Ku’ikahi Receives $5K Grant from Hawai’i Electric

Julie Mitchell. Ku’ikahi Mediation Center file courtesy photo.

Ku’ikahi Mediation Center was a recent recipient of a $5,000 grant from Hawai’i Electric Light.

The funds will go towards supporting the non-profit center’s East Hawai’i Peer Mediation Elementary School Pilot Project. Ku’ikahi’s project brings conflict resolution and prevention skills to students within East Hawai’i schools, ultimately developing peacemakers.

“We appreciate Hawai‘i Electric Light’s ongoing commitment to working with local charities and other non-profit organizations toward a vision of a better Hawai‘i,” said Ku‘ikahi Executive Director Julie Mitchell. “Peer mediation directly contributes to Hawai‘i Electric Light’s focus on community programs aimed at promoting educational excellence.  Our East Hawai‘i Peer Mediation Elementary School Pilot helps keiki reach their full potential.”

Forty fourth and fifth graders were trained during the 2014-2015 school year. The students learned how to mediate disputes among students at Laupahoehoe Community Public Charter School.

So far in the 2015-2016 school year, a total of 73 fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students were trained at LCPCS, as well as at Kea’au and Keonepolo elementary schools.

Additional schools are expected to participate in the second half of the current school year.

Ku’ikahi seeks to empower people to come together through talking and listening to explore options and find their own best solutions. The center offers mediation, facilitation, and training to strengthen the ability of diverse individuals and groups to resolve interpersonal conflicts and issues within the community.