Aloha,
My name is Sanna Kaʻuhane, and iʻm writing on behalf of Na Mamo Aloha Aina O Honokohau. We are a 501 (C)3 non-profit based in Honokohau, West Maui. Our main focus is our educational partnerships with Maui county Hawaiian language immersion schools to provide regularly scheduled, hands-on oppurtunities to students, preschool through grade 12, to practice Hawaiian culture and language outside of the classroom. Our Hui also strives to care for and preserve the natural resources of Honokohau through loʻi restoration, regular monitoring of streamflow and community outreach programs.
Our Hui was approved to receive $775,000 in open space funds for the current fiscal year to preserve an ocean front parcel of land in Honokohau and put it into conservation. Honokohau bay and the surrounding valley are amongst the last coastal communities in West Maui not exploited by commercial fishing or tourism. Honokōhau Bay is also an important fishing, educational, and recreational area for ʻohana in the area. Fishermen with generational ties to our ahupuaʻa depend on this access to feed their families. This parcel would also provide us with an oceanfront space to run future makai management and educational programs.
The landowners have been extremely patient with us while we navigated our way through the open funds process. Our little hui of kalo farmers has been desperately trying to meet all the county requirements by the June 30 deadline. While we have already been promised the funds for the current fiscal year we would like to ask the county to either consider a slight extension if deemed necessary or be taken into consideration for open funds budget for the following year, again, if deemed necessary. We are doing everything we can to meet the June 30th deadline and receive the funds on schedule. Mahalo for all your support thus far!
I am a parent of one of the students attending MEO Head Start Makawao B. I am testifying in favor of continuing and possibly expanding the budget for the Makawao District's Head Start in Fiscal Year 2024.
My son had entered the school year with little socialization skills due to pandemic protocols. He and his class have spent the past 8 1/2 months with MEO Head Start's team of wonderful teachers and staff members learning and growing in a safe, happy and educational environment while also preparing them for kindergarten. MEO not only provided these children with an exceptional learning environment but also gave us parents access to learning tools and strategies to better our lives as a whole family.
MEO Head Start is an integral part of this community, providing low income families with quality education in a safe environment. I am very in favor of continuing MEO Head Start for the families like mine.
Dianna Kauha‘aha‘a
Aloha,
My name is Sanna Kaʻuhane, and iʻm writing on behalf of Na Mamo Aloha Aina O Honokohau. We are a 501 (C)3 non-profit based in Honokohau, West Maui. Our main focus is our educational partnerships with Maui county Hawaiian language immersion schools to provide regularly scheduled, hands-on oppurtunities to students, preschool through grade 12, to practice Hawaiian culture and language outside of the classroom. Our Hui also strives to care for and preserve the natural resources of Honokohau through loʻi restoration, regular monitoring of streamflow and community outreach programs.
Our Hui was approved to receive $775,000 in open space funds for the current fiscal year to preserve an ocean front parcel of land in Honokohau and put it into conservation. Honokohau bay and the surrounding valley are amongst the last coastal communities in West Maui not exploited by commercial fishing or tourism. Honokōhau Bay is also an important fishing, educational, and recreational area for ʻohana in the area. Fishermen with generational ties to our ahupuaʻa depend on this access to feed their families. This parcel would also provide us with an oceanfront space to run future makai management and educational programs.
The landowners have been extremely patient with us while we navigated our way through the open funds process. Our little hui of kalo farmers has been desperately trying to meet all the county requirements by the June 30 deadline. While we have already been promised the funds for the current fiscal year we would like to ask the county to either consider a slight extension if deemed necessary or be taken into consideration for open funds budget for the following year, again, if deemed necessary. We are doing everything we can to meet the June 30th deadline and receive the funds on schedule. Mahalo for all your support thus far!
I am a parent of one of the students attending MEO Head Start Makawao B. I am testifying in favor of continuing and possibly expanding the budget for the Makawao District's Head Start in Fiscal Year 2024.
My son had entered the school year with little socialization skills due to pandemic protocols. He and his class have spent the past 8 1/2 months with MEO Head Start's team of wonderful teachers and staff members learning and growing in a safe, happy and educational environment while also preparing them for kindergarten. MEO not only provided these children with an exceptional learning environment but also gave us parents access to learning tools and strategies to better our lives as a whole family.
MEO Head Start is an integral part of this community, providing low income families with quality education in a safe environment. I am very in favor of continuing MEO Head Start for the families like mine.
Dianna Kauha‘aha‘a