HONOLULU – The OHA Board of Trustees this week approved distributing $3 million directly to Hawaiian-focused charter schools over the next two years, changing the way OHA provides its longstanding support to the schools to maximize the amount of funds that go to the students.
“More than a decade ago, the leaders of the charter school community first came to OHA to ask for our kōkua because of the substantial financial challenges they faced,” said OHA Chair Colette Y. Machado. “Today’s board action represents the continuation of our longstanding commitment to these schools, and most importantly to their keiki.”
Since 2006, OHA has provided $18.6 million to support 17 Hawaiian-focused charter schools located throughout the state. These schools provide innovative culture-based education to more than 4,200 students, nearly three quarters of whom are Native Hawaiian.
The six Big Island Hawaiian-focused charter schools are: Ka ʻUmeke Kāʻeo, Hilo; Kanu o ka ʻĀina, Waimea; Ke Ana Laʻahana, Hilo; Ke Kula ʻo Nāwahīokalaniopuʻu, Kea’au; Kua o Ka Lā, Pāhoa; Waimea Middle School, Waimea.