MEDIA RELEASE

The University of Hawaii at Hilo’s Na Pua Noeau received a $502,692 grant from the U.S. Department of Education for its Ke Ola Mau project.

The award is for three years contingent on availability of funds and successful achievement of project goals.

Na Pua Noeau has designed a Health Careers Pathway for Native Hawaiians in kindergarten through University of Hawaii health professional schools.

This partnership, along with University of Hawaii Student Support Services and community health care associations, will provide a continuum of program activities for Native Hawaiian students across the state.

The project will be administered through the existing Na Pua Noeau Centers statewide.

The program events will include:

* Kindergarten to Grade 12 Statewide : Super Enrichment Saturdays, mentoring, research and Intensive Summer Residential

* First Two Years at UH or UH Hilo: support through learning communities, tutorials, advising and cultural field trips in the first two years of college

* UH or UH Hilo majors in a health profession – Stipends for research, internships, and community service

According to Dr. David K. Sing, executive director of Na Pua Noeau and project director, “We are joining the efforts of others such as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Native Hawaiian Health Associations, the University of Hawaii School of Medicine and UH Hilo College of Pharmacy to address the health issues of Native Hawaiians and to assure that the future of Native Hawaiian health will be orchestrated by a professional group represented by Native Hawaiian health care professionals.”