Aka, with, care, and hai, to speak. To be tender of heart; meek

Andrews, Hawaiian Dictionary, 1865

ALOHA FOCUS FOR THE WEEK: AKAHAI

May Day comes just once every other year at Kāneʻohe Elementary School and if you’ve only been a part of our ʻohana since 2020, I apologize because the last two were acutely subdued due to the pandemic. The May Day of 2016, however, was an entirely different affair. That year, May Day culminated the celebration of Kāneʻohe Elementary’s 60th anniversary. As with the May Day’s of the past, previous principals were invited to attend and since it was an extra special occasion, we were treated to an extra special guest: former principal, Senator Daniel K Akaka. Senator Akaka was a enthralled by the student performances, cheering after each act. After the event, we gathered in a library for a staff luncheon and Senator Akaka warmly greeted everyone. As he posed for pictures with different members of our staff, he asked them for their names, inquired about who they are, and what they did at Kāneʻohe Elementary. He seemed genuinely interested in everyone and grateful for their service to children.

For me, as a school leader, it was a lesson in grace. No matter his prominence and his tremendous impact on Hawaiʻi, Senator Akaka was humble and kind. He certainly put others before himself. I remember him asking me if had gotten a chance to eat. Here he was, a kupuna, a special guest, and he’s looking after me.

In the two remaining years of his life, we were blessed to have several interactions with Senator Akaka including a book celebration with our younger students. In each case, he greeted everyone with kindness and a warm humility that made us feel cared for. It is no wonder Senator Akaka was known as the Aloha Ambassador as he definitely promoted how to Live Aloha with his every action.

Read a special memory of Senator Akaka by Kāneʻohe Elementary parent, Kekoa Kaluhiwa who served as Senator Akaka’s executive assistant for 12 years.

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5 PURSUITS of AKAHAI

Inspired by Gholdy Muhammad

Please watch this: A Beach Day with Pa written by Senator Akaka’s grandson, David Mattson and his wife Elizabeth Mattson; illustrated by Brady Evans. Then with you child, answer the following:

• IDENTITY: What is something that you like to do at the beach with your ʻohana?
• SKILLS: Watch the video again, but this time turn the sound softer and read along with the narrator.
• INTELLECT: A single cigarette butt will contaminate 8 liters of water after just one hour of soaking in the waves. Research the impact plastic bags and other pieces of litter have on the environment.
• CRITICALITY: In the story Pa and the kids showed akahai by picking up the opala left by others. Other than the marine life, who may have benefitted from this act of aloha?
• JOY: Think about how you can do an act of aloha that benefits others at your next fun outing with your ʻohana. Share this idea with your ʻohana and commit to doing it.

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ALOHA AKAKA WEEK CHALLENGE

This week, on what would’ve been his 99th birthday, we honor Senator Daniel Kahikina Akaka, the first U.S. Senator of Native Hawaiian ancestry. Senator Akaka was justifiably known as the Aloha Ambassador, consistently demonstrating akahai to all who had the opportunity to meet and connect with him. In this spirit, please join us in the Aloha Akaka Week Challenge by following the Senator’s examples on each day of the week:

WANTED: SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNCIL CHAIRPERSON

The School Community Council (SCC) supports the school through policy making, advising school administration, and developing school improvement initiatives. It is comprised of parents, community members, teachers, classified staff, students and administrators. We are currently seeking nominations for anyone willing to serve on the SCC as it’s chairperson. The chairperson presides at all meetings and signs letters, plans, reports, and other SCC communications. If you are interested or would like to nominate someone for this role, please complete this nomination form by Monday, September 25.

MAHALO NUI LOA OHANA100

MAHALO CPAC & 5TH GRADE

Continuing in its commitment to providing students in the Castle Complex a forum for learning about the performing arts and hopefully sparking a new passion, the Castle Performing Arts Center spent the first few weeks of school with our 5th graders. During these sessions, students learned how to project their voices, act, sing, dance, and how to be on stage. All of their learning culminated with a performance for the students’ ohana at the Caste Theater. We, the audience, were treated to a wonderful show full of song, laughter, and pride for our students. Mahalo nui loa to the CPAC educators and our 5th grade teachers: Mrs. Muniz, Kumu Māpuana, Ms. Maloney, Mrs. Sparks, and Kumu Wells. 

