INPEACE was established in December 1994 by three educators who were concerned about the withdrawl of educational programs for Native Hawaiian communities. It was their desire to return some of these programs to the community through grants and contracts from public and private agencies. It was necessary to establish INPEACE as a non-profit charitable organization, i.e., with 501(c) (3) tax status in order to receive funds.
The founders are Dr. Kathryn H. Au, Sherlyn Franklin Goo, M.Ed. and Dr. Alice J. Kawakami. The three founders have had extensive experience working with Native Hawaiian children and issues surrounding their educational achievement. These include culturally appropriate teaching methodologies, the overall well-being of the children and their families as it related to achievement, teacher training and consultation, early care and education, research and development, and related areas.
Sherlyn Goo served as both executive director and chairman of the board when INPEACE began. INPEACE did not actually begin active operations until 1996 when INPEACE was asked by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) to assist with the grant proposal and subsequent administration for what became known as Ho’omaka Hou, a program for troubled youth based at King Intermediate and Castle High School. This program continued for six years at Castle through funds from OHA and subsequently Kamehameha Schools. During the period OHA also offered several early childhood contracts to INPEACE. These, in part, led to the creation, by Dr. Kawakami and Marci Waialeale Sarsona, newly appointed Executive Director, of what is now the largest of INPEACE’s programs, Keiki Steps. These contracts also enabled INPEACE to emerge as a leader in Native Hawaiian early care and education.
Concurrently, INPEACE applied for and received its first of many grants from the Hawai’i Community Foundation to further Dr. Au’s passion-the Ka Lama o Ke Kaiaulu teacher training initiative, a program that still exists today. It is much enlarged, however, due to a series of grants from the Administrative for Native Americans, a department of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Also in 1996, INPEACE’s directors Au and Goo were invited to participate in an event hosted by the Hawai’i Community Foundation for a group of delegates to the Council on Philanthropy who were interested in the statuse of Native Hawaiians. This was the first time in its history that the Council would be meeting in Hawai’i . Au and Goo became acquainted with Dr. Valorie Johnson, a Native American, who was a program director for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. This was to be a most fortuitous interaction as it subsequently led to INPEACE being asked to propose, in 2003, for the SPARK initiative that largest grant ever received by INPEACE at more than $4 million.
Over the past fourteen years, numerous grants from the U.S. Department of Education under the Native Hawaiian Education Act have supported Keiki Steps, a parent participation preschool program. In addition, Hoowaiwai Na Kamalii, a program in partnership with ALU LIKE, Inc., is engaged in developing a Native Hawaiian system for early care and education through community planning teams, data collection, and partnerships with others. This program is also supported by grants from the Native Hawaiian Education Act.
In virtually all of INPEACE’s programs, although key large grants provide primary or initial start up support, partnerships are the strength of its program. These partnerships will, hopefully, lead to long-term sustainability. INPEACE partners include the Hawaii State Department of Education, University of Hawaii-Manoa, Leeward Community College-Pearl City and Waianae, Atherton Family Foundation, Hawaii Children’s Trust Fund, James Campbell Estate, Samuel and Mary Castle Family Foundation, Henry and Dorothy Castle Foundation, Good Beginnings Alliance, Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Hawaii Community Foundation, Waianae Comprehensive Health Center, Waianae Neighborhood Place, and many others.
On occasion, organizations in Hawai’i have approached INPEACE to initiate a project. This was the case in 1997, when ALU LIKE, Inc. offered a contract to assist with curriculum development related to the return of Kaho’olawe to the Protect Kaho’olawe ‘Ohana. Also, in 1999, worked with the YWCA of O’ahu to write the grant proposal for the renovation of its Kokokahi site in Kane’ohe as a base for Hawaiian Cultural activities. INPEACE continued to its involvement with this project for several years.
In 2005 INPEACE established an evaluation department with the hope of offering culturally responsive program evaluation services to interested organizations in Hawai’i. INPEACE initiated its evaluation work by submitting a successful proposal to Kamehameha Schools. Program evaluation is on of the potential growth area for the future of INPEACE.
Throughout the history of INPEACE, the vision of the founders has remained steadfast: to serve the Hawaiian community and others in need through educational partnerships the foster self-sufficiency.
From humble beginnings with one employee and a budget of $4,500 in 1994 to almost sixty-five employees and multiple regular contractors today, and a budget of over $4 million, INPEACE strives to serve the people in Native Hawaiian communities, assisting them to reach self-sufficiency.
Our logo story
The INPEACE logo was designed by
Dr. Alice J. Kawakami. It was chosen as the INPEACE flower because of its characteristics. The puakenikeni is found throughout the islands of the Pacific and is valued as a special lei flower to adorn those whom we hold dear. Its color changes from a pale ivory to a deep golden color. It is delicate flower that offers a pervasive, potent, and enduring fragrance. Our hope it that INPEACE will continue to evolve and change over time, emanate the values of our culture, and become a cherished part of our communities. The logo also includes peace symbols, a reminder of the 60s era that in part influences the idealism and optimism of the three founders.
