Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 28, Number 8, 1 ʻAukake 2011 — OHA scholarships support nontraditional students [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA scholarships support nontraditional students

By Cheryl Corbiell Tbition, textbooks and living expenses ean be daunting ūnaneial challenges for any student seeking post-high school education. They ean be even more daunting for older students who may be returning to school to complete their degrees, have dependents and work full-time. That is why OHA has dedicated $100,000 in scholarship funds to help nontraditional students who are Native Hawaiian achieve their educational goals. "The OHA grant will assist up to 50 more students who might not have had a ehanee to apply to any other funders in the beginning of the year," and a record number of applicants have applied, said Malia Davidson, Statewide Director of Liko A'e, whieh administers the funds through its Native Hawaiian Scholarship Program. Scholarships were awarded in July. OHA partnered with the Liko A'e Native Hawaiian Scholarship Program because it is based at University of Hawai'i Maui College with satellite centers at Hawai'i, Kaua'i and

Leeward community colleges, and student achievement is monitored. The program assists students with college applications, hnaneial aid, scholarship searches and admissions. Nontraditional students meet one or more of the following criteria: They are a single parent,

have some college or university credits, work 35 hours or more per week while enrolled, are financially independent for purposes of determining eligibility for hnaneial aid, mav have dependents

such as children, and have delayed enrollment after finishing high school. Scholarship recipients are full- or part-time students attending any two- or four-year degree granting institution of higher education in Hawai'i or the continental United States. Charles Kamaka, a Big Island resident, was recently awarded an OHA scholarship. He is pursuing a bachelor's degree in agriculture.

Kamaka graduated from high school in 1971, joined the Painters Union and received a contractor's license. He married and raised a family. However life went off track with inappropriate choices and he was incarcerated for 10 years. In today's tight economy, finding a job is not easy, and a prison record makes a job search daunting. Kamaka saw education as a path to a new life. "I was overwhelmed returning to school, but my philosophy is to look forward, not backward. Living is doing something productive, and education is productive," said Kamaka. "Education is like a paint brush whieh is a painter's tool. An individual has to learn to use the tool. Education is providing me with new tools and knowledge for the rest of my life." Kamaka will be starting his third semester in August as a full-time student. He was encouraged by the Liko A'e Native Hawaiian Scholarship Program to apply for the OHA scholarship after his previous scholarship applications were denied. "The scholarship money is not free. Going to school is work and the scholarship funds are like the paycheck,"

said Kamaka. "I avoid taking out loans because they are like a boat anchor when you graduate - they weigh you down. I appreciate OHA's help because the scholarship is like a canoe's sail moving me forward." Another OH A scholarship recipient is Camellia "Cammy" Hamakua-Napoleon on Moloka'i. Hamakua-Napoleon graduated from high school in 1976 and a degree was in her future. She attended a Minnesota university but returned home when her grandmother became ill and needed 24/7 care. Life moved on. She married, got a job and raised a family, but her desire for a degree haunted her. In 2008, Hamakua-Napoleon launched her college career and today has an associate degree in Hawaiian Studies. The next step is earning a bachelor's degree.

"OHA's scholarship will help offset college expenses," said Hamakua-Napoleon. "I love to learn and combined with my life knowledge, I am successful regardless of my age. Also, my current employer is encouraging me to get more education as advancement preparation." Scholarship recipients must perform 15 hours of community service in the Hawaiian community. "The community service must benefit an agency, organization or individual that can't afford the services the student is offering," said Davidson, of Liko A'e.

Kamaka and Hamakua-Napoleon are already planning their community-service options. Kamaka wants to mālama 'āina, and he looks forward to doing lo 'i restoration on the Big Island. Hamakua-Napoleon has volunteered for years with Hawaiian-immersion classes when students are preparing for a music competition, and she'll continue to give back in that arena. "This keeps me in touch with Hawaiian education, and it is my privilege to eoaeh a Hawaiian-immersion class," said Hamakua-Napoleon. Ho'ona'auao - Education is one of OHA's six Strategic Priorities. OHA's grant to Liko A'e Native Hawaiian Scholarship Program is helping increase the number of Native Hawaiians who graduate from post-secondary institutions. Kamaka and Hamakua-Napoleon are two nontraditional students who have dreams of completing their post-secondary education and are doing so with a little help along the way. ■ Cheryī Corbiell is an Instructor at the University of Hawai'i Maui College-Moloka'i and a reading tutor at Kaunakakai Elementary School.

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"I appreciate OHA5 help because the scholarship is like a canoe's sail moving me forward." — Charles Kamaka, Biglsland resident

Camellia Hamakua-Napoleon, who graduated from high school in 1 976, recently received her associate degree. Her next goal is to earn a bachelor's degree, and a scholarship from OHA is helping her offset college expenses. - Photo: Courtesy ofCamellia Hamakua-Napoleon