Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 12, Number 9, 1 September 1995 — BoKeʻ Farms helps students with help from OHA, others [ARTICLE]

BoKeʻ Farms helps students with help from OHA, others

Initiatives like Ho'olaulima kū nā Kūpuna are made possible by kōkua from agencies like the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, whieh provided BoKe' Farms with a grant in 1992, and the Department of Business, Eeonomie Development and Tourism. whieh provided them with a construction loan for a certified kitchen. BoKe' Farms owner Francis Hun received phase one of an education and human resources grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to initiate a program for disadvantaged minorities (native Hawaiians). That program was completed in 1994. This summer's program, most of whieh Hun funded himself, provided data Hun needed to apply for phase 2 of the NSF grant, whieh would allow Ho'olaulima kū nā Kūpuna to continue and expand into the development of eeonomie opportunities for the students. The idea for Ho'olaulima kū nā Kūpuna is credited to OHA's eeonomie development division, whieh eame up with a plan to link the educational program with eeonomie development initiatives for students of Hawaiian ancestry. "Credit truly goes to Francis," said Joan Bolte, OHA eeonomie development specialist. "He pounded the pavement to get it - that's true dedication, heart, and the belief that it could get done. For Francis to put the program together pw bono really speaks for itself. He's a businessman reaching out to the community but with his focus on the kids."