U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii announced nearly $3.2 million in federal funding for institutions serving Native Hawaiians in Hawaiʻi, including a portion of the funds that will go to the College of the University of Hawaiʻi Maui in Kahului.

Maui’s funding includes the following:

• Maui’s funding includes a half a million dollars promote changes in the institutional infrastructure through extramural projects, research programs and students. Activities include installing and training solar panels, supporting a shared services center, and financial literacy training and workshops for students.
• An additional amount of $450,000 support a new student admissions process that includes a needs assessment to overcome barriers for students, cultural training for students on financial literacy, creative course programming, financial aid planning, preparation to career and work experience opportunities for students.

Provided through the U.S. Department of Education’s Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions program, the funding will support several different projects aimed at improving and expanding programs for Native Hawaiian students to promote college completion and success. .

“At a time when colleges and students are preparing for a new school year during a pandemic, this funding provides schools with resources to support Native Hawaiian students as they continue their education. I will fight for strong additional funding for this program so that Native Hawaiian students are connected and supported throughout their education,” said Senator Hirono.

Earlier this year, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which provided $1 billion for MSIs, including ANNHSIs, and $22.2 million for ANNHSIs in Hawaiʻi. Most recently, in May, Senator Hirono signed a letter with 18 colleagues requesting an additional $1 billion in emergency funding for these institutions.

Other individual projects supported by funding across the state include:

Chaminade University ($450,000): Project activities will support a new Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program to meet student demand for health-related professional degrees, the need of the community for more advanced nursing assistants with DNP degrees, and the mission of the university.

UH Hilo ($447,767): Project activities will support Native Hawaiian student success through leadership development, campus and community engagement, and pathways to learning Native Hawaiian language, culture, and knowledge, while focusing specifically on returning students, transfer students, and students enrolled in Hawaiian language and culture courses. .

Honolulu Community College ($450,000): Project activities will support coordinated workshops and field trips that connect students with experts in aina (earth) and ola pono (personal health and well-being), create collaborative learning journeys for new students, provide mentors to on-campus student cohorts and foster peer mentorship.

Kapiʻolani Community College ($449,963): Project activities will enhance student engagement, re-enrollment, academic success, and support through multiple instructional strategies and increase Native Hawaiian students’ access to financial support.

Windward Community College ($449,470): Project activities will create a foundation for students centered in traditional Native Hawaiian career paths and education, with an emphasis on work-based learning, including through a series of guest speakers, l impact on the program and the creation of an educational path. Separately, the activities will also develop systematic professional training focused on financial literacy training and workplace learning opportunities, including through on-campus positions.