Funds Will Aid in Cultural Re-Immersion of Native Hawaiians
Office of Hawaiian Affairs awards Kaiaulu grant to Polynesian Cultural Center
LAIE, HI – The Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) is a proud recipient of the Kaiaulu grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA). The funding will go toward the Hawaii-Utah Learning Advancement (HULA) program, a joint effort between the PCC, BYU-Hawaii, and Utah Valley University (UVU) that promotes cross-cultural “engaged learning” and cultural re-immersion for native Hawaiian and Polynesian students who have been raised in, or relocated to, the continental United States. The program is designed to promote cultural understanding, knowledge, and scholarship, as well as enhance mutual understanding, community-cultural knowledge, and growth competency over a 1- to 5-year period.
More than half of all native Hawaiians currently live outside Hawaii, and the migration rate of native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders to Utah has increased by 400 percent over the past 3 decades. Unfortunately, Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander mainstream societal integration in Utah has been a difficult story at best, with incidences of family disintegration, unemployment, and poverty occurring at rates for 40-60 percent higher than average, and lower student educational performance in general. The reasons are complex, but studies strongly indicate that many native Hawaiian individuals’ inability to maintain positive “connectedness” to cultural traditions, values, and language after relocation is a major contributing factor leading to significant problems of self-identity, self-confidence, and mainstream integration.
“HULA will malama ohana on the mainland and aid native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders in reconnecting culturally while helping them to perpetuate their culture in their new home,” said Alfred Grace, COO of PCC. “We are proud to be able to help OHA fulfill its vision statement, Hooulu Lahui Aloha – To Raise a Beloved Nation, for native Hawaiians living outside of Hawaii.”
The PCC, BYU-Hawaii, and Utah Valley University (UVU) will utilize their combined resources to increase the percentage of native Hawaiians participating in cultural activities, as well as promote a sense of value for native Hawaiian history and culture among individuals and families on the mainland. HULA’s goal is to help 1,500 native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders by the year 2012.
Founded in 1963 as a nonprofit organization, the Polynesian Cultural Center has entertained more than 34 million visitors, while preserving and portraying the culture, arts, and crafts of Polynesia to the rest of the world. In addition, the PCC has provided financial assistance to 17,000 young people from over 70 different countries while they attend Brigham Young University-Hawaii. As a nonprofit organization, 100 percent of PCC’s revenue is used for daily operations and to support education.
Comments
Here is da ting,
brada or sista.... Is the glass empty or full??? I have been raised in the Laie side of Oahu myself, and now live in Utah. I am now partial to Universal Truth, versus any religious dogmatic system. Living in the State of Utah, and having attended UVU myself, I have seen the sad losses of polynesian children's cultural background living among the "american ideals" here in Utah. I welcome this arrangement, because I see a glass potentially full, instead of half empty. What kind of cultural things has/does the Polynesian Cultural Center fostered in the world to improve goodwill towards Polynesian's in general? Might that also provide opportunities for Polynesians not otherwise available for them in the continental U.S.A??? Many Polynesians know that when you are sour inside for someone, or some group, this poison winds up poisoning you. Just some thoughts, Aloha
Has OHA gone nuts? Or has its leadership been overtaken by Mormons? I lived on the North Shore and played rugby opposite Mormons for 20 years.
Anybody who believes the story of Joseph Smith isn't playing with a full deck of cards. Find me the Angel Maroni's Golden Tablets!
I learned in rugby that "honest' only applies to other Mormons. Non-Mormons only exist to exploit. On the pitch (and in real life) "God allows us to do anything we want as long as we win."
(Direct quote of the BYU Vice-Chancellor and rugby team coach.)
It was only in the 70's - under great pressure from racial discrimination, that there was suddenly a "revelation" that allowed non-White Mormons to go to Heaven. And then only because the Mormons were losing the "conversion race" in Polynesia. In other words, Mormon policy was changed for convenience of conversion.
Ever notice how big Mormon families are in the Zero Population Growth era?
When I asked another BYU administrator why he had 14 children, his reply was 14 X 14 X 14 and soon enough we own the World! (Direct quote).
The true intent of this program is to convert Hawaiians to Mormonism while they are in Utah. This is a HORRIBLE ABUSE OF PUBLIC MONEY! OHA should be ashamed! (But their Mormon members are just laughing that their scam was funded by OHA (i.e. public) funds.
I only hope some State legislators – or perhaps the Federal Attorney - have the guts to blow the whistle on this scam, and withdraw public funding of this program – and reprimand OHA on the basis of “Stupidity”!
Does anybody remember that "Separation of Church and State" is a basic American value? If this blatant abuse ever becomes a Supreme Court case it won’t take five minutes to be ruled illegal!
Post new comment