Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 15, Number 4, 1 ʻApelila 1998 — APRIL NEWS BRIEFS [ARTICLE]

APRIL NEWS BRIEFS

Maui disagreement Nā Kūpuna o Maui's latest battle in the fight to protect Hawaiian archaeological treasures is over a 433-acre parcel above the sugar eane fields of Launiupoko scheduled for subdivision into 2-acre house lots. Launiupoko Associates, a group headed by former teacher Peter Martin, bought the property from Amfac and has begun bulldozing. Kupuna members say the area holds artifacts, a heiau, a petroglyph panel, ancient rock shelters, terraces and agricultural plots, and is also home to rare native plants, including a flourishing sandalwood grove. The Maui County Cultural Resources Commission has deferred the issue until it has more information. Commission chair Dorothy Pyle has urged anyone with knowledge of the area to eome forward. Martin claims his development plan offers West Maui residents a ehanee at a rural lifestyle without making the commute to Kula. "I truly believe people want this," he insisted. "They feel they need some space, you know, to have

: some horses, maybe do some : farming. I think people are imaginative and resourceful enough to bring this land back." But Nā Kūpuna o Maui coordinator Patty Nishiyama wants tougher laws that would keep the development off the hillside. ; "There's no protection right : now for our site," she said. ; "They don't have a strong law. You know what they did on O'ahu when they built the freeway over the heiau. This section of Launiupoko, we believe, is a very special and sacred plaee." Beamer fund The Billie Beamer Educational Fund was established with the Hawai'i Community Foundation to provide scholarships and grants toward furthering the education of Hawai'i residents, preferably young, needy and of Hawaiian descent. For every $5,000 donated to the fund, the foundation contributes $1,000, up to a total of $5,000. To date, the fund has raised $4,365. Grants could be disbursed as early as this summer. Those willing to donate should make their checks to the

: Billie Beamer Educational Fund and mail them to Hawai'i Community Foundation, 900 Fort Street Mall, Suite 1300, Honolulu, HI 96813. For more information, eall 566-5660. Native grants First Nations Development Institute is seeking to fund Native American projects whieh promote culturally appropriate and sustainable eeonomie development in Native communities. Its Eagle Staff Fund, a national grant- : making program, has awarded more than $4. 1 million to 83 grantees in 23 states. Three levels of grants are offered: seed (to $5,000); startup ($75,000); and working eapital (to $150,000). Seed grants : have been used to explore hydroelectricity as a business option and to challenge a reservoir that would have flooded traditional hunting grounds and : sacred sites. Start-up grants have supported traditional agriculture, furniture manufacturing, a quilters' cooperative and cultural tourism businesses. Working capital projects funded

include an oyster farm, publish- : ing company citrus and avocado agrobusiness and a health elinie. For Eagle Staff Fund guidelines or more infomratioin on First Nations' programs, write to First Nations Development Institute, The Stores Building, 1 1917 Main Street, Fredericks- : burg, VA 22408 or eall (540) I 371-5615. Summer internship The Nature Conservancy is looking for a summer intern to : help support field operations by : accompanying and assisting : field staff of its Maui preserves. : Activities include animal and weed control; eolleeūon : and tracking for research and : monitoring; fence construction; : and fence, road, trail and equipment maintenance. The intern works and camps in remote and j rugged areas of Maui on long field projects in cold, wet weather and is supervised by the Maui Preserves Manager. Copies of the vacancy notice and application packets are available through the Maui Pre- : serves Office, 81 Makawao Ave. #203 A, Pukalani, HI 96768; the Hawai'i Field Office, 1116 Smith St., Ste.

201, Honolulu, HI 96817; and the Moloka'i Preserves Office, Moloka'i Industrial Park, 23 Pueo Pl., Kaunakakai, HI 96748. Alu Like training Alu Like's basic course overviews the entire spectrum of entrepreneurship, business attitudes, marketing, organization, financial mangement, business plannfng and ongoing management. The Business Development Center announced the course is scheduled for Kāne'ohe, April 25 - May 30; for Wai'anae, Apiil 25 - May 30; and for Maui, May 2 - June 6. For more informatiōn, eall the center at 535-6776 on O'ahu; 242-9774 on Maui; 961-2625 on Hawai'i; and 2458545 on Kaua'i. An Alu Like "Get Real" Small Business Conference takes plaee April 1 8 at the Sheraton Waikīkī Hotel. For registration and information eall 535-6776 on O'ahu. Heakh grants AlohaCare is accepting appliSee, NEWSBRIEFS on page 7

NEWSBRIEFS, from page 6 cations from groups helping Hawai'i's people through neighborhood heahh projects. Grants range from $2,000 to $5,000. The deadline for applications is April 15. Recipients will be announced May 1 . Last year, 26 grants were awarded. Recipients included the Elderly Blind Services Project, the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association, a home visitor program on Moloka'i intended to prevent

child abuse and neglect, and several projects focusing on nutrition education, including some whieh directly benefitted the Hawaiian community through cultural programs. For more information, contact AlohaCare, 1357 Kapi'olani Blvd., Suite 1250, Honolulu, HI 96814. ■ Compiled by Paula Durbin

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