| The University of Hawaii - Kauai Community College (UH-KCC) is the only public institution of higher learning on the island of Kauai. The campus is located just west of the major town of Lihue. Started in 1928 as a vocational school, it became a comprehensive community college in 1965. The College's enrollment represents a diversified cross-section of the population of Hawaii. Native Hawaiian students comprise the third largest ethnic group on campus with the fastest rate of increase of all ethnic groups represented.
Kauai County consists of two islands, with an estimated population of 58,463-an 11% increase since 1990. In the midst of population growth, Kauai is still recovering from the economic slump of the early 1990s. In 1992, the eye of Hurricane Iniki passed over Kauai and devastated its tourism and agricultural industries for years to come. Due to global competition, there also has been an increasing decline in sugar production, resulting in a further loss of jobs. Kauai's growing population has added pressure to the County's already stressed housing needs.
Kauai's low-income households represent 37% of its total population, distributed among seven towns throughout the County. Among the low-and moderate-income towns is the community of Anahola, situated on the east shore of the island in a predominantly rural area. Over 75% of its 3,123 residents are Native Hawaiian, with 62% of families characterized as low/moderate-income and 9% categorized as living below the poverty line.
Approximately, 82% of Anahola's youth live in low/moderate-income households. In the local school district, 40% of the total enrollment is Native Hawaiian. In the local school district, 40% of all students are Native Hawaiians, who make up 50% of all special education students and a high percentage of failing students. Native Hawaiian youth also have the highest percentage of absenteeism and behavior problems, the highest high school dropout rates, and the greatest incidence of alcohol/drug abuse.
A disproportionate number of Native Hawaiians have a health status that is rated fair to poor. A third of Native Hawaiian youth are at risk for Type II diabetes. Few Native Hawaiians access the care they need to treat and possibly prevent many of the health problems that plague this group. Kauai recently received Federal designation as a rural, underserved region.
UH-KCC is building a Youth Center to serve the needs of youth and families in the County of Kauai. The Youth Center represents a partnership between UH-KCC and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Queen Liliuokalani Children's Center, Pihana Na Mamo (Department of Education), Kapaa Middle and High Schools, Sandwich Isle Communications, and the Anahola Based Community Development (ABCD) Advisory Board.
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