Maui Nonprofit Gets Grant $2.1 M For Native Hawaiian Education

Maui Family Support Services.

By Wendy Osher

Maui Family Support Services, Inc. is one of 24 grant recipients included in a $24 million appropriation for programs and institutions of higher education that serve Native Hawaiian communities.

The private nonprofit organization on Maui will receive $650,700 in federal funds from the Native Hawaiian Education Program, according to information released today by US Senators Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz.

The program offers family support services to Native Hawaiian families in an effort to ensure school success for children in kindergarten.

Agency officials say the funds are part of a $2.1 million, three year grant from the US Department of Education, Native Hawaiian Education Program.

According to the organization, funding will be used to provide the  Positive Impacts for Keiki Outcomes or “PIKO” Project, a culture-based, evidence-based family strengthening project to improve learning outcomes for children 0 to 5 years old across Maui and Molokaʻi.

Organization representatives say funding through the PIKO project will be used to: identify families of newborns at Maui Memorial Medical Center and expectant mothers on Molokaʻi: provide home visiting services to families with children 0-3 years old on both Maui and Molokaʻi; and to support the Hāna Infant and Toddler Center, the first Infant Toddler center in the Hāna community.

In announcing the funding release, Hirono said, “Congratulations to the 24 grantees who are working to prepare Native Hawaiian students and families to reach their educational and career goals.”

“After visiting many of these schools and programs in Hawaii, I have seen first-hand how important it is to empower Native Hawaiian students and will continue to fight for these valuable funds. When students have a sense of place and feel they’re a part of the community, they can thrive in the classroom and beyond,” she said.

US Senator Schatz also released a comment saying, “Many in our Native Hawaiian communities face unique challenges in gaining a higher education. We must make sure the federal government continues to do its part to identify and tackle some of the obstacles standing in their way.  These investments will go a long way in providing our children with the opportunities to learn in a unique, culturally sensitive way and help them reach their full potential.”

Funding covers programs that serve Native Hawaiian communities from preschool through college and career training and includes support of kindergarten readiness, STEM education, Native Hawaiian culture and language, and college success.

The complete list of grant recipients and funding awards include the following:

• Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture or INPEACE, $328,462
• Kawaiahaʻo Church, $299,500
• Keiki O Ka ʻĀina Preschool, Inc., $797,680
• Marimed Foundation for Island Health Care Training, $937,033
• Maui Family Support Services, Inc., $650,700
• Pacific American Foundation, $750,000
• Partners in Development Foundation – Ka Paʻalana, $626,227
• Partners in Development Foundation – Nā Pono Project, $581,914
• Partners in Development Foundation – Pili A Paʻa Project, 311,250
• Partners in Development Foundation – Tutu and Me, $628,299
• University of Hawaiʻi – Literacy Through Digital Media, $363, 105
• University of Hawaiʻi – Pili Pono Project, $470,908
• University of Hawaiʻi – Project Hoʻokui, $604,970
• University of Hawaiʻi – Project Neʻepapa Ka Hana, $156,175
• Waiʻanae District Comprehensive Health and Hospital Board, $344,230
• Chaminade University of Honolulu, $2 million
• Honolulu Community College – relocate Native Hawaiian Center, $500,000
• Kapiʻolani Community College – Kauhale Ke Kuleana project, $1,963,365
• Kauaʻi Community College, $598,923
• Leeward Community College, Paʻa Ke Kahua project, $1,999,904
• University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa – improve classroom, lab & student service facilities, $564,000
• University of Hawaiʻi West Oʻahu – PIKO project, $2 million
• Windward Community College – Hainaulu Project, $1,997,067