Grants target Hawaiian students

Star-Bulletin staff
citydesk@starbulletin.com

Workshops will be held next week across the state to teach organizations how to apply for federal grants of up to $1.1 million aimed at improving the education of native Hawaiian students.

Under the Native Hawaiian Education Act, about $9.5 million has been made available to fulfill about 20 grants ranging from $375,000 to $1.1 million and covering a period of up to 36 months.

The application deadline is March 24.

Collin Kippen, executive director of the Native Hawaiian Education Council, the local agency responsible for administration of the act, said "competitive preferences will be awarded for grant applications addressing beginning reading literacy of native Hawaiian students in kindergarten through third grade, the needs of at-risk native Hawaiian children and youth, the needs of native Hawaiians in fields or disciplines in which they are underemployed, and the use of Hawaiian language in instruction."

» The application is available at grants.gov and on the Native Hawaiian Education Program Web site: www.ed.gov/programs/nathawaiian/applicant.html

Federal grants workshop schedule

Monday
West Oahu, Maili Elementary School Library, 87-360 Kulaaupuni St., 9:30-11 a.m.
Central Oahu, Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii Manoa Grand Ballroom, 2454 S. Beretania St., 3:30-5 p.m.

Tuesday
East Oahu, Kahuku High & Intermediate School, 56-490 Kamehameha Highway, 9:30-11 a.m.
Windward Oahu, Waimanalo Elementary & Intermediate School Library, 41-1330 Kalanianaole Highway, 2:30-4 p.m.

Wednesday
Maui and Lanai, Maui Community College, Kaaike 103, 310 W. Kaahumanu Ave., 2-3:30 p.m.
(This workshop can be attended by two-way teleconferencing at the Lanai Education Center, 329 7th St.)
Molokai, Kualapuu Elementary School Cafeteria, 260 Farrington Highway, 6:30-8 p.m.

Thursday
Waimea, Kauai, West Kauai Technology & Visitor Center, 9565 Kaumualii Highway, 10:30 a.m.-noon
Lihue, Queen Liliuokalani Children's Center, Kauai Unit, 4530 Kali Road, 4:30-6 p.m.

Friday
Waimea, Big Island, Kahilu Town Hall/YMCA, 10-11:30 a.m.
Hilo, Hawaii Community College, Bldg. 379, Room 1, 200 W. Kawili St., 4:30-6 p.m.
For information about the Native Hawaiian Education Program, call Beth Fine or Francisco Ramirez, U.S. Department of Education: 202-260-1541, beth.fine@ed.gov or francisco.ramirez@ed.gov; or contact Heather Kina at 845-9883 or nhec@hawaii.rr.com.