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‘aukake2012
www.oha.org/kwo | kwo@OHA.org
na t i v e ha w a i i an » ne w s | f ea t u r e s | e v en t s
2 Hawaiians named to new charter school oversight board By Kekoa Enomoto
incoming second grader at Honolulu’s Voyager Public Charter School. wo Native Hawaiians were named Regarding Hawai‘i’s status in the national charto a new nine-member Public Char- ter-school movement, Hanohano said, “We are ter School Commission by the state ascending, and I want to ensure that we excel.” Board of Education. The appointHanohano said charter schools are key to ments of Peter Kauhola Hanohano Jr. creating Hawaiians who can excel in a modern and Henry Halenani Gomes came just after Gov. world. “Charter schools are setting the path for Neil Abercrombie signed a bill to our Hawaiian nation,” he said. “For me it’s not enough to be eduCharter school facts cated, but be educated > Hawai‘i has 32 charter schools, Hawaiians – educated including 17 Hawaiian-focused in modern society but charter schools, of which six are grounded in our tradiHawaiian-language immersion. tional culture. > Act 106 allocates $61.8 Hanohano said charter Henry Halenani Peter Kauhola schools are key to creating million to charter schools Gomes Hanohano Jr. Hawaiians who can excel for fiscal year 2012-13, overhaul governance and accountin a modern world. depending on enrollment. ability within the state’s charter “Charter schools > Overall projected enrollment school system in June. are setting the path for for the 2012-13 school year The Legislature passed Senate our Hawaiian nation,” is 10,162 students, up 8 Bill 2115 to change the way the he said. “For me, it’s percent from 9,339 students schools are governed and put not enough to be eduthis past school year. schools on performance contracts cated, but be educated > Largest isle charter school Hawaiians – educated to better track academics and is Waipahu-based Hawai‘i in modern society but finances in the 32 charter school Technology Academy, grounded in our tradicampuses. The reform follows a critical audit that concluded that in tional culture.” with a projected 2012-13 many cases charter schools spent That way, he said, enrollment of 1,161; second public money without oversight, as Hawaiians can face the largest is Kamaile Academy well as reports of ethics lapses at a future with “traditional on the Wai‘anae Coast, few schools. The new commission, Hawaiian values, underwith a projected 2012-13 which has the power to grant and standing and perspective enrollment of 980. renew charters, will oversee the while being fully involved Source: Kenyon Tam, Hawai‘i Charter system and make annual reports and engaged in the 21st School Administrative Office on charter performance. century.” As a former criminal lawyer Gomes, the director with mostly Hawaiian clients, of Chaminade UniverHanohano said he had seen it wasn’t enough to sity’s Office of Native Hawaiian Partnerships, keep people out of jail; he had to get them on has helped establish a scholarship program open a different path. “That’s why I am an advocate to all Hawaiian-focused charter school gradufor education, especially for Hawaiians,” said ates with a 3.0 grade point average. Hanohano, a former executive director of the Gomes, the director of Chaminade UniverNative Hawaiian Education Council. Hanohano sity’s Office of Native Hawaiian Partnerships, currently serves as capacity-building manager has helped establish a scholarship program open for Hi‘ilei Aloha LLC, a nonprofit subsidiary to all Hawaiian-focused charter school graduof the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. ates with a 3.0 grade point average. A Maui resident, Hanohano noted a grassHe said the board needs to develop adminroots movement to establish the Valley Isle’s istrative and organizational structures suited to first Hawaiian-focused charter school at the old the unique Hawaiian-focused charter schools Ke‘anae School. “Schools are so critical to the and have a balanced tenure system that rewards identity of a community,” he said. Hanohano’s grandson, Kia‘i Hanohano-Hashimoto, is an See charter schools on page 13
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OHA trustees, executives and staff met with beneficiaries on La¯na’i. Beneficiary Albert Morita said in an interview he and other La¯na’ians are “hoping for the long-term stability of the island” following the sale of the island to billionaire Larry Ellison. Morita is pictured second row center, next to Trustee John Waihe’e, who is wearing lei. - Courtesy: ’Io¯lani Zablan
New La¯na‘i owner shows signs of promise, OHA board told By Harold Nedd
attracted about 40 people. “But for now, we’re cauow that Oracle tiously optimistic until we The Board of Trustees Corp.’s bilfind out what his plans are will hold a community lionaire CEO and how they will impact meeting at 6:30 p.m. Larry Ellison the community.” Wednesday, Aug. owns most of Some early clues have 15 at Kamehameha Läna‘i, expectations in the emerged since Ellison island’s Native Hawaiian struck a deal with real Schools, Maui campus, community are as high as estate firm Castle and auditorium, 275 Aapueo the estimated $500 milCooke to buy the bulk Parkway in Pukalani. lion to $600 million price of Läna‘i, where Native tag on the headline-grabHawaiians account for up A Board of Trustees bing sale. to 14 percent of the 3,200 meeting will be held In a private conversapeople who live on the Thursday, Aug. 16 at 9 tion during a community island. a.m. at the University of meeting July 18 held by For instance, Ellison Hawai‘i, Maui campus, the Board of Trustees for has drawn a spotlight to 310 Ka‘ahumanu Ave., the Office of Hawaiian his decision to reopen a Ka‘a‘ike Building 105 Affairs at Läna‘i High community swimming and Elementary School pool that has been closed B, C and D in Kahului. cafeteria, Albert Morita, for three years, despite chairman of the Läna‘i being a prized amenity for For information, call Culture and Heritage families on the island. Roy Newton or Thelma Center, suggested that Leinani Zablan, Shimaoka at OHA’s the sale of the 141-square the 22-year-old Länai Maui office at (808) mile island offers him community outreach 873-3363. some encouragement. coordinator for OHA, “We are hoping for the also mentioned in a prelong-term stability of the sentation to the Board island,” Morita said in an interview after of Trustees that Ellison has ordered giving testimony to the OHA board at See la¯na‘i meeting on page 21 the hourlong community meeting that
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OHA Maui meetings