March 12, 2010: The Alaka‘ina Foundation received official notice of grant award in the amount of $92,023 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Bay, Watershed, Education Training (BWET) Division.
As a multiple-time recipient of the grant, Alaka‘ina Foundation Executive Director, Jessica M. Horiuchi, stated, “We are very grateful for the ongoing support NOAA’s BWET division, as this is our third such award.” The program, since inception, has focused on professional development opportunities for elementary school teachers on the island of Moloka‘i. “This grant is important in that it brings continuity to what we feel is becoming a meaningful professional development resource for teachers on Moloka‘i”, Horiuchi stated.
Based on student feedback, the highlight of the trip was the visit to the Nohili sand dunes, which are ancient Hawaiian burial grounds, located within PMRF's borders. The amazing tour of Nohili was led by Kunane Aipoalani, a Ke`aki Tech employee whose family can trace their lineage to the Nohili area to times prior to Western contact. Through Kunane, the students were given the opportunity to learn about both the cultural preservation and environmental stewardship work being done on base. This was a wonderful contrast to the base's cutting-edge technology work.
About NOAA - BWET
NOAA’s B-WET is an environmental education program that promotes locally relevant, experiential learning in the K-12 environment. The primary delivery of B-WET is through competitive funding that promotes Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs). NOAA has invested over $40 million to support more than 530 projects in six regions of the country. In FY 2008, the B-WET program reached over 125,000 students and 6,000 teachers, through 130 projects. For more information on NOAA and BWET, please visit NOAA Office of Education B-WET Program.