaiian eulture, arts and artisans through encouraging and supporting excellence in Hawaiian traditions, for greater personal and public pride, understanding, appreciation and enjoyment. The FY1989 funds just awarded signify congressional approval of our Board's Report and this mission.

Serving with me on the Board are W. Donald Duckworth, Vice-Chairman, Agnes Cope, Randi Fong, John Dominis Holt, Herb K. Kane, William Kikuehi, Marie McDonald, Abraham Pi'ianai'a, Albert J. Simone, Oswald K. Stender, Myron Thompson and Nainoa Thompson. Representative Daniel K. Akaka is an honorary trustee. We are currently working with consultant Dr. Dave Warren, recently retired from the Institute of American Indian Arts, to develop our preliminary report into a first five year plan, whieh will be eom-

pleted by December. Aithough this plan is not yet finalized, we are considering establishing in-depth research projects in selected, endangered areas of our culture and arts. We see these projects as being collaborations between traditional native Hawaiian practitioners throughout the islands, and formally educated scholars. NHCAP may also help to provide broader access to research resources statewide, such as the rich collections of artifacts, documents and photos at the Bishop Museum. We are working towards bringing selected endangered traditions back into our daily lives, through supporting excellence in their practice and the research that will make this possible.

If you would like to receive a copy of our five year plan when it is completed, you are weleome to eall the NHCAP office at 848-4111, or write NHCAP, e/o Bishop Museum, P.O. Box 19000A, Honolulu 96817. Ourstaffwouldbegladtoput you on their mailing list. (For more information about the Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Program see the May '88 issue of Ka Wai Ola O OHA, or eall our Program office.)