STEM KICK-OFF – ADDRESSING THE CLIMATE CRISIS WITH NATURAL SOLUTIONS

One of Kāneʻohe Elementary’s key initiatives is to develop students’ ability to solve problems using the Engineering Design Process coupled with a Growth Mindset where learning from failure is an expectation. Each year, we strive to inspire our teachers to develop lessons that challenge students to design solutions for the problems around them. And every year, teachers consistently help students come up with innovative and creative projects including nets that capture micro plastics in the ocean, a re-designed makaha for Waikalua Loko Iʻa, and a waterwheel that converts hydro power from the ʻauwai into electricity. This year, we are stretching our brains to apply this process to addressing the climate crisis using natural solutions such as agroforestry. Given that climate change and urbanization played significant contributing roles to the devastating wildfires on Maui, this topic is of urgent concern. So we look forward to what our students design to address this challenge, especially as we strive to cultivate young leaders who will help Kāneʻohe and Hawaiʻi be sustainable beyond our lifetime.

WEAR PINK FOR MAUI WEDNESDAYS

We are continuing to Wear Pink for Maui on Wednesdays and invite all to continue joining us in letting “that light, that divine inspiration that Aunty Pilahi Paki says is given to you at your very beginning, come through and let your ALOHA join with the ALOHA of the collective to bring about healing.” 

DAILY VIRTUAL PIKO – please join us

The Daily Piko helps us become centered and ready to learn. It helps us get on the same page, hearing one message of focus for the day and the week. If you are able, we begin at 8 AM everyday except Wednesday when we conduct the piko in-person.

https://hidoe.zoom.us/j/89410873182?pwd=dERWOEs2SldQdW5aZHpDM29vdWdhdz09

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tue, Sept 12, 2023, 8:30 AM	Frank DeLima Performance
Wed, Sept 13, 2023, 4:30 PM	Wellness Committee Meeting  Join by Zoom
Fri, Sept 22, 2023	Waiver Day – No Students
Tue, Sept 26, 2023	Fall Picture Taking Day
Wed, Sept 27, 2023, 4:30 PM	School Community Council Meeting Join by Zoom
Sat, Sept 30, 2023	Campus Beautification Day
Fri, Oct 6, 2023	Silver Linings Day End of Quarter 1
Oct 9 – 13, 2023	Fall Break Intersession – no school

Patience; patient, enduring, long suffering; to tolerate. Lit., great breath

Pukui, Mary Kawena, Hawaiian dictionary : Hawaiian-English, English-Hawaiian 

ALOHA FOCUS FOR THE WEEK: AHONUI

When my daughter Zoe was a toddler, her mother and I stressed out about setting her up for “success.” Along with all the other parents of children her age, we felt we were in some unspoken competition. Consequently, we bought toys that were “guaranteed” to stimulate her creativity. We enrolled her in a bunch of pre pre-school classes – yes pre pre-school. We owned all the Baby Einstein VHS tapes that were supposed to make her “smarter.” Yet, for all of our efforts, we always felt behind.

Later, when Gen, our son, was born, I heard a podcast that refuted the supposed benefits of Baby Einstein videos and the other measures we took to get Zoe ahead. Instead, the podcast claimed there were only a few things that research showed parents did that influenced their children. One of them was smoking. If parents smoked, it was likely their children would smoke. Another was how parents treated their children and others. If parents were loving, kind, and respectful, their children would follow suit. And if parents were not those things, their children behaved similarly. In retrospect, this made sense. After watching hours of videos, toddler Zoe could still not speak French, read fluently, or create master works of art. What probably benefitted her the most was when we spent time playing with her at the beach, digging holes and building sandcastles.

A few years ago, I resonated with a book entitled The Gardener and the Carpenter by Alison Gopnik. It was if the author had been tracking all of our parenting errors, “the idea is that if you just do the right things, get the right skills, read the right books, you’re going to be able to shape your child into a particular kind of adult” similar to a carpenter building a cabinet from a set of directions. However, these parents, “are so concerned that the child come out that you’re not giving the child the freedom to take risks and explore and be autonomous.” Instead, these parents and their children are more likely to be, “anxious and difficult and tense and unhappy in all sorts of ways that are unnecessary.” Children will not learn how to be flexible, resilient, and independent.

Being a parent, however, is more akin to being a gardener, “you never know what’s going to happen in the garden. The things that you plan fail but then wonderful things happen that you haven’t actually planned.” Gopnik explains that it’s about “creating a rich, nurturant but also variable, diverse, dynamic ecosystem in which many, many different things can happen and a system that can respond to the environment in unpredictable kinds of ways.”

