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.
Join us with other Hawaiians, labor union members, business people, astronomers, students & teachers – to SUPPORT the Mauna Kea
Monday, April 6 4 - 6pm in front of the Kamehameha Statue in Hilo.
Aloha,
As 2008 draws to a close, we look forward to 2009 and celebrating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board (HIEDB). Moving towards this important benchmark date, we all find ourselves facing challenging economic times and extend a sincere mahalo for your membership and the important role you play in supporting balanced economic growth and success for the residents of and visitors to, Hawai`i Island.
HIEDB is also undergoing challenges and responding to the times. There have been several changes in our governance and management that we wanted to bring to your attention.
Subsequent to our general membership meeting in October, Richard Ha informed the board that in order to devote more attention to his business he needed to resign as Chairman of HIEDB. The nominating committee met and after polling the board recommended me to chair the current year through 2009 and Roberta Chu to chair 2010. These two recommendations will be presented for formal approval at our January membership meeting.
At the same time, after successfully leading HIEDB since early 2005, we bid aloha and best wishes to Mark McGuffie who decided for personal reasons to relocate to Oahu. Mark’s departure prompted the board to form a transition committee tasked with finding a replacement Executive Director.
In December the board accepted the committee’s recommendation to hire Jacqui Hoover as our new Executive Director effective December 17th. HIEDB hired Jacqui on a less than full time basis in part to reduce our administrative costs and become more efficient. Equally important, this arrangement also allows Jacqui to simultaneously continue in her capacity as President of Hawaii Leeward Planning Conference (HLPC).
Our goal is to meet these challenging times by focusing on specific economic initiatives. We have been laying the groundwork to do so by revisiting and strengthening our core competencies, and our commitment to HIEDB’s mission to provide and promote private sector support and expertise for balanced growth in Hawai`i County in partnership with Federal, State, County and private resources.
In January 2009, the HIEDB Board and Staff will conduct a day-long strategic planning session to identify and consider advocacy, education, outreach, funding, collaborative and other opportunities for implementation towards achieving our objectives. These strategies will be discussed and your insights sought at our HIEDB General Membership meeting later in the month.
Your membership and commitment to HIEDB are greatly appreciated. We are honing our focus on ways to maximize resources and ensure a long term relationship that is mutually beneficial to HIEDB and our members. Watch for enhanced and improved communications including a more interactive website that will include a members’ only section. In the meantime, we wish you a very successful and Happy New Year.
Sincerely,
Bob Saunders
Interim Chairman
For Immediate Release
Ala Mauna - Saddle Road Dedication
Mile Post 19 - 28
Hilo, Hawaii - Members of the Saddle Road Task Force, a citizen advisory group, federal, state and county government officials, and island residents will gather on Thursday, December 11, 2008 to dedicate the next segment of Saddle Road.
U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye will deliver the keynote address with remarks by Federal Highway Administration, Rick Suarez, Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi and Walter Kunitake of the Saddle Road Task Force. This is phase two of the newly aligned Ala Mauna Saddle Road and now completes roughly 17 miles of the East - West connector for Hawaii Island.
“On Thursday we will be delighted to see the next phase of this important highway completed and is the results of many years of meaningful work on this project,” said Walter Kunitake, co-chair of the Saddle Road Task Force. We’d like to thank Senator Dan Inouye for his tireless efforts on behalf of the citizens of Hawaii County.”
Saddle Road Construction Project
Ala Mauna - Saddle Road, the most direct route between the east and west sides of the island, is the shortest route, yet carries one of the highest accident rates of any road of its classification in Hawai‘i. The Saddle Road improvement project will make the road safer and easier to use by eliminating narrow lanes, limited lines of sight, numerous roadside hazards such as bridge parapets, rough road edges, and limited drainage during rain storms and military vehicles frequently crossing the road as it passes through the Pohakuloa Training Area.
Ala Mauna Saddle Road History and Use
Ala Mauna, the traditional name for this early transportation route, served native uses of the Humu‘ula area of Hawai‘i island including bird catching and adze quarrying. They were replaced by sandalwood harvesting and hunting wild cattle, and ultimately by ranching and astronomy. Over time, travelers whose only choice was once ancient footpaths, shifted to horses and wagons, then to automobiles. Roadways were improved and travel time shortened.
In 1943, the original Saddle Road was built as a gravel roadway first constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the US Army Corps of Engineers for access to the island’s interior in the event of a Japanese invasion during World War II. Then in 1949 the Saddle Road was completed as a paved road.
What began as a military access road has since become an important cross-island link between East and West Hawaii. Saddle Road also provides the only paved access to Mauna Kea Science Reserve International Observatory Complex, Pohakuloa Training Area Base, Mauna Kea State Park as well as access to public lands and forest areas for hunting, gathering and ranching.
Construction funding for the Saddle Road improvement project is being made available from several sources: U.S. Department of the Army, Defense Access Road Program and Ecosystem Management Program, U.S. Congress, and Hawaii Department of Transportation. Construction of the remainder of the Saddle Road project will be phased as funds become available.
For more information contact Skylark Rossetti at (808) 935-2180.