Comment on FR Doc # 2026-11366

I’m writing this comment to support the proposed waiver as it relates to the 2023-2026 grant award S362A230012 to the UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII which is Ulu A`e Transitions/Growing Pono Schools Over the past 3 years Dream Navigator has partnered with the Hawaii Workforce Pipeline and the Pacific American Foundation, two other Native Hawaiian led organizations contracted by UH to fulfill some of the requirements of this grant. The overall objectives for the grant were to seek to improve the academic achievement of at promise Native Hawaiian students and their teachers. The anticipated outcomes included helping educators to have a better understanding of how education and tech-rich approaches can be used in the classroom and engage students with the increased adoption of these approaches in their classrooms. They were also seeking improved relationships with students and families using culture-based education approaches for improved social-emotional well-being and an enhanced capacity for long-term professional commitment. Student outcomes included increased understanding of Native Hawaiian culture and their own cultural identity; improved digital media technology skills; more positive relationships with their teachers; a strengthened sense of HA attributes; and enhanced long-term potential for success in school and life. As a Native Hawaiian-led organization, we provide a HA-inspired curriculum focused on career and life readiness for schools and organizations across Hawaii. Our ability to offer ready access to a new Learning Management System aligned well with the grant’s requirements. Our commitment to teaching through a Native Hawaiian lens has resonated with schools across the islands, and the grant funding has helped advance both our mission and the intent of the grant initiatives. Over 120 students, 6th through 8th graders actively worked on their future career goals this year. In fact, our enrollment goals surpassed our expectations, and we currently have a few new schools and several hundred more students who have requested our programs on the island of Hawaii. The proposed 4th year waiver would allow these new students to actively work on their career goals in the upcoming school year. Each year we’ve been able to recruit and expand our programs to more students and schools and our preliminary results for this past year indicated that 75% of our participants felt that they learned more about their Native Hawaiian values and principles. Over 90% of those who completed their assignments were able to identify at least two careers that they might be interested in. 97% felt that they were motivated to achieve their goals with 79% giving themselves a motivation score of 9 or 10 on a 10-point scale. These statistics have helped us to see how much our programs are helping our Native Hawaiian students write their life story and find the courage to pursue their goals. We are very grateful for the federal funds that have given these young people an opportunity to view their lives in the future and link their success to their cultural identity. Based on our experience with the University of Hawaii I STRONGLY SUPPORT the proposed fourth year waiver and hope that they will receive this fourth year of grant funding. Their willingness to contract with Native Hawaiian businesses and provide support to us as we have worked to build these programs in our public schools is indescribable. To withdraw funding at this point will be detrimental to the long-term relationships with administrations, schools and faculty members who have worked with us to bring vision and hope to the eyes of their students. I appreciate your time in reading my comments and hope for a positive result. With best regards, Gaylene Nikora President/CEO Dream Navigator