Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 9, 1 Kepakemapa 2012 — On Maui, OHA board hears how grants are 'making a difference' [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

On Maui, OHA board hears how grants are 'making a difference'

By Harold Nedd

The Board of Trustees for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs traveled to Maui in August for a community meeting that offered the 130 people who attended a compelling, three-dimensional portrait of OHA's grant-giving impact on residents across the island. Led by Maui Trustee Hulu Lindsey, the three-hour community meeting at the Kamehameha Schools campus in Pukalani brought to life the role grant money from OHA is playing in nurturing high-achieving students, instilling interest in taro farming and providing refuge for battered women. "The main point I wanted to get across to the Board of Trustees is that the money OHA contributes is making a difference," said 'Ohua Morando, the Maui site coordinator for Nā Pua No'eau, a center for gifted and talentedNative Hawaiian children in grades Kthrough 12. "Our enrollment goal for the island was 300; we've hit 423, whieh ean be attributed

to support from OHA." Scott Crawford, executive director of Klpahulu 'Ohana, credited a $47,000 OHA grant for helping to provide a jolt of enthusiasm in young people and others who are interested in helping his nonprofit organization revive Native Hawaiian practices, such as taro farming, in what he described as the Klpahulu ahupua'a. "I wanted the trustees to get a sense of what the different projects are and how they fit together in the ahupua'a strategy," Crawford said, referring to his PowerPoint presentation to the OHA board. Stacey Moniz, executive director of Women Helping Women, whieh caters to victims of family violence, appealed to the OHA Board of Trustees for continued support of efforts to create havens for Native Hawaiian clients who are ex-cons. Of the 107 clients that the nonprofit organization served with help from a $44,000 OHA grant, 43 are Native Hawaiian women SEE MAUI MEETING ON PAGE 10

Maui eighth graders Ka'upena Morando, left, and Lukela Kanae learn about the native 'a'ali'i plant as part of a cultural-enrichment program at Nā Pua No'eau Center for Gifted and Talented Native Hawaiian Children. Nā Pua No'eau was among the grantees describing the far-reaching effects of 0HA's support at a meeting on the Valley lsle. - Courtesy: HPH

MAUI MEETING

Continued from page 4

who have a total of 90 children among them. "We're encouraging them to not get into abusive relationships and to improve their lives," Moniz said. OHA grant money also didn't go unnoticed by the water-rights activists at the meeting who mentioned its critical role in the recent legal victory in the Nā Wai 'Ehā case. "Although we celebrate this huge victory, we realize that we still have a long way to go and hope we ean continue to count on OHA," said Hōkūao Pellegrino, a cultural resource special for Noho'ana Farm in Waikapū. In addition, a small group of Hāna residents credited a $148,500 OHA grant for offering them some encouragement as their community prepares to counter heahh threats such as heart disease that are associated with a laek of physical activity andproper nutrition. "We are grateful for the program that will be run by Hāna residents," Jo-Ann Carreira told the Board of Trustees. At the same time, Maui Youth & Family Services Ine. regarded an $80,000 OHA grant as a contributing factor in helping increasingly more Hawaiians overcome the considerable obstacles of substance abuse. Of the 104 people whose path to recovery has been strengthened this year, 45 are Native Hawaiian, said Christina Andersson, elinieal director of youth services. By comparison, Native Hawaiians last year accounted for 36 of the 76 people who overcame addictions. The Maui visit was the latest in a series of community forums and meetings held monthly by the OHA Board of Trustees, whieh has already hosted gatherings on Kaua'i, Moloka'i and Lāna'i. The next community forum and BOT meeting is scheduled for Hawai'i Island October 24 and 25 in Kona. The next community forum and BOT meeting is scheduled for Hawai'i Island on Oct. 24 and 25 in Kona. More details will be posted online at oha.org by mid-October. ■