Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 15, Number 10, 1 ʻOkakopa 1998 — Vice-chairperson's message [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Vice-chairperson's message

Working with our programs KA WELINA aloha e nā 'ōwi o Hawai'i, nā pua mae 'ole. By the time this 20th article in a series of 48 is published, more than 350 days will have passed since the October 1997 reorganization of the Board of Tmstees. The BOT Committees on Legislative and Governmental Affairs, Policy and Planning, Land and Sovereignty, Budget and Finance and Program Management are hard at work, continuing to meet twice a month to define and recommend action items to the Board of Tmstees. They are now meeting on the neighbor islands, in eomplianee with stamtory requirements. The Committee on Program Management has begun reviewing divisions of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. With assistance from Planning Officer Emest Kimoto and Budget Analyst Ryan Shigetani, a standard format was designed for all divisions to ensure information is presented to the CPM in a systematic and consistent manner. The required presentation framework addresses program mandates, program plans, staffing and organizational charts, performance measurements, operating budget, contracts, beneficiary profiles and needs to be served, rec-

ommendations, and long range plans. The Education Division presented the following highlights to the CPM on Aug. 24. The division is guided by

OHA master plan Gocd 2, Objective 2.4, "to assure provision of a variety of educational opportunities to enable individuals to fulfill their needs, responsibilities, and aspirations so that in ten years, Hawaiians are halfway to achieving parity in educational attainment." Division operating plans fall into six areas and objectives, based on the education developmental or age/learning levels: General education "to pursue, protect, promote the integrity and resources of the

Hawaiian 'ohana by increasing the awareness and understanding of Hawaiian values, learning style and culture as it is related to education; to impact policies in relation to educational opportunities for OHA beneficiaries; promoting and supporting the integration of teaching of Hawaiian culture and language in the public and private educational systems."

Early education, "to pursue and promote early education or pre-school opportunities and experiences for Hawaiian families," implemented by tuition

assistance, Nā Keiki Kuako'o, and data eollection. Lower education "to I pursue, protect, pro- | mote and advocate fbr I educational opportuni- | ties and experiences for Hawaiian students and | their families appropriate to age/learning lev- | els," implemented through Nā Pua ■ No'eau, tutorial grants (Lineoln, Waipahu. | Pearl Ridge, Kalāheo, 1 Konawaena, Hilo, | King, Hau'ula, Wilcox,

Waihe'e, Nānākuli, Kāne'ohe, Wailuku, Mā'ili, 'Ele'ele, Kapa'a, Ke Kula Kaiapuni 'o Ānuenue), mtorial conference, 'Aha 'Ōpio leadership development (completing its tenth year), youth legislature and alumni activities. Higher education "to pursue, protect, promote and advocate for post high educational opportunities and experiences for Hawaiian

smdents and their families; to support the recruitment and retention of Hawaiians pursuing higher education," implemented through recraitment and retention at UHM John A. Burns School of Medicine and by UHM Kua'ana Smdent Services. Kupuna program "to pursue, protect, and advocate for kupuna education opportunities and experiences in the traditional learning style and their rightful role in the 'ohana," implemented through kupuna team operations on Hawaiian sensitivity, 'Aha Kūpuna (completing 10th year), Ka Hā Naupaka, and the Kupuna Living Treasures Award. The division is planning to develop two new areas: family literacy and alternative education. It will seek to develop a Hawai- " ian language immersion initiative to work with the 'Aha Kau Leo, the Hawaiian Language Immersion Advisory Council, eomprised of representatives fhom all immersion sites-teachers: Parents and principals, 'Aha Pūnana Leo, ine., Hale Kuamo'o at UHHilo, UH-Mānoa Hawaiian language and others. The division will also pursue increased funding for the ' Aha 'Ōpio and kupuna program, along with a possible partnership with UH medical school. Division reviews are timely in view of all program and budget preparation for the biennium 1999-2001 that OHA will submit to the 1999 legislature. ■

[?]