Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 2, 1 Pepeluali 2012 — Hoʻonaʻauao: envision the future ... seize the moment ... embrace education [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hoʻonaʻauao: envision the future ... seize the moment ... embrace education

Eo ē nā 'ōiwi 'ōlino, nā pulapula a Haloa, mai Hawai'i a Ni'ihau, puni ke ao mālamalama. On Kaua'i island, birthplaee of Hawaiian

Prince and teader Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana'ole, who established the Hawaiian Civic Club movement committed to advancing educational achievement for Native Hawaiians, students got up front and personal with scholarship information and resource tools to achieve their educational dreams. At the Kaua'i Community

College dining hall, several hundred students, traditional and nontraditional but overwhelmingly Native Hawaiian, got tips on how to position themselves for starting down their successful road to post-secondary education and study. In a series of these Native Hawaiian Schol-

arship 'Aha across the State of Hawai'i, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in partnership ) with the Native Hawaiian Education Association, Gear Up Hawai'i, Paeihe Linaneial Aid As-

sociation and the University of Hawai'i system, is

reaching out to students on O'ahu, Hawai'i, Maui, Moloka'i, Lāna'i and Kaua'i connecting them to the tools of hnaneial aid and student support for continued education. Practical instruction on the who, what, when, where, why; the deadlines, the "to do" and the "not to do" tips for successful pursuit of education scholarships and loans are laid before those who attend these 'Aha. The prevailing message to all these aspiring scholars is, "Every Native Hawai-

ian student who wishes to pursue higher education will be able to secure hnaneial aid to achieve that objective." The list of Native Hawaiian scholarships is long and inclusive: Office

ot Hawanan Attairs Higher Education Scholarship, Blossom Kalama Evans Memorial Scholarship, Hawaiian Homes Commission Scholarship, Ida M. Pope Memorial Scholarship, Jean Ileialoha Beniamina Scholarship for Ni'ihau Students, Ka'iulani Home for Girls Trust Scholarship, Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu; Pearl

Harbor Hawaiian Civic Club; 'Ahahui Slwila 'O Kapolei; Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club; Ko'olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club; Mākaha Hawaiian Civic Club; Prince Kūhiō Hawaiian Civic Club; Waiklkl Hawaiian Civic Club scholarships; Alu Like Hana Lima scholarships, Asian Paeihe Is-

lander scholarship, Kame- * hameha Schools, Ke Ali'i Pauahi Foundation, Liko I A'e and Native Hawaiian Heahh ■ scholarships, UH | Mānoa Kua'ana Tuition Waivers, Gates MillenniI um scholarships, I Second Century

scholarships. Equally long and inclusive is the list of support

programs for Native Hawaiian students at UH-Mānoa and Hilo and at ALL the Community Colleges. Education is not a luxury. Education is a necessity in this 21st century if Native Hawaiians are to succeed in shaping the future for themselves and their homeland. As a Strategic Priority, Ho'ona'auao (Education), Native Hawaiians must embrace the vision "to maximize choices of life and work, Native Hawaiians will gain knowledge and excel in educational opportunities." 38/48 ■

Haunani Apnlinna, MSW TrustEE, At-largE

The Kaua'i community eame out in force for a Scholarship 'Aha in January.