Donations help Harvard trip for Hawaiians
By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer
A nonprofit foundation trying to send 10 high school students to a Harvard Medical School summer program that encourages Native Hawaiian in higher education has run short of money and turned to the community for help.
The Ho'oulu Project was launched this year by the PA'I Foundation, an arm of the Hawaiian-rights group '?lio'ulaokalani Coalition, with co-sponsors Kamehameha Schools and the Native Hawaiian health program Papa Ola Lokahi.
The plan is to transport the students to the event at Harvard, June 12 to July 5, known as the Hawai'i-Hopi High School Summer Program.
Ho'oulu also entails a one-week cultural seminar before departure, said Vicky Holt Takamine, coalition president.
"We're going to teach them Hawaiian cultural protocol so they can be prepared to do chanting," she said. "We'll take them to the lo'i (taro field), make laulau to share with the other students."
Polynesian Voyaging Society master navigator Nainoa Thompson will take them sailing as a bonding experience, Takamine said.
"We're giving them what we feel is a good, strong Hawaiian foundation," she said. "They're going to be with students who live in their culture and have their language."
Other native students involved in the Harvard program are from the Hopi, Sioux and Wampanoag tribes. Through lectures, laboratories and other activities, participants get a glimpse of Harvard studies — particularly in the sciences — to increase the chance they will pursue studies in the medical or science fields.
Six of the students attend Kamehameha; one each was drawn from Iolani and Punahou schools, Nawahiokalaniopu'u immersion school and Ke Ana La'ahana charter school.
Costs for Hawai'i come to $50,000, with $10,000 more to be spent on the local preparatory seminar, Takamine said. Part of the expense is bringing six of the 10 students to O'ahu from the Neighbor Islands, she said.
Harvard is paying $25,000; the foundation has raised $23,000 of the remaining $35,000. Takamine said the foundation already has booked the flights and is committed to carrying through.
Contributions should be made payable to Pa'i Foundation and sent to 1244 N. School St., Honolulu, HI 96817.
Information: 845-4652.
Reach Vicki Viotti at vviotti@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8053.
