Kukio Community Fund grant to launch the Elama Project at Palamanui campus
With help from the Kukio Community Fund, Elama Project was launched at the Hawai‘i Community College Pālamanui campus in 2015. The Elama Project assists students in attending and successfully completing their first year of college and beyond.
The Elama Project provides academic counseling, peer mentoring, college readiness workshops and assistance navigating daily transportation or childcare, in addition to 100% of tuition, books and fees. The program served 20 students in its first year, and nearly doubled that number in year two. The ultimate goal is to serve 300 participants per year, by 2019. With an initial grant of $75,000, the Kukio Community Fund seeded the program and the committee plans to help raise the awareness and funds needed to grow the program through its critical first 3 years – a total of $750,000. “With the extraordinary involvement of our members, we felt ready and excited to increase our commitment level by adding this program to our community investments and encouraging support,” Previous Kukio Community Fund co-chair Benjy Garfinkle says. “We can do this, and it will change lives right in our backyard.”
The program is part of a statewide 13th Year Initiative launched with support from Kukio members Jim and Lynn Lally and based on research showing that on average students attending at least one year of college earn 30% more income, are 29% less likely to be unemployed, and live seven years longer. “Hawaii’s community college leaders have developed this program driven by the belief that our state has a special obligation to provide educational access to everyone. Just look at the statistics, we can’t afford not to,” says Jim Lally. “We’re delighted that the Kukio Community Fund is generously supporting the new Palamanui campus in this effort.”
When it comes to higher education, West Hawaii is one of the most underserved areas in the state. Non-degree jobs make up 47% of the Hawaii Island workforce, but those positions do not provide enough income for economic self-sufficiency. By 2018, 65% of Hawaii’s jobs will require a post-secondary education, but only 40% of Hawaii Island students are currently enrolled in college.
The campus opened for Hawaii Community College at Palamanui offering a state-of-the-art learning environment and providing greater access to higher education in West Hawaii. The campus was made possible through considerable leadership and funding support from Charles Schwab, the Hunt Brothers, Jim and Lynn Lally, and many other motivated community members like Carl Carlson and Ross Wilson.
The Kukio Community Fund focuses on the young people of Hawaii Island because their success has a ripple effect on the entire community. By supporting education and youth development, we are increasing the success of local youth in school, in work, and in life. The Hawaii Island community has benefited from over $2 million in grants through our Kukio Community Fund. Much of this funding has been concentrated in two high-impact youth program areas – Elama Project at Palamanui and STEM Learning (science, technology, engineering, and math).
“A huge thanks to everyone who contributes and gets involved! Together, we are making a difference,” Chair of Kukio Community Fund Dawn Zierk says. “The Elama Project will offer students a strong foundation for a new life, and helps to offer their families a better, and more productive future.” To learn more or contribute, talk with any Kuki‘o Community Fund committee member or visit our website at www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/kukiofund.