Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 4, 1 April 2004 — Nearly $700,000 awarded for community grants [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Nearly $700,000 awarded for community grants

By Manu Boyd At a meeting on March 18, the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs approved $696,785 in community grants for programs ranging from improving literacy to fighting HIV/AIDS. "As we debate the future in our journey of Native Hawaiian selfdetermination, I am pleased that our board members continue to be eommitted to investing in our Native Hawaiian community through our grants program," said OHA Chairperson Haunani Apoliona. "The strength of our Hawaiian nation is dependent on the spiritual, cultural, eeonomie and social wellbeing of our Native Hawaiian beneficiaries. As a board, we look forward to extending and building the grants program." The grants approved last month are the first new round of semiannual grant reviews and recommendations since the program was re-instated by state law. In 2001, OHA's grants program was suspended because of questions relating to state procurement law. Following legislative action in 2002, former Gov. Ben Cayetano signed the OHA grants program into law. In May of 2003, the OHA Board approved more than $284,000 in back-logged grants to applicants who had submitted grant proposals in 1999 and 2000. "I am pleased that today the OHA board, by unanimous vote, approved all of the grant recommendations submitted by the staff," said Trustee Oz Stender, chair of

the Asset and Resource Management Committee. "The board also approved increasing the grants department staffing to assist in processing the back-log of grant requests. With the improvement in the performance of OHA's investment portfolio, the trustees will now be able to substantially increase spending on programs sorely needed to benefit our people." Under new procedures authorized by the board, grants totaling less than $25,000 may be approved by the OHA administrator. The Board of Trustees must approve grants larger than $25,000. Applicants must be non-profit organizations with projects that support the goals in OHA's strategic plan, whieh include advocacy/native rights, eulture, eeonomie development, education, environment/natural resources, nationhood, policy, social services, land/housing, and health. ■

Grants more than $25,000 (Board-approved)

Akakū: Maui Community Television $49,981 To strengthen Moloka'i's Hawaiian eommunity by expanding media access services through the Moloka'i Media Center of Akakū. Community Development Pacific/ Hōlau o Kawōnanakoa, Helu 'Elima $50,000 To rehabilitate the Kalaniana'ole Hall on Moloka'i to a state of pre-deterioration. Hau'ula Community Health Center $26,725 To support the Ko'olauloa Pacific Youth Heahh Education, Leadership, and Peer Support Program for youth ages 13-21. Hawai'i Lō'ieikawai Assoc./ Moe Aku Productions $50,000 To support the production of a video documentary on Pius Mau Piailug and his contributions to the revitalization of Hawaiian wayfaring traditions. Keaukaha Elementary School $41,255 To support Project Kāko'o, an in-school literacy tutorial program for students at

Keaukaha Elementary School in grades K-3. Keola Laulima o Leikula $50,000 To support transportation services for the elderly and disadvantaged on the island of Hawai'i. Klpahulu 'Ohana ine. $45,544 To support the Kapahu Living Farm traditional agricultural restoration project located in the Kīpahulu district of Haleakalā National Park on Maui. Office for Social Ministry $50,000 To support the Mobile Care Health Project, a mobile dental program for the uninsured rural poor and homeless on the island of Hawai'i. UH Kua'ana Native Hawaiian Student Development Services $50,000 To support E Heluhelu E Nā Pōki'i, a literacy tutoring program partnership between the University of Hawai'i - Kua'ana Native Hawaiian Student Development Services, the College of Education and Ma'ema'e Elementary School. ■

Grants less than $25,000 (Administration-approved)

Aloha First/ Hawai'i Family Advocacy Center $24,969 To support the Kāko'o 'Ohana Project addressing the rights of families affected by Child Protective Services intervention. 'Ao'ao o nō Loko l'a Maui $24,070 Cultural education program for Ko'ie'ie loko i'a (fish pond). Community Clinic of Maui ine. $24,800 To support the Native Hawaiian Health Subsidy Project whieh subsidizes the cost of health services to low-ineome uninsured clients. Community Development Pacific $20,000 To support "Kahea Maoli: Hawaiian Voices" documentary book project. Hōlawa Valley Land Trust $6,730 Complete, publish, and distribute "Guidelines for Grassroots Lo'i Kalo Rehabilitation: Practical Pono Procedures for Lo'i Kalo Restoration." Kauahea ine. $25,000 Pre-conference training for Ka 'Aha Hula 'O Hālauaola hula conference. Kaunakakai School $12,400 Aiming High Project - Big Island student trip for 6th graders to introduce youth to college.

Keōmailani Hanapī Foundation $25,000 To increase the awareness and practice of both traditional and contemporary Hawaiian art. Kohanaiki 'Ohana "Pono i ke Kōnōwai" $22,000 To increase awareness of, advocate for, and protect natural and cultural resources. Kōmike Makua - Pūnana Leo o Wai'anae $7,650 To upgrade existing classroom furniture and educational materials. Life Foundation $24,004 To support the Hawaiian HIV Program offering awareness, prevention and case management services. Maui Arts & Cultural Center $25,000 To support "Liliko Ka Pua," a cultural programs initiative to maintain and perpetuate traditional cultural practices. Maui Eeonomie Opportunity, ine. $25,000 To support the performing arts component of a reintegration program for serious and violent offenders on Maui. 'Ohana Makamae ine. $24,447 A culturally relevant approach to substance abuse and family crisis in Hāna community. ■

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Several of the recently awarded grants relate to kalo production projects. Photo: KWO archive