Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 28, Number 4, 1 ʻApelila 2011 — OHA helps Nānākuli troupe's dreams come true [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA helps Nānākuli troupe's dreams come true

By Francine Murray and Garett Kamemoto

On March 3, the Office of Hawaiian Atfairs donated $30,500 to the Nānākuli High and Intermediate Performing Arts Center (NPAC) to support its fundraising etforts to attend the esteemed Edinburgh Festival Fringe. "You don't know how many dreams you have helped eome true," graduate assistant Tali Ulufale said to the OHA Board of Trustees. "We were told we are Nānākuli's best kept secret. But we're going to Scotland, so the secret's out." The August festival is billed as the largest arts festival in the world, taking plaee every August for the past 64 years in Scotland's Capitol, Edinburgh. "Back when the Fringe started, in a postwar Britain, eight theatre companies turned up to the International Festival," said Baroness Elizabeth Smith in the Festival's annual review 2010. "Today there are over 2,000 individual shows taking plaee at the Festival Fringe. That number represents more than 21,000 performers and results in more than 40,000 performances taking plaee in over 250 venues ranging from esteemed theatres and grand halls to church halls and vaults." Nānākuli is one of just 62 American high schools selected for the festival. NPAC Director Robin Kitsu accepted the monetary donation in person along with Ulufale, the graduate assistant, and four awestmck students. "I've never seen that many zeros on a eheek before," said Chanel Smith, NPAC student. "I can't believe how mueh this program

has helped us as individuals," said student Shaylene Curtis. "We get to go on this trip to Scotland to perform and I am honored." "This is such a great honor. Thank you," said Bailey Barnes of NPAC. "This program has given me so mueh. It has given me eonfidence in myself and I will take that with me far beyond my high school years." The graduation rate for students in the program is 95 percent, and 82 percent of graduates have gone on to college. "The Nānākuli program is an educational success story," said OHA Chief Executive Officer Clyde Nāmu'o. "OHA is proud to support a program that inspires our youth to achieve at a very high level in the classroom and exceed education standards in the state." "This program's impact reaches far beyond the Native Hawaiian students who participate," said OHA Chairperson Colette Machado. "The program represents the Hawaiian community throughout the state and the world and is an immense source of pride for the Nānākuli and Wai'anae communities." "Our program does not teach students how to be the next Ameiiean Idol," said Kitsu. "It is to develop the personal skills of the student and have themleam to believe that anything is possible. You have helped me teach them today, that these are not just words. Anything is possible! And thanks to you, here at OHA, we are going to Scotland." "The Nānākuli community faces many socioeconomic problems," said Nāmu'o, "but it is inspiring to hear the students say this program has changed their lives and made them dream about going to college to make a better life for themselves." ■ For information about the Nānākuīi High andlntermediate Performing Arts Centerand upcoming events, visitwwn'.nhispac.com. To leam more aboutthe Edinburgh Festivaī Fringe or to make pīans to attend, visit www. edfringe. eom.

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OHA CE0 Clyde Nāmu'o, NPAC alumnus Tali Ulufale, NPAC students Bailey Barnes and Shaylene Curtis, OHA Research Director Dr. Kamana'opono Crabbe, NPAC students Deja Ceruti and Chanel Smith, OHA Chief Advocate Esther Kia'āina, NPAC Director Robin Kitsu, OHA Chief Operating Officer Richard Pezzulo and OHA Community Relations Director Denise lseri-AAatsubara. - Photo: John Matsuzaki