Office of Hawaiian Affairs awards $390,000 grant to College of Education

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) awarded the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa $390,000 to support Native Hawaiian students studying to become teachers and teacher leaders at the College of Education Ho‘okulāiwi Center for Native Hawaiian and Indigenous Education.

 

In response to the announcement, Ho‘okulāiwi Director of Teacher Education and Curriculum Studies and former teacher at Nānākuli High School, Kimo Cashman noted that OHA’s ongoing commitment to supporting the preparation of teachers and teacher leaders for schools in Native Hawaiian communities continues to maximize life’s opportunities for Hawaiian children. “OHA and Ho‘okulāiwi are united in this mission,” stated Cashman.

 

Community leader and Ho‘okulāiwi Advisory Board member, Kamaki Kanahele, also praised OHA’s award: “We want educational opportunities for our people that focus energies and resources on guiding and supporting them as they journey towards success in life. This award helps us make critical strides in elevating our Hawaiian communities, particularly our Hawaiian homestead communities.”

 

The grant award will be divided over two years, from 2011 to 2013, and be used towards scholarships and stipends for pre-service teachers enrolled in the Bachelor of Education (BEd) program; pre-service teachers enrolled in the Master of Education in Teaching (MEdT) program; and in-service teachers enrolled in the doctoral (PhD and EdD) programs.

 

For Kahealaniakealoha Kaohelaulii Faria, Ni‘ihau native and coordinator of the Ni‘ihau cohort in the BEd program, the OHA award is particularly important. “I am grateful for the unfaltering support that OHA has given our cohort. Right from the beginning, OHA has funded our efforts. In truth, we would not have been able to offer the program without OHA’s support. It will be a great day for our Niihau community when our five teachers step up to receive their bachelors degrees.”

 

The Ni‘ihau teachers are expected to graduate in 2012. This will be followed by a year of professional development supports.