Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 39, Number 4, 1 ʻApelila 2022 — Nā Pua No'eau Program Recognized [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Nā Pua No'eau Program Recognized

Lise Letoto-Ohūtū ond Kinohi Gomes - Photo: Courtesy

Nā Pua No'eau (NPN) recently received the 2022 "Champions for Children Unsung Hero" award from the Hawai'i Children's Action Network (HCAN). The award recognizes individuals who make a profound difference for keiki in their community. Let by Program Director Kinohi Gomes and Program Assistant Lisa Letoto-Ohata, NPN emerged victorious from a field of more then 90 nominees. HCAN specifically honored the program's dedication to Hawai' i's keiki and 'ohana. _ NPN is a UH Manoa program, part of the campus' Hawai'inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge and Native Hawaiian Student Services, has provided programs for students Pre-K-12

since 1989, with centers at UH Mānoa, UH Hilo, UH Maui College, Kaua'i Community College and UH West O'ahu. In recognition of their work, Gomes and Letoto-Ohata will be honored at the HCAN Champions for Children annual fundraiser and awards ceremony at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel on April 6. Schatz Secures $22.3 Million for PHHL Sen. Brian Schatz, who serves as both the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Housing, secured $22.3 million for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL). The record amount, included in the year's appropriations bill, is $20.3 million more than was allocated last year. "We secured the highest level of funding for Native Hawaiian housing ever," said Schatz. "This major increase in funding is a big win and means DHHL will have more resources to put people into homes." "DHHL is grateful for Sen.

Schatz and the Appropriations Committee's confidence and faith in our ability to deploy these mueh needed federal funds," said Tyler Iokepa Gomes, deputy to the chairman of DHHL. "1his money will enable DHHL to provide financing for home construction or repair, rental assistance, and other housing services aimed at reducing homelessness." In addition to the $22.3 million in funding for DHHL, Schatz secured increased funding for other Native Hawaiian programs, including $22 million for Native Hawaiian heahh care systems, $39 million for Native Hawaiian education programs, $21.3 million for Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native-serving institutions, and several million more for Indigenous culture and arts, innovation and equity, and $1 million for the Native Hawaiian Resource Center on Domestic Violence. Kaka'ako Famers' Market Places in Top 10 Ihe Kaka'ako Farmers' Market recently placed in USA Today's Top 10 Farmers' Markets in the US. The initial nominees, ffom among more than 8,600 Farmers' Markets registered in the country, were selected by a panel of experts in partnership with USA Today "10Best" editors. The top 10 winners were then determined by popular vote. Honolulu's Kaka'ako Farmers' Market was voted #7 and recognized for its excellent loeal produce, locally inspired artisan foods, fresh fish, and handcrafted jewelry and textiles. Florida's West Palm Beach GreenMarket eame in first plaee. Supported, in part, by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), the Kaka'ako Farmers' Market is open every Saturday on both the mauka and makai corners of Ala Moana Blvd. and Ward Ave. and offers ffee parking and admission. On the third Saturday of eaeh month, OHA sponsors Hawaiian entertainment ffom

9-11 a.m. on the makai side of the market. AprilflrtShow at Hilo's Wailoa Center Nelson and Kainoa Makua of Nā Mākua Designs will host the Mana 2022 Invitational Art Show at the Wailoa Center in Hilo throughout the month of April. Unlike other art exhibits, the Mana Invitational Art Show features art pieces selected by the invited artists themselves, instead of by show curators, in an effort to showcase art that is unique to eaeh artist and exemplifies their individual perspective to create a visual and emotional experience for the viewer. 'Ancient Hawaiians believed mana could be inherited through lineage or acquired through great feats, skills, artistry, talents and gifts, whieh are cultivated through education and training," explained Nelson Makua. 'A person may gain mana by pono (right) actions. Having meaningful work to do, enjoying harmonious relationships with those around you, and being in service in some way all help to gather mana. To have mana implies the ability to perform in a given situation, and Mana 2022 will be an exhibition of art that reflects the mana of the artists." The Mana 2022 Invitational Art Show will be open April L29. The opening ceremony, limited to artists and guests, will be on Friday, April 1 ffom 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Following the opening ceremony, the doors will be opened to the puhlie. Thereafter, the art show will be open Mon-day-Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 2022 Lawrence "Unele Bo"Campos Scholarship Kai 'Ōpua Canoe Club in Kai-lua-Kona has two $1,000 college scholarships available for graduating seniors from Hawai'i Island. Created to honor Lawrence "Unele Bo" Campos, the schol-

