OHA award expands The University of Hawaii Center for Hawaiian Studies has received a $1.5 million grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs that allows it to hire more faculty and staff.
UH Hawaiian center staff
The $1.5 million grant will also
allow more study into native fieldsBy Pat Omandam
pomandam@starbulletin.com
It also allows the center to conduct more research into native fields, including teaching students how to conduct a ceded-lands inventory.
The award, approved last April by the OHA board, was presented yesterday to center director Lilikala Kameeleihiwa.
"The study of culture, history and resource management empowers Hawaiians in our quest for self-determination," she said. "This is a historic moment, and we look forward to further partnerships with OHA."
Haunani Apoliona, OHA chairwoman, said yesterday that the five-year, $300,000-per-year grant goes hand in hand with the state agency's strategic plan to help Hawaiians. Specifically, the money will help the center pay for a new assistant professor position, two instructors, a librarian, a Web page designer, a videographer and several graduate and undergraduate posts.
UH President Evan Dobelle said the grant helps increase the university's knowledge of traditional medicine and horticulture, as well as what it knows about the status and location of ceded lands, which are lands once owned by the Hawaiian monarchy.
University of Hawaii
