THINK Fund: Multi-Million Dollar Community Benefit Package Focus on Education

Hilo, HI—The Hawaii Island Economic Development Board (HIEDB) has formed an organizing body to help establish the framework and governance for The Hawaii Island New Knowledge (THINK) Fund that will guide the Thirty Meter Telescope’s (TMT) community benefit package should they decide to pick Mauna Kea as their telescope site.

“TMT stated their intention early on to start a new paradigm. We took them at their word and we’ve been cultivating the proposed THINK Fund to foster excellence in learning and to raise the island’s intellectual capital. Should TMT choose Mauna Kea to site their telescope, we estimate the THINK Fund would receive approximately $1 million per year for the life of the lease for educational initiatives on Hawaii Island. The THINK Fund will be overseen here on Hawaii Island with decisions made by Hawaii Island residents,” stated community advocate and tomato farmer Richard Ha. “We believe our kuleana for the children of this island is to reach for the stars.”

Members of HIEDB’s organizing body include Richard Ha, Bob Saunders, Roberta Chu, Duane Kanuha, Riley Smith, John DeFries, Jacqui Hoover and Skylark Rossetti. HIEDB’s organizing body is developing THINK’s structure, governance and mission.

THINK Mission

The THINK Fund mission is to foster excellence in learning for all students of Hawaii Island through public and private fundraising and the establishment of a permanent endowment through the Hawaii Community Foundation. THINK will serve as the nucleus for attracting, gathering together, and then redistributing private and public sector resources in support of educational initiatives. THINK endeavors to advance academic, physical, emotional and social progress for students. THINK is committed to self-directed, lifelong Hawaii Island learners who think critically and creatively, and function as caring, responsible, productive members of society.

THINK Vision

The THINK vision is to raise the intellectual capital of Hawaii Island by enriching the education of students, particularly in core areas of math and science. By raising public and private support, THINK can fund requests from teachers, students and community organizations for the sole purpose of enhancing and strengthening the learning experience within the community.

THINK Purpose

THINK will support teachers, students and community organizations of Hawaii Island in preparing the next generation of community leaders.

Guiding Principles

Seventy-five percent of THINK will be directed to yearly programming with the remaining twenty-five percent adding to endowment. THINK’s funding initiatives will focus on K-12 and college through:

• Scholarships and mini-grants (teachers and students)

• Educational programs (teachers and students)

• College awards (students)

• Educational programs specific to Hawaiian culture

• Educational programs specific to astronomy

• Educational programs specific to math and science

• Community outreach

Consideration is underway on the methodology of segmenting funds by program category. Funds will be directed to residents of Hawaii Island only.

The HIEDB organizing body will select the founding Board of Advisors for THINK. The seven-member board will be comprised of one representative each from Hilo, Keaukaha/Panaewa/Puna, Kau, Kona, Kohala, Waimea and an at-large HIEDB seat.

Next steps include collaboration with the Hawaii Community Foundation to develop the Board of Advisors Core Competencies, Fund Responsibilities Document, policies to define each distribution area and its parameters along with the application process.

The Thirty Meter Telescope is in its Draft Environmental Impact Statement process with a decision on site selection due this summer.

About HIEDB

Hawaii Island Economic Development Board was founded 25 years ago as a private non-profit corporation for the purpose of furthering balanced economic development and job creation on the Island of Hawaii in partnership with Federal, State, County and private resources.

About TMT

The Thirty Meter Telescope will give astronomers the clearest and deepest picture of the Universe ever. TMT will be the most capable and sophisticated telescope ever constructed. The core technology of TMT will be its 492-segment, 30-meter diameter primary mirror giving TMT nine times the collecting area of today’s largest optical telescopes. First light is planned for 2018.