Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 20, Number 11, 1 November 2003 — OHA partners with community groups to help Niʻihau residents better themselves [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA partners with community groups to help Niʻihau residents better themselves

Twenty six Ni'ihau residents received their certificates of completion for a course eonducted at Kaua'i Community College (KCC), preparing them to obtain a Commercial Drivers License (CDL). The ceremony took plaee at the OHA Board of Trustees meeting held in Līhu'e, Kaua'i Sept. 11 at the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center. Members of the OHA Board of Trustees, Kaua'i Community College personnel and families witnessed the awarding of certificates to recognize the Ni'ihau residents who completed the fiveweek course. The objective was to prepare them to successfully pass the examination conducted by Kaua'i County and awarding of the CDL. The license will enahle them to drive mail trucks, school buses and large commercial vehicles. La France Kapaka-Arboleda, OHA Community Affairs Coordinator for Kaua'i/Ni'ihau, was the driving force that put the ceremony

together on such short notice. Originally, 16 persons applied for funding through Alu Like but only 10 completed the applications. Alu Like paid tuition for 10 students at the cost of $540 per student. An additional 20 students joined the class and were included in the original payment of tuition requiring no additional funds. The group included multi-generations of fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters. Built on trust and group participation, the very basic 'ohana system is still intact. The people of Ni'ihau are pure, spiritual, uneomplicated and warmhearted. I believe they are a mirror of our 'ohana of long ago. Classes were held on Saturdays from July 31 to August 30. Steven Carvalho, instructor for the course, is teaching them on his days off to avoid any conflicts with his job as a county employee. Onee all the students get their licenses, he will begin teaching them how to drive

big trucks at Vidinha Stadium parking lot every Saturday for six weeks. Steven and the students have a warm relationship. This groundbreaking occasion was made possible through the partnership of OHA, Alu Like, Ho'ōla Lāhui Hawaii and KCC. OHA provided $5,800 to rent a truck for this training. Alu Like provided $5,400 for tuition and Ho'ola Lāhui provided $5,940 for the physical examination for students - a requirement for obtaining the special license. As vice chair of OHA (representing Kaua'i and Ni'ihau), it was particularly satisfying for me to be a part of this momentous occasion. In my many years of working on plantations, I have trained truck drivers, and in my experience, the best drivers were those of Hawaiian blood. They could tell by listening to the tone of the engine when to change gears. Their hands are like a graceful hula dancer when they shift gears. The gears don't grind!

A warmhearted mahalo to all who participated in making this possible: KCC — Bobbie Bulatao-Franklin, director of continuing education and training, Peggy Cha, chancellor, Elama Kanahele, counselor and Ilei Beniamina, assistant professor of Hawaiian Studies and Steven Carvalho, CDL instructor. Alu Like — Remi Meints, employment and training coordinator, Melissa Sugai and Dora Lane, employment specialists. Ho'ōla Lāhui Hawai'i — David Peters, CEO and Sheryl Keli'ipio, RN. OHA — La France KapakaArboleda, Kaua'i community affairs coordinator, trustees and administration. This is one small step in giving our people the ehanee to better themselves and this is proof, without a doubt, that we ean paddle the eanoe in the same direction. ■

Donald B. Cataluna Vice Chair, Trustee, Kaua'i and Ni'ihau