People usually participate in Nā Pono initially for their children’s sake, but soon discover the benefits for themselves. Moses started bringing his daughters to Nā Pono’s child education program before starting the Adult Education classes.

Moses is one of over 200 individuals to obtain their Competency-Based Community School Diploma – or “C-BASE” – through Nā Pono in the last five years. He persevered for his family, taking care of work, home life, and his daughters in order to achieve his goal of receiving his diploma.

There are any number of reasons for the students at Nā Pono to not have gotten their diploma. It is common knowledge that Hawaiian students in particular do not do well in our schools. The students are excited when the second chance is available right in their community, at the very same elementary school they may have attended while children.

The reasons for returning to school are as diverse as the student population. Reasons range from getting a better job, achieving a lifelong goal, being an example for their children, wanting to attend college — the reasons go on and on and are personal to each student.

While working as a janitor at Blanche Pope Elementary School, the principal gave him two options: get his diploma, or find another job. Moses knew that he had to make a change for himself and his family.

“I’m a truck driver now, which is what I always really wanted to do. I worked my way up, I’m happy with where I’m at right now, thanks to [Project Director Lora Perry] and this program. It helped me out a lot.”

PIDF’s Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana’s (Nā Pono) Program was awarded $15,000 to maintain the accessibility and delivery of its comprehensive Family Education program housed at Blanche Pope Elementary School in Waimānalo Homestead Land. Nā ʻŌiwi Kāne Funds received will support program activities such as Nā Pono’s high school equivalency portion of its Adult Education (AE) component, as well as other Family Education components including Home Visiting. The AE component focuses on reaching the 639 Homeless or at-risk individuals in Waimānalo, including approximately 40-45 Competency Based students, 92% who are Native Hawaiian and range in age from 16-77. Home visiting brings additional one-on-one support for children and families, many of who are considered “hidden homeless,” families who stay with others because they cannot afford rent/mortgage on their own and would otherwise be homeless.

PIDF’s Ke Kama Pono Safe House (KKP) was awarded $10,000 to maintain its Education Component, which includes Department of Education (DOE) certified teachers who teach the residents and provide necessary curriculum on site. Through this component, KKP residents are able to receive credits and letter grades for completed assignments of good quality while they are going through the program, which are then transferable to public schools affiliated with the DOE to ensure they stay on track and are able to graduate. KKP is a twelve-bed residential facility for adjudicated male youth between the ages of 13-17. With an average length of stay at six to eight months, all residents receive guided care and instruction during this time from adult role models in order to make positive changes in their lives. Native Hawaiians make up 40% of residents who have gone through the program. The total recidivism for the KKP program currently stands at 29%, whereas the national average for this same age group remains at an alarming 75%.

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ABOUT NĀ ʻOIWI KĀNE
Na Oiwi Kane (NOK), is a nonprofit Native Hawaiian Organization as defined by the Small Business Administration (SBA) incorporated in 2002 to serve the needs of the Native Hawaiian Community. NOK’s mission is to serve at-risk families in the Hawaiian Community who are missing a responsible male role model within their households. It is through the family that children learn to be responsible men and woman in our communities. It is through the family that children learn to respect and care for each other and their communities. NOK provides for program support to like-minded organizations in the Native Hawaiian Community who share our mission and values.

ABOUT HAWAIʻI COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
With over 100 years of community service, the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation (HFC) is the leading philanthropic institution in the state. HCF is a steward of more than 850 funds, including more than 250 scholarship funds, created by donors who desire to transform lives and improve communities. In 2017, HCF distributed more than $59 million in grants and contracts statewide, including more than $6 million in scholarships. HCF also serves as a resource on community issues and trends in the nonprofit sector.

Annie Sinclair Knudsen Memorial Fund
Restricted to support programs/projects benefitting Kauaʻi.

Marisla Fund
Funds restricted to support programs/projects benefitting Kauaʻi.

Reverend Takie Okumura Family Fund
To support programs that support healthy development of Hawaiʻi’s young children (birth to 5 years old) and youth (ages 6-20 years old).

Richard Smart Fund
Funds restricted to support programs/projects benefitting Waimea.

Tai Up Yang Fund

Henry A. Zuberano Early Education Fund

Funds received will benefit PIDF’s Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool, Hui Hoʻomalu Foster Care program, Ke Kama Pono Safehouse for adjudicated youth, Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana Family education program on the islands of Kaua‘i Hawai‘i and Oʻahu, as well as PIDF operations statewide. We are most grateful to the Hawai‘i Community Foundation and FLEX Grant funders for supporting our work within the many communities in our state.

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With over 100 years of community service, the Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF) is the leading philanthropic institution in the state. HCF is a steward of nearly 800 funds, including more than 200 scholarship funds, created by donors who desire to transform lives and improve communities. HCF distributes over $47 million charitable dollars to support improvements in our local communities annually. HCF also serves as a resource on community issues and trends in the nonprofit sector. For more information, visit www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org.

PIDF, a nonprofit public charity incorporated in 1997, serves at-risk families and communities in Hawai‘i through a wide range of free programs in early childhood education, parent education, adult education, support for adjudicated youth, and other social services including civic engagement. The organization consists of nearly 300 employees and 10 programs. All of our programs have collectively served over 80,000 people in over 50 at risk communities across the state. PIDF’s mission is to inspire and equip families and communities for success and service, using timeless Native Hawaiian values and traditions. To learn more, visit pidf.org. Serving Hawai‘i’s Families, Living Hawaiian Values.

This month, our children and family participants from the Na Pono No Na Ohana program will be going on a huakai (excursion) throughout the ahupuaa (land division extending from mountain to see) of Waimanalo to learn about the birthplace of the program. We will take them to five different locations to learn about the whahi pana (legendary places) throughout the area. From Kuliouou all the way to Olomana, most people don’t realize how large Waimanalo truly is.

Each of the locations we visit will be at a different beach within the ahupuaa, and our children and families will hear the stories about the significance of the area and learn about the rich history and culture behind the places they visit. They will also collect a small sample of the famous sands of Waimanalo at each spot to see how different and special each one of these places truly are.

Because of the growing size of our program, we will take our families out in several small groups over the next few weeks. Below you will see photos from a previous a huakai (excursion) group and see how much fun they had learning about the special place their program calls home!