Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 7, Number 4, 1 April 1990 — ʻOhana must focus on education for ʻopio [ARTICLE]

ʻOhana must focus on education for ʻopio

He waiwai nui ka lokahi (Unity is a Precious Possession) *('Olelo No'eau) By Lisa Ann Halani Berard This two day conference was a momentous event. We Pacific Islanders eame with individual strugglesand concerns. Through the course of those two days, we found that the plight is universal. A eommon thread ties Pacific Islanders together. We are small and silent communities that must organize, unify, actively strive to perpetuate our eultures, and improve our eeonomie and social conditions. Eaeh participant in the conferenee was committed to the betterment of our native people, focusing on strengthening our voice — a strong, influential voice that cries out for justice and equal opportunity. My motive for writing this article is to suggest two specific areas in whieh we ean have a direct impact. The first is to be counted in the 1990 Census. I cannot impress upon you how mueh help you ean bring our people by taking 14 minutes out of the day to fill out the forms. Pay special attention to item four regarding race. We have our own box for Hawaiians. Even though eaeh one of us ean probably mark many nationalities, you must choose only one. Federal funding will be greater depending upon the sheer numbers of Pacific Islanders that are counted. The saying "strength in numbers," is relevant for us today. The data you provide is strictly confidential and will help in assessing our peoples' needs. The statistics

provided by the 1980 Census were alarming. Only an accurate account ean bring about change and improvement. The 1980 Census showed that 66 percent of Hawaiians have a high school diploma but only about nine percent have a college degree. Consequently, only 16 percent are in managerial and professional positions in the work force. When we ask ourselves why the answer is very clear. The first answer is money. We simply cannot afford to send our children to eollege. This irrefutable fact does not render us helpless. Not only is there financial aid available — that ean be increased through the Census, — our civic clubs and other organizations provide resources within our eommunity. I encourage you to become active with scholarship fund-raisers and to help provide educational assistance. The second possible answer is a painful one that is difficult to say, let alone to aecept. Within the Western educational setting, it is so tragically easy for our children to feel below average and inferior. I know that our youth is plagued with stereotypes that enter their minds; "Hawaiians are lazy, they laek amibition, and are stupid, but they sure ean dance!" Despite this stereotyping our children must know better. Fill them with the confidence, self-worth, determination, and spirit of excellence that has developed and shaped our people for hundreds of years. Our childrens' source of pride and endurance comes from our ancestors. All of us must tap into that source. Only then will we give our children a proud foundation

upon whieh they ean firmly stand and move forward. It is up to every household to educate its children. Read with them; encourage them; leam with them; believe in them. Your individual mana, passed on to your children, is the key. We as educators, ean only guide and nurture what you have given them. Instill this motivation and inspiration, and we will join you every step of the way. The goal and challenge for all Hawaiians is simple: we must focus on educating our children. Let this be our unifying goal and the most crucial objective that we commit ourselves to as 'ohana. The plaee we must start this work is in the home. The next step is to demand excellence in our schools. Children will rise to the level of expectations. It is up to all of us to see that every door of opportunity is open for them. King David Kalakaua onee told us: "Take care of the children. The children are the hope and future of our race. Give them God, give them love, and you give them life." We as Hawaiians must respond to our monarch's plea. Not only must we give them God and love, we must give them knowledge and limitless possibilities through education. Lisa Berard, daughter of Andrew and Brucella Berard of Cerritos, California, is pursuing her master's degree in education and hopes to heeome a teacher in Hawai'i.