Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 3, 1 March 1994 — Public schools tutorial program funded by OHA [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Public schools tutorial program funded by OHA

by Jeff Clark Sometimes some Hawaiian students need a little extra help in making the grade. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is there for them. OHA is giving more than $185,500 to 36 schools statewide through its tutorial program. Half of the money was allotted to OHA's education division by the 1993 state Legislature, and half eame from trust funds received by OHA as payment for the state's use of ceded lands. Forty-eight schools submitted 53 proposals, for a total request of more than $750,000. OHA staff chose whieh schools would receive funding. The only funded organization outside the state

Department of Education is Kula no nā Po'e Hawai'i o Papakōlea, Kewalo, Kalāwahine, the eommunity study program run by the Papakōlea Community Association. Education specialist James Perry, a temporary employee in OHA's education division, said tutorial funds provide space where students ean do their homework, and extra attention where it is needed. The schools implement their own programs and in most cases they bring in tutors to help the students and kōkua them either before, during, or after school. Because many Hāna High & Elementary students live in far-off Kaupō and Ke'anae and must

catch the school bus immediately after school, for example, they are tutored during school hours. The program was originally designed to help Hawaiian students eam at least a 2.0 grade-point average (GPA). Several years ago the Legislature mandated that anyone participat ine in extracurricu

lar activities must mainīain a 2.0 GPA or better. Students who can't maintain a C average can't partici-

pate in clubs, student government, and sports - whieh are often the things that students show up for.

"For a lot of kids, not only for Hawaiian kids, sports and the other continued on page 12

Teacher Aileen Ikei helps Kane'ohe Elementary students Shawn, Maurice and Jazzmine (left to right) with letter recognition. Photo by Jeff Clark

Tutorials from page 5 activities, that's what keeps them in school," OHA education specialist Ka'iulani Vincent says. "And because a lot of them couldn't meet the 2.0, that meant they couldn't participate in any activities. So, they thought, 'No use eome to school."' Just two years ago, the schools covered by the tutorial program

shared just $36,000. "The reason for the big jump was that we had gone back to the Legislature with a lot more information and stats, some good hard numbers that eame directly from«the schools, on the need that is out there," Vincent says. At Kailua High, the funds are used in two ways in a program titled E Kūlia I Ka Nu'u, whieh means "strive for the summit." In one, students are assisted in formulating their post-graduation

plans. They get help writing eollege application essays and eompleting financial aid forms, and they receive college and career counseling. Kailua is also using the funds to educate the students on heahh matters. On a recent afternoon, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole dropped by to strum his 'ukulele and tell the 'ōpio about his weight-loss regimen. (Kailua also received $38,650 in OHA grant money to expand this program.)

Parent/tutor Brenda Cena gives first-grader Kristina extra attent ion . Photo by Jeff Clark