Table 2. Educational Attainment
of Native Hawaiians, 18 years and Over

Total

High School
Graduate or Equivalent
Baccalaureate
Degree or Higher
State
828,004
255,821   30.9%
168,773  20.4%
Native Hawaiians
84,080
37,520     44.6%
6,682      8.0%
Percentages represent proportion of each total population with educational level attained.
Source: U.S. Census, 1990.

 

 

activities in the Wai‘anae coast are and two in Papakōlea. A combination of “grassroots” and formal meetings have been or are planned to be conducted throughout the year. In the formal meetings already conducted, staff members from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa student and academic services joined Kule`a staff to meet with individuals and families from Wai‘anae to consider educational options. Both the Wai‘anae resident and the visiting University staff benefited from the meetings by learning from each other. Not only were institutional requirements and procedures clarified for the residents, but also community needs and the expectations were better understood by the University staff. Kūle‘a staff have continued to provide individual follow-up of outreach participants. This bridge between the Native Hawaiian community and University personnel is also intended to initiate behavioral changes within the institution [2].
      In addition to “grassroots” outreach to these communities, the Kūle‘a project’s second task will be to network with other more established programs already working with Native Hawaiian students in the UH Community College system to encourage and facilitate the transfer of community college students to baccalaureate institutions. For the upcoming year Kūle‘a will plan and conduct pre-transfer orientations at UH community college campuses.       next page>>

Table 3. Native Hawaiians in Papakōlea and Wai‘anae Coast
Census Tract
Area Name
Total Resident Population
Native Hawaiian Population
43 Puowaina
5,632
628      (11.2%)
44 Pauoa
5,429
1,768   (32.6%)
96.01 Nānākuli-Lualualei
5,974
4,031   (67.5%)
96.03 Mā‘ili
6,820
2,286   (33.5%)
96.04 Niuli‘i Reservoir
4,733
1,595   (33.7%)
97.01 Wai‘anae Kai
5,523
1,905   (34.5%)
97.02 Lualualei Homestead
6,153
2,744   (44.6%)
98 Puowaina
8,208
2,684   (32.7%)
Source: U.S. Census, 1990

 

programs, including programs administered by ‘Aha o Pūnana Leo, the Native Hawaiian Leadership Project, Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate, the Hawaiian Civic Club, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. These scholarships, as well as those available for the general scholarships, as well as those available for the general public, go far to alleviate, though not eliminate, many of the financial burdens preventing Native Hawaiians from pursuing a post-secondary level education.
       The reasons for the relatively low educational attainment at the post-secondary level of Native Hawaiians goes beyond inadequate finances. There’s is a real perception among many Native Hawaiians that the University is a place where they are neither welcomed nor accepted. The social experience that students undergo at the University is also perceived to be potential harmful and contrary to Cultural and ethical values.
Outreach in Target Communities
The Kūle‘a Project outreach is designed to counter some of the negative perceptions of the University held by Native Hawaiians. To focus the Project’s efforts, two communities with high concentrations of Native Hawaiian (Papakōlea and Wai‘anae-Nānākuli communities) will be targeted (Table 3). Except for one census tract in the target area, Native Hawaiians comprise approximately 1/3 or more of the residents living in each tract.
Kūle‘a has already coordinated or participated in four outreach
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