arship is open to seniors with a 3.0 GPA or higher, who demonstrated academic achievement, and community participation, and have paddled at the club or high school level in the past three years. In addition to strong academics, active volunteerism and leadership in the school, community, church, and/or employment will be considered. Funds are dispersed directly to the recipients. Unele Bo is remembered for his efforts to perpetuate the sport of outrigger eanoe paddling and was enthusiastic about getting people, especially keiki, involved in outrigger eanoe racing. He knew that by keeping kids on the water they, too, would learn the culture and pass it along to the next generation. This scholarship carries his legacy forward. The application deadline is Friday, May 27, 2022. Additional information and the scholarship application are available at www. kaiopua.org. INPEACE Receives $5 Million Gift In February, the Institute for Native Paeihe Education and Culture (INPEACE) received a surprise gift of $5 million ffom philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. This unrestricted gift is the largest single donation received by the organization since its beginnings 28 years ago. "It was extremely gratifying to be told that we were selected for this award because of our work and commitment to serving the Indigenous community," said Maile Keliipio-Aeoha, INPEACE CEO. "Our services, open to all in the communities we serve, strategically focus on elevating communities by empowering individuals from within. These funds provide INPEACE with an incredible opportunity to reach beyond ourselves and expand our impact through strategic community partnerships with other organizations across the state." SEE NEWS BRIEFS ON PAGE 26

NEWS BRIEFS Continued from page 25 INPEACE is a nonprofit organization providing culture-based educational programs in rural Native Hawaiian communities challenged with generational poverty and low academic achievement. This gift will help advance INPEACE's mission to improve the quality of life for Native Hawaiians through eommunity partnerships that provide educational opportunities and promote self-sufhciency. The focus on strengthening Native Hawaiian communities starts by providing individuals the education, knowledge, and skills necessary to support the growth and educational needs of their keiki and heeome leaders and educators in their eommunity. INPEACE seeks to increase its capacity to work collectively with organizations with similar approaches: building eommunity leaders, honoring the knowl-

edge and wisdom of our kūpuna, partnering with families, and empowering parents. Established in 1994, INPEACE has served tens of thousands of Native Hawaiians and eommunity members with its programs. Learn more at www.inpeace.org. New Monthly Hawaiian Culture Workshops at 'lolani Palaee 'Iolani Palaee announced a new partnership with Hear Hawai'i to offer monthly workshops that will bring Hawaiian voices and stories to life. The workshops began in March and will be offered at Iolani Palace's Hale Koa (Barracks) Theatre Room on the second Saturday of eaeh month ffom noon-l:00 p.m. and ffom 2:00-3:00 p.m. "Mo'olelo is an integral part of Hawaiian culture," said Paula Akana, executive director of the Friends of 'Iolani Palaee. "We're excited to be partnering with

Anuhea Kanealii of Hear Hawai'i on this workshop series that will allow participants to experience this traditional Hawaiian practice that has allowed our eulture, language and history to be passed from generation to generation." Hear Hawai'i was founded by Kanealii. The April Hear Hawai'i workshop at 'Iolani Palaee will be on Saturday April 9 and will focus on olelo no'eau. Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test will be required, except for children 12 and under. All ages are weleome, but space is limited so interested individuals are encouraged to register early at www.iolanipalace.org/. ■

Anuhea Kanealii - Photo: Courtesy