Nā Pua Noʻeau mission transformed: No longer separate org, the vision is now infused into UH programs
At UH Hilo, the Nā Pua Noʻeau-Hilo team will be integrated into the Kīpuka Native Hawaiian Student Center and Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikolani College of Hawaiian Language.
University of Hawai‘i has announced the mission of Nā Pua Noʻeau Center for Gifted and Talented Native Hawaiian Children is being transformed. The program will no longer be run as a statewide organization (that was based at UH Hilo) but rather have its vision and mission integrated into campus programs at UH Hilo, UH Mānoa, UH Maui College, Kauai Community College and UH West O‘ahu.
The Nā Pua Noʻeau-Hilo team will be integrated into the Kīpuka Native Hawaiian Student Center and Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language at UH Hilo. Nina Segawa, administrative and fiscal officer, will transition to Kīpuka, and Raymond Busniewski, information technology specialist, is transitioning to the college after closeout activities are completed.
Nā Pua No‘eau was established at UH Hilo in 1989 for the purpose of increasing educational enrichment opportunities for Hawaiian children in kindergarten through 12th grade. Under the leadership of David Sing (retired in 2014), outreach centers were later established on the islands of Maui, Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i and the west side of the island of Hawai‘i to expand activities throughout the state. Over the 29 years of programs, Nā Pua Noʻeau has provided educational enrichment to over 20,000 students from different communities throughout the state of Hawaiʻi. Many have gone on to attend and graduate from UH campuses and are making positive and significant contributions within their communities.
The UH campuses will continue to support and expand the mission and vision to nurture the educational continuum by strengthening the cultural identity of Native Hawaiians while providing opportunities for college degree completion and career pathways to prepare students as global leaders.
At the other campuses:
- Programs offered by Nā Pua Noʻeau-Oʻahu will be integrated into the Native Hawaiian Student Services unit within the Hawaiʻinuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge at UH Mānoa.
- Nā Pua Noʻeau-Maui program will become part of the Office of the Chancellor at UH Maui College, working within the Office of Institutional Research.
- Nā Pua Noʻeau–Kauaʻi will become part of the Student Advising Office in the division of Student Affairs at Kauaʻi Community College.
- UH West Oʻahu will be receiving a vacant Na Pua Noʻeau position, which will be assigned to provide similar programs in West Oʻahu.
