HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0099.018 2020-2022 3,
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s� UNIVERSITY
Y of HAwAi'I,
jILOA h .. HILO
Astronomy Center of Hawaii
COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF 6I
May 3, 2021 RECEIVED
Testimony in SUPPORT of Communication No.99.4 Date MAY 0 3 2021
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Councilmember Sue Lee Loy, Chair,and members of the Human Services and Social Services Committee:
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We are grateful to the County of Hawaii and this year's Nonprofit Grant Program Ad-Hoc Committee for
the financial assistance and awards. This year's process,while different,aspires to be a catalyst for
positive change across many sectors and lays the foundation for better collaboration between, public,
private,and philanthropic partnerships.
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The'Aha Punana Leo has been a partner with 'Imiloa/UHH's Halau LamakO program over the course of
this 2020-2021 school year. The Halau Lamaku Keiki Enrichment Program was created in light of the
ongoing disruption in K-12 school schedules due to the COVID-19 pandemic providing kids access to a
innovative culture-and place-based STEM leraning experiences in a safe and welcoming environment.
j Given the positive reception of the kids and families and the partnerships, curriculum and staff capacity
that'Imiloa has developed,we look forward to continuing this program throughout the upcoming school I
year for families in both East and West Hawaii. These grant funds would be of great assistance to our
ability to do so. j
The absence of the State's Grant in Aid program made the work of this year's Ad-Hoc Committee
challenging and their shift for the presentations of our objectives,activities,outputs, outcomes and
impact was tough but a transparent demonstration of how our program(s) is/are reaching the most
vulnerable in our community. This year's Ad-Hoc asked thorough and thoughtful questions; especially
the critical questioning of other barriers our program is challenged with and we look forward to more
collaboration to bridging these gaps. Mahalo nui loa for this opportunity.
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Sincerely,
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Leslie Ka'iu Kimura
Executive Director
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Comm. o,
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Ref. To: _--
Ref. Date M19 0 4
'Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii
6001miloa Place
Hilo, Hawai'i 96720-4072
Telephone:(808)932-8901
Fax:(808)969-9748
www.imiloahawaii.org
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution