Federal grants to
Hawaiians restoredA hold on funding was removed
after phone calls were placed to officials
Gov. Linda Lingle says she has persuaded the Bush administration to resume $31 million in federal grants for native Hawaiian education after funding was held up for unknown reasons.
Lingle said the money for the Native Hawaiian Education Act was held up after U.S. Assistant Attorney General William Moschella sent a letter to U.S. Sen. Olympia Snow, R-Maine, chairwoman of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, that raised concerns about the constitutionality of government programs giving native Hawaiians special benefits.
U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) said last week the letter could signal that the Bush administration will oppose continuing federal programs for native Hawaiians.
Once Lingle learned the funding was being held up, the governor said she and state Attorney General Mark Bennett contacted high-level officials in the Justice Department, Department of Education, White House and Office of Management and Budget.
Lingle said she was told on Wednesday the hold on the $31 million has been removed, and future funding should continue as usual.
"We are pleased to have been able to convince key members of the Bush administration that funding under existing programs should not be held up, but this is just a first step on a longer journey," Lingle said.
The governor said her administration will continue to go "all out" to lobby a federal recognition bill for native Hawaiians, which remains pending final passage before the U.S. Senate.
Vicky Draeger, director of early childhood programs at Keiki O Ka Aina Family Learning Center in Kalihi, said the organization was preparing for cutbacks due to the possible loss of federal funds, such as reducing its staff to 11 from 79.
She thanked the Lingle administration for its intervention.
"People don't realize how important these funds are not just for native Hawaiians, but also for many other children and family education programs as well," Draeger said.
Several Hawaiian organizations will hold an "Awareness March" at the Prince Kuhio Federal Building between 8 a.m. and noon Monday.
The march is in response to a lawsuit in federal court that threatens all Hawaiian entitlement programs.
A hearing on motions to dismiss the Arakaki vs. Lingle case is set for 9 a.m. Monday morning.