PUHI — U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye was on Kaua’i yesterday to hear testimony from Native Hawaiians on a bill to reauthorize funding for the Native Hawaiian Education Act. About 50 people attended the hearing called by the U.S. Senate Committee
PUHI — U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye was on Kaua’i yesterday to hear testimony from Native Hawaiians on a bill to reauthorize funding for the Native Hawaiian Education Act.
About 50 people attended the hearing called by the U.S.
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.
Fifteen, many of whom spoke in Hawaiian, presented testimony in support of reauthorizing funds.
Kauaian Randy Wichman said that more than $1 million has been appropriated for Native Hawaiian education programs and over 70 programs have received funding.
“It’s frightening to think … what the impact of closing the programs would have on the community. It would be devastating,” he said.
“We will not fail you. The needs are great,” Inouye said.
The senator said that President Clinton has signed a bill releasing $23 million in current appropriations for implementation of the Act.
The committee is receiving testimony in preparation for the January 2000 Congressional session, when a vote on reauthorizing the Act will be held.
U.S. Sen. Dan Akaka, who attended the hearing with U.S.
Rep. Patsy Mink, said the hearings are being held throughout Hawaii to help lawmakers craft a bill that will work.
“This is another step forward for Native Hawaiians.
We have to help our young children.” Kalani Flores, a Hawaiian educator, said the Native Education Act works.
He spoke in metaphor of the kukui nut tree and the education of Hawaiian children.
“Some seeds are shiny, some not, but we plant them all.
Then we nurture the seeds (children) with education, with culture, with self esteem and with a passion for learning.
These plants are growing and we are looking forward to the reauthorization of the Act so we can see these trees continue to grow and see new trees planted.” Herman Paleka, Kapa’a Middle School Parent Involver, said that Hawaiian children as a ethnic population have the highest percentage of poor readers, highest number of problem behavior, the highest percentage of absenteeism, and a high number of failing students.
In a program funded by the current Act, Paleka works to identify students and work with families to change the students’ problems.
Hanalei resident Jeff Chandler said that any money that is spent to benefit Native Hawaiians will benefit the whole community.
“Any people who live here live with my culture,” he said.
Kaiopua Fyfe, of the Native Hawaiian Education Council Kaua’i, said the Act has supported the Council’s goals, which are the advancement of Native Hawaiian education.
Ipo Torio, Na Pua No’eau, said she learned her native language while she was attending a university because her parents were raised at a time that if a Hawaiian wanted to advance economically “the less Hawaiian you knew the better.” Hanakaulani Montgomery, who works in the mental health field, said, “We need to work with our families using our own practices and language.” Elama Kanahele, representing the Ni’ihau School of Kekaha, said that Ni’ihau children need to be taught English starting in Kindergarten so they will have the opportunity to choose what they want to do in life.
Momi Gampong-Yaris, Kekaha Elementary School Parent Involver, said that in her school parents and children are learning together.
Yaris leads a Hawaiian culturally based education program on drugs and violence prevention, using Hawaiian concepts and values.
Kamuela Aea, Native Hawaiian Community Based Educator, said that he was a risk statistic.
With the benefit of Hawaiian education funds he acquired a graduate degree in public health.
He is an example that the funds get to the grassroots.
He asked the delegation to educate their colleagues in Washington to their obligation to the Native Hawaiians.
He submitted signatures and thank you letters of other students who have also benefitted from Native Hawaiian education programs.
Nani Hill, Kamehameha Preschools manager, said that she has seen an improvement in test scores of children whose parents have been involved in the education programs that were funded by the Act.
Hill said that Hawaiian children who are at risk need to receive the best instruction by the best teachers.
“The government of the United States has a trust relationship and a trust responsibility and obligation (to Native Hawaiians),” Inouye said.
“It is on that basis that this measure has been drawn, and it is on that basis that we are not embarrassed in any way.
We are proud to go before our colleagues in Congress to press for this measure.”
