Office of Native Hawaiian Relations Releases Native Hawaiian Community Guide to Federal Programs and Services

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Native Hawaiian Relations today released the new Native Hawaiian Community Guide to Federal Programs and Services.  The guide identifies Federal program and grant opportunities in health, housing, education, and labor for which members of the Native Hawaiian Community and Native Hawaiian organizations may apply. The guide was developed in partnership with Papa Ola Lōkahi, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA), and the Native Hawaiian Education Council. 

“Empowering the Hawaiian Community with information, access to resources, and capacity building support continues to be part of our core programming at the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement,” said CNHA President, Michelle Kauhane. “As a HUD-Certified Housing Counseling Agency and Native Community Development Financial Institution, certified by the US Treasury, we are keenly aware of the housing disparity among Native Hawaiians in our state and are happy to share resources in support of improving Native Hawaiian housing conditions,” added Kauhane.

“We appreciate the support of and partnership with the Department of Interior, Office of Native Hawaiian Relations, in making this Federal guide possible,” said Sharlene Chun-Lum, Executive Director for Papa Ola Lokahi.  “We know that a family’s overall health and well-being improves when other contributing factors such housing, education, and employment, are addressed.  The potential to receive grants that help improve these factors, in addition to health care itself, can significantly impact the health of Native Hawaiians, who continue to lead other ethnic groups in Hawai`i in rates of chronic disease.”

“The Native Hawaiian Education Council is pleased to support the intent, publication and continuing update of the guide for the benefit of programs and organizations to support Native Hawaiians through education,” said Dr. Sylvia M. Hussey, Executive Director of the Native Hawaiian Education Council.

“Helping members of the Native Hawaiian Community access Federal programs and services is an important part of building self-sufficiency,” said Ka'i'ini Kaloi, Director for the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations.  “The new guide will make it much easier for Native Hawaiians to identify and access Federal programs on health, housing, education, and labor.” 

To access the guide please go to any of the following sites:

• Native Hawaiian Education Council
• Papa Ola Lokahi
• Hawaiian Council
• Hawaiian Programs