Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 5, 1 May 1989 — Kuaʻana Tackles Issue Of Financial Aid [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kuaʻana Tackles Issue Of Financial Aid

By Kalama Akamine Operation Kua'ana

For students of Flawaiian ancestry, the Manoa campus is a lonely and desolate plaee. The latest figures from the spring 1989 semester indicate that Hawaiians make up a dismal 5 percent of the total student population at the University. In real numbers this

percentage translates to 915 students of Hawaiian ancestry out of a total of 17,443 students. Operation Kua'ana is struggling to increase the number of Hawaiian students attending the University. Likewise, the program is trying to stem the enormous drop-out rate. The latest findings estimate that 50 percent of the Hawaiian students that enter the university at any given year will drop out before graduation. Kua'ana's workshops in financial aid, computer and basic college skills will hopefully help increase the number of Hawaiian students that graduate. The low percentage of Hawaiians graduating from the University has in turn, a negative impact on the number of students that go on to achieve post-graduate degrees. Hawaiian graduate

students number 221 in a total graduate student population of 5,515 students. Thus, Hawaiians make up only 4 percent of the total number of graduate students on campus. This figure issignificant because it is an indication of the number of future professionals in the fields of law, medicine, and education. One of the most significant reasons for this kind of academic failure revolves around the everpresent issue of money. Many Hawaiians simply cannot afford to attend the University. The present financial aid programs are still unable to fill the needs of many students. For example, this semester 30 tuition waivers were offered to students to Hawaiian ancestry by the -Center of Hawaiian Studies. Nearly 75 students had to be turned away because there was just not enough money to go around. This is ironic when you consider the fact that revenues from Hawaiian lands are being used to fund this institution. Operation Kua'ana is trying to provide more scholarship money for Hawaiian students. Interested individuals or organizations that wish to eontribute to the fund may make their tax deductible donation to the University of Hawai'i Foundation in the name of Operation Kua'ana. Please specify that your donation is intended for student scholarships. Individuals that are interested in getting more information about Operation Kua'ana should eall 948-6444 or stop by at Moore Hall 423.