Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai"i) announced that Hawai"i will receive $26,992,923 in new federal funding to support grants under the Native Hawaiian Education Program (NHEP). This federal funding, secured by Senator Schatz through his work on the Senate Appropriations Committee, was awarded to 23 Native Hawaiian educational programs across the state.
"This new federal funding will ensure that Native Hawaiian educational programs have the resources they need in time for the upcoming school year," said Senator Schatz. "As we work through the appropriations process, I will keep fighting for more resources for the Native Hawaiian community."
The release of these funds comes as schools are preparing to start the 2020-2021 school year. In August, Senator Schatz sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education urging them not to delay the release of this grant funding until late September, as previously announced. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Native Hawaiian education programs have been invaluable for families, and further disruption to these programs would leave many hard pressed to find an alternative option for their children.
As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Schatz has worked to preserve and expand grant funding for NHEP. While President Donald Trump has sought to zero out funding for these grants, Senator Schatz has fought to protect more than $100 million over the last three fiscal years. In addition, he has garnered bipartisan support to increase annual funding for NHEP each year by $3 million.
These multi-year competitive grants will be used for early childhood education, family engagement, Hawaiian language education, creation of STEM pathways, curriculum and professional development, and more.
The programs receiving funding include:
No.
Recipient
Counties Served
Project/Program
Award
1
Keiki O Ka Aina Preschool, Inc
Maui, Hawai"i, Honolulu
Family Learning Centers
Oahu,
$1,999,809.00
2
Kanu o ka Aina Learning Ohana
Hawai"i
Kaukoe a Po"ohala Teacher Education
$741,274.00
3
University of Hawai"i
in partnership with N" Pua No"eau Center for Gifted & Talented Native Hawaiian Children
Honolulu
Oi Ka Na"auao
STEM Pathways for
Success
$644,198.00
4
University of Hawai"i
Maui, Kauai, Hawai"i, Honolulu
Manawa K"pono
Undergraduate and graduate school access and success
$602,500.00
5
Purple Maia Foundation
Honolulu
Hiapo Program
Tech Career Training
$829,807.00
6
University of Hawai"i
In collaboration with the UH Community College System
Maui, Kauai, Hawai"i, Honolulu
K"lia Support Project
STEM Preparation, Coaching, Mentoring
$699,997.00
7
Aha Punana Leo, Inc.
Maui, Kauai, Hawai"i, Honolulu
"liko A Lau Ka "Ike
Kindergarten Readiness
$830,899.00
8
Friends of the Future
Hawai"i
Opportunities for Hawaiian Improvement and Achievement
Hawai"i Island
$889,383.00
9
Consortium for Hawai"i Ecological Engineering Education
Hawai"i, Honolulu
Mahope o Ke Kula Ke A"o Mau Ana program
Address Academic Gaps
$414,383.00
10
University of Hawai"i
Maui, Kauai, Hawai"i, Honolulu
Various Native Hawaiian Programs
$847,619.00
11
Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture (INPEACE)
Kauai, Hawai"i, Honolulu
Keiki Steps: Generational Impacts
$2,033,707.00
12
University of Hawai"i in partnership with the Hawai"i Department of Education
N/A
Ka Pilina No"eau II
STEM Workforce Development
$795,697.00
13
Hui Malama O Ke Kai Foundation
Hawai"i, Honolulu
Waim"nalo Community
Youth Development
$671,237.00
14
Partners in Development Foundation
Honolulu
Ka Pa"alana Homeless Family Education Program
$3,576,059.00
15
Keiki O Ka Aina Preschool, Inc
Honolulu
Waiawa Kai Project: An Agriculture and STEM Integration for Healthy Hawaiian Families
$776,027.00
16
Ke Kula O Nawahiokalaniopuu Iki
Hawai"i
Kolo Ke A"a
Native Hawaiian Language Education and Teacher Development
$800,193.00
17
University of Hawai"i
Maui, Hawai"i, Honolulu
Project H"k"lani
STEM Workforce Development
$794,044.00
18
Mana Maoli
Kauai, Honolulu
Mana Leo Project
Culture-based and Hawaiian Language Education
$909,127.00
19
Kulaniakea
Honolulu
"Iwikuamo"o: Culture-based and Hawaiian Language Education
$563,647.00
20
Ka Haka "Ula o Ke"elik"lani College of Hawaiian Language at UH Hilo
Maui, Kauai, Hawai"i, Honolulu
Laupa"I Ka "Ike Kuamo"O
Hawaiian Language Multimedia Development
$950,000.00
21
Keiki O Ka Aina Preschool, Inc
Maui, Kauai, Hawai"i, Honolulu
Revitalized Instruction in STEM Education (RISE)
$773,485.00
22
Partners in Development Foundation
Maui, Kauai, Hawai"i, Honolulu
T"t" and Me: H"nai a Ulu
Early Childhood Education
$4,924,316.00
23
University of Hawai"i in partnership with the Hawai"i Department of Education
Hawai"i
"Aha Lamak" "Oia"i"o (ALO)
Culturally Responsible Leadership Development, Mentoring, and Transition Support
$925,515.00