Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 9, 1 September 2012 — A KULEANA TO LEARN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A KULEANA TO

LEARN

By Lisa Asato Office of Hawaiian Affairs CEO Kamana'opono Crabbe told a gathering of OHA scholarship recipients that he spoke from experience when he said the road to education isn't easy and is at times uncertain, but as Hawaiians, it's your kuleana to get your degree and be role models for the younger generation to eome - just as generations past have done for you. Calling himself a "proud graduate" of Kapi'olani Community College, Crabbe went on to earn his bachelor's and master's degree at

the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, where he also earned a Ph.D. in elinieal psychology."Those are many years I had to struggle, and believe me, it wasn't easy," said Crabbe, telling the crowd that his post-Kamehameha Schools experiences included the military and being kicked out of his parents' house at 18 because of a laek of direction. "I learned early on that without an education, you ean only get so far," he said. Crabbe said when he was in eollege, there were only two other Hawaiian psychologists that had eome before him, and he was able

to meet both of them as he entered graduate school. "For me, I remember them because what they told me is never give up despite the ehallenges that are before you, because you need to carve a path for the next Hawaiian that comes after you," he said. "That was so important for me. When you look at all the doctorates, the lawyers, they have carved a path for the opportunities that you have before you. They become the ka lama kukui, they become the torch and resonate that inspiration for you. And hopefully one day . . . that carries you beyond your bachelor's to a master's to a doctorate ... ." At one point, the Hawaiians in the room with advanced dearees

were asked to stand and be recognized. At least 10 stood up, including OHA Community Engagement Director Kēhau Abad and OHA Research Director Lisa Watkins- Victorino . Crabbe's speech eame at an OHA scholarship gathering, organized by OHA's Education Initiative, Aug. 10 at Windward Community College. The luneheon

brought OHA together with its scholarship administrators Hawai'i Community Foundation and Liko A'e Native Hawaiian Scholarship Program, as well as various student service providers from across the state, and about 80 of OHA's 2012-2013 scholarship recipients. OHA has provided more than $3 million to nearly 2,000 stu-

dents since 2007. The agency awarded 303 scholarships totaling $718,000 in the 2012-2013 school year. (For a full list of scholars, please see page 11.) Speaking to the crowd, OHA Chairperson Colette Machado said it was the first time that the trustees got to meet its scholarship recipients face to face - the way native peoples prefer to make connections. Trustees Oswald Stender, Peter Apo

and Hulu Lindsey also attended and sat dispersed among the scholarship recipients. Machado told her own story of struggle in education - dropping out of school at 14, getting her GED at 16 and beginning her career as a clerk typist before going to college in 1970. "Given all the obstacles, the likelihood of me succeeding was very limited," she said. "In 2012, you have many opportunities for Native Hawaiians." "All of you will have to give back something," she added, using the career of Lui Hokoana as a shining example. Hokoana, now the associate vice president for student affairs for the entire UH system, worked

his way up from a counselor at Maui Community College. She called him the "father of Liko A'e" scholarship program, for being the first grant writer to receive that funding for Hawaiian scholarships from the federal government. Machado also quoted Queen Lili'uokalani, who fought unsuccessfully to restore the Hawaiian kingdom but who still held aloha in

her heart for all: "I could not turn back the time for political change, but there is still time to save our heritage. You must remember never to cease to act because you fear you may fail." The queen's quote resonated with Kapiolani Cabiles, an OHA Liko A'e scholarship recipient who returned to school a year ago because she wanted to be a role model for her seven children and eight grandchildren. Cabiles, who graduated in 1979 from Nānākuli High School, said the quote reminded her of her full-Hawaiian grandmother and made her proud to be Hawaiian. For scholarship recipient Kalā

Kaawa, 21, the quote spoke to him so mueh ■ that he texted it to I his mom after the gathering. His mom, Mahealani Kaawa, and cousin Miehael I Stone were also there ; as OHA scholarship '. recipients, and all 1 three are attending UH-Mānoa. Mahealani Kaawa said she was encouri aged that Hawaiians

are supporting eaeh other to get ahead and called it "invigorating to hear about everybody's stories about education. And it's niee to see the boys getting a shot of inspiration." Stone, 20, who is considering a career in architecture, said the gathering encouraged him to stick with education even though

it's tough and the rewards aren't immediate. "Sometimes you just want to take the easy way out, start making money already instead of just going to school and paying for school," he said. But he said he realized he wasn't going to "get that far without struggling now in college. "If you take the easy way out, it's going to be harder later on down the road," he said. ■

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OHA scholarship recipients Kalā Kaawa, left, his mom, Mahealani Kaawa, and cousin Miehael Stone are all going to school at UH-Mānoa. Stone said he was encouraged to stay the college course after hearing personal stories of overcoming struggle at the Aug. 10gathering.

Kapiolani Cabiles has returned to eollege after a 30-year break with the help of an OHA scholarship, and she's doing it for her keiki and mo'opuna, seen in the picture she's holding. - Photo: LisaAsato