A federal program that gives grants and related assistance to Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions to improve and expand their capacity to serve those populations and low-income individuals is celebrating its 15th anniversary.
Congress established the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) program in 2007 to improve the availability and quality of postsecondary education programs to support low-income, first-generation Asian American, Native American and Pacific Islander students.
All 10 campuses in the University of Hawaiʻi System are members of AANAPISI, and a number of UH leaders traveled to Washington D.C. to celebrate AANAPISI Week 2022 (September 26–October 2).
In honor of the anniversary, Kauaʻi Mayor Derek Kawakami presented a proclamation to Kauaʻi Community College Chancellor Joseph Daisy declaring September 27, 2022 AANAPISI Day on the island.
“Kauaʻi Community College is designated as an AANAPISI affiliate college,” Daisy said. “This program recognizes that historically Asian Americans, Native Americans and Pacific Islanders as a group of students have been underserved and underrepresented. It is a population in need of support in higher education. Kauaʻi Community College is also a designated minority serving institution, and as such the college is eligible for resources, including financial support, opportunities for leadership, and civic engagement that benefits this student population.”
