Last year, Charlayne Holliday was among the first Native Hawaiians to participate in the Native American Political Leadership Program. As a participant, she interned in the office of then-Sen. Barack Obama at the height of his presidential campaign. "None of the things that I do now in politics would have been possible without NAPLP," Holliday said on the program's web site. "Before attending the program I knew I needed an education in politics; NAPLP provided that in more ways than I could have known at the time." Photo courtesy gwu.edu

By Lisa Asato / Ka Wai Ola Loa

Native Hawaiians are encouraged to apply for a political leadership program in Washington, D.C., which offers a full scholarship for native students to study in the nation's capital. Students will also earn six college credits and intern with a native organization such as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' Washington bureau, a Congressional office, or other office on Capitol Hill.

The 2010 AT&T Native American Political Leadership Program at George Washington University runs Jan. 11 to April 30. Deadline to apply is Nov. 1.

The semester program offers qualified Native Hawaiian, American Indian and Alaska Native students a chance to interact with political leaders, policymakers and other native students from across the nation. Students will be immersed in the American political process, studying issues that are important to Hawaiians and other native peoples, as well as learning the ins and outs of political campaigns and governance, including message development, voter targeting, media production, direct mailing, fundraising, lobbying and grassroots advocacy.

"For our Native Hawaiian students, this program represents a unique opportunity to see how issues affecting Native Hawaiians are handled at the federal level, to see how public policy is shaped here in the nation's capital, and to benefit from interaction with Congressional, Administration and Native organization representatives," said Tim Johnson, chief of OHA's Washington, D.C., bureau.

"A significant barrier for Native Hawaiians has been the cost of transportation – this program is a full scholarship program that pays for room, board and transportation, and includes a small stipend as well," said Johnson, who has dedicated his career to Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander issues since interning at OHA's Washington bureau in 2003 while studying law.

The Native American Political Leadership Program also offers mentoring. Johnson and Julie Coleson, who also works in OHA's Washington bureau, have volunteered to mentor Native Hawaiian students.

Johnson, meanwhile, encouraged students of all fields of study to apply. The hands-on experience offers a chance to develop one's skills in oral and written communication and to learn how the political process works, he said.

"I would tell our Native Hawaiian students who are considering applying – if you want to give back to the community through a career in public service, whether it is political, community-based or policy level, this is a unique gift that is being offered to benefit our community," he said. "Take a leap of faith and apply – you will be a better advocate for having gone through the experience and our community will benefit from your knowledge."