OHA Board approves $3 million in grant funding for Hawaiian-focused charter schools

News release from OHA, October 17, 2019

HONOLULU (October 17, 2019) – The OHA Board of Trustees today approved $3 million in grant funding over the next two fiscal years to support 17 Hawaiian-focused charter schools.

“We are proud to continue our longstanding commitment to the Hawaiian-focused charter school movement,” said OHA Chair Colette Y. Machado. “Despite facing funding shortages and other challenges that normal public schools do not have, these charter schools are still successfully raising our Lāhui’s next generation of leaders and preparing them to flourish both academically and culturally.”

Since 2006, OHA has provided $21.6 million to assist 17 Hawaiian-focused charter schools located throughout the state. These schools provide innovative culture-based education to more than 4,700 students, more than three quarters of whom are Native Hawaiian.

Trustees voted today to award Kanu o ka ʻĀina Learning ʻOhana (KALO) with a grant to administer the lion’s share of the $3 million to 16 Hawaiian-focused charter schools. OHA’s Grants Department will directly administer $249,411 to the last Hawaiian-focused charter school, Kanu o ka ‘Āina Charter School, because of the school’s close affiliation with KALO. KALO was selected to administer the grant through a competitive solicitation process.

The 17 Hawaiian-focused charter schools are:

Hakipuʻu Learning Center, Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu
Hālau Kū Māna, Makiki, Oʻahu
Ka Waihona o ka Naʻauao, Waiʻanae, Oʻahu
Kamaile Academy, Waiʻanae, Oʻahu
Ke Kula ʻo Samuel M Kamakau, Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu
Mālama Hōnua, Waimānalo, Oʻahu
Ka ʻUmeke Kāʻeo, Hilo, Hawaiʻi
Kanu o ka ʻĀina, Waimea, Hawaiʻi
Ke Ana Laʻahana, Hilo, Hawaiʻi
Ke Kula ʻo Nāwahīokalaniopuʻu, Keaʻau, Hawaiʻi
Kua o Ka Lā, Pāhoa, Hawaiʻi
Waimea Middle School, Waimea, Hawaiʻi
Kawaikini, Līhuʻe, Kauaʻi
Kanuikapono, Anahola, Kauaʻi
Ke Kula Niʻihau o Kekaha, Kekaha, Kauaʻi
Kula Aupuni Niʻihau A Kahelelani Aloha, Kekaha, Kauaʻi
Kualapuʻu Elementary, Kualapuʻu, Molokaʻi