Kaua’i is poised to receive portions of $93.7 million Congress has approved for labor, health and education programs in Hawai’i. The Kaua’i funds would go for training at the Pacific Missile Range Facility and to help about 400 displaced Lihu’e
Kaua’i is poised to receive portions of $93.7 million Congress has approved for labor, health and education programs in Hawai’i.
The Kaua’i funds would go for training at the Pacific Missile Range Facility and to help about 400 displaced Lihu’e Plantation workers.
A large chunk — about $40 million — would go to Native Hawaiian education programs, health and job-training programs statewide.
The $93.7 million funding measure awaits signature by President Clinton. If approved, these Kaua’i projects would be funded: l U.S. Department of Labor’s rural development project. Part of a $4 million appropriation would be used to upgrade training for employees at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Mana.
Inouye initially introduced the project in 1997 to help Lanai residents, and it has since been expanded to the Neighbor Islands.
l U.S. Department of Labor’s Hawaii Department of Labor/Kaua’i Cooperative Education project: $185,000 to ease the challenges faced by dislocated workers on Kaua’i, including 400 Lihu’e Plantation workers who lost their jobs in November after the company closed its doors after 150 years of business.
Hawaiians also will benefit from the $93.7 million appropriation, once signed into law. Funds for U.S. Department of Education programs totaling $28 million will go to: l The Native Hawaiian Gifted and Talented program, which was created to enrich the education of Native Hawaiian children from kindergarten through the 12th grade.
The program’s goals include identifying gifted and talented youths and provide them with appropriate educational opportunities l The Native Hawaiian family-based education centers, where assistance is provided to Native Hawaiian children and their families before the children begin school.
l The Native Hawaiian Curriculum Development Teacher Training and Recruitment Program. It focuses on developing instructional materials and learning resources for Hawaiian language students, their families and the community.
l The Native Hawaiian Higher Education program,, which is designed to increase enrollment, retention and graduation rates among Native Hawaiian children.
Although Native Hawaiians make up 22 percent of public schools enrollees, a smaller percentage of them attend college. Native Hawaiians represent only 6 percent of the student population at the University of Hawaii-Manoa.
l The Native Hawaiian Special Education program for Native Hawaiian children. The program strives to increase parent and community development in the education of the students.
Native Hawaiians comprise 36 percent of the total learning dialed student population in the state.
l The Native Hawaiian Community-Based Learning Centers. The centers support the collaboration of Native Hawaiian community-based groups and the University of Hawai’i’s community college system.
The $28 million is aimed at strengthening Native Hawaiian education programs, which develop curriculum for students, train and recruit teachers and support educational councils statewide.
The program began in 1988 and was established by the Native Hawaiian Education Act, which seeks to raise the educational status of Hawai’i’s indigenous people.
Inouye supported the legislation and a 1994 measure that reauthorized and expanded educational programs..
l $3.1 million for vocational training programs for Native Hawaiians.
l $6.25 million for health care programs for Native Hawaiians. The funds will help Papa Ola Lokahi and the Native Hawaiian Heath Care Systems to continue efforts to improve the health of Native Hawaiians by making primary care, health education and disease prevention services available.
l $2.3 million for Native Hawaiian organizations to help elderly people of Hawaiian ancestry.
Parts of the $93.7 million coming to Hawai’i also include funding for: l A U.S.
Department of Labor rural job training program for teachers, education specialists, nurses, health care workers, firefighters and those in trade jobs, $2.9 million.
l A U.S. Department of Labor program to assist outreach programs in the Samoan community in Hawai’i through the Samoan Providers Association. Funds also will be used for one-stop employment services such as bilingual and vocational education, job training and job placement assistance.
$3.2 million.
l A U.S. Department of Labor youth training program at Bishop Museum, $1.25 million.
l A $2 million U.S. Department of Health and Human Services appropriation for the treatment of those with Hansen’s disease.
“These programs are based on the concept of helping people helping themselves,” said Sen. Daniel Inouye (D—Hawai’i) in announcing the funding measure that was approved by Congress last Friday and is awaiting President Clinton’s signature.
“I am especially pleased that the labor-related initiatives continue to receive support from my colleagues,” Inouye said.
He said the programs have been effective in providing Hawai’i residents with job kills that lead to economic independence and rewarding careers.
The funds are part of the fiscal year 2001 Labor, Health an Education Appropriation measure, which was part of the final budget deal negotiated between Congress and the White House and approved by Congress last Friday.
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext.
225) and lchang@pulitzer.net