In other words, waiting for your child to grow and bloom like a flower requires ahonui. But not a patience where you passively wait around for things to happen. Ahonui is an active patience where you are being attentive and nurturing, waiting for the right moment to water, to till, to prune, to weed, to fertilize. 

All children are individuals with their own unique characteristics, strengths, and personalities. As such, each grows and matures on their own timetable. Just looking at the height of kids across 6th grade and then when they’re high school seniors is proof enough. Boys who were the shortest throughout elementary sometimes shoot up to be amongst the tallest in their class by the time they graduate. But this doesn’t just happen. Like gardeners, we feed them nutritious food, give them milk to drink, and encourage them to get lots of sleep. We create the conditions for this to happen, even if it doesn’t happen right away.

Twenty years later, Zoe is doing well despite our mistakes. She is independent, strong, and making sound, mature decisions. She might not be as interested in foreign affairs as her mother wanted nor becoming a teacher as I hoped. But she is carving her own path as a happy adult, which I think is what is most important.

The Nature of This Flower Is to Bloom
Rebellious. Living.
Against the Elemental Crush.
A Song of Color
Blooming
For Deserving Eyes.
Blooming Gloriously
For its Self.
Alice Walker

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5 PURSUITS of AHONUI

Inspired by Gholdy Muhammad

Please watch this: Leo the Late Bloomer written by Robert Kraus and illustrated by Jose Aruego. Then with you child, answer the following:

• IDENTITY: What is something that took you a long time to learn? How did you feel when you finally learned it?
• SKILLS: Leo is described as a “late bloomer” by his mother, meaning he will eventually find his talents and abilities but after others. Why does Leo’s mother use this term when responding to Leo’s father? Provide examples from the text that show Leo’s mother is correct.
• INTELLECT: The term “late bloomer” is an example of an idiom. An idiom is a widely used saying with a meaning that is unique to a culture. A local example is “Broke da mouth.” Research and find examples of idioms that are about having patience.
• CRITICALITY: Why might it be important to show ahonui or patience with someone that takes longer to learn or do something compared to you?
• JOY: Make a list of things you would like to learn but might be afraid of failing. Practice ahonui with yourself and begin learning one of those things.

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MAHALO NUI LOA ROYAL HAWAIIAN BAND

VIRTUAL FALL MATH CAMP FOR 1ST – 3RD GRADERS

During the upcoming Fall Break (October 9 – 13) the Hawaiʻi DOE is sponsoring a free virtual Fall Math camp for Hawaiʻi public elementary school students in grades 1, 2, and 3 (not including public charter schools). Space is limited and it fills up fast. Registration is open and available here.

PHONE & SMART PHONES

During the school day, students are not allowed to use phones or smart watches. This expectation includes when students that are in before and after care programs including A+. 

• Devices shall remain OFF and IN your child’s backpack during the school day.
• Before school and after school devices used to contact parent/guardian is allowed after receiving permission from school personnel in the drop/off and pick/up areas only.
• If a student attempts to use a device during instruction, the teacher will confiscate the device, turn it in to the Vice Principal, who will call you for pick up. Thank you for your support.

BIKES/E-BIKES ON CAMPUS

We encourage students who live close to school to walk or ride bikes to campus as part of a healthy, active lifestyle. Once on campus, all bike riders should walk their bikes up the walkway to and from the bike rack located near the library. We ask all to not ride bikes on campus. Recently, trespassers on e-bikes ran over newly planted native plants on our hillside. Please kokua and let others know to show akahai while on our campus.

WEAR PINK FOR MAUI WEDNESDAYS

We are continuing to Wear Pink for Maui on Wednesdays and invite all to continue joining us in letting “that light, that divine inspiration that Aunty Pilahi Paki says is given to you at your very beginning, come through and let your ALOHA join with the ALOHA of the collective to bring about healing.” 

DAILY VIRTUAL PIKO – PLEASE JOIN US

The Daily Piko helps us become centered and ready to learn. It helps us get on the same page, hearing one message of focus for the day and the week. If you are able, we begin at 8 AM everyday except Wednesday when we conduct the piko in-person.

https://hidoe.zoom.us/j/89410873182?pwd=dERWOEs2SldQdW5aZHpDM29vdWdhdz09

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tue, Sept 5, 2023, 9:00 AM	Senator Akaka Foundation Book Celebration
Tue, Sept 12, 2023, 8:30 AM	Frank DeLima Performance
Fri, Sept 22, 2023	Waiver Day – No Students
Tue, Sept 26, 2023	Fall Picture Taking Day
Sat, Sept 30, 2023	Campus Beautification Day

Reduplication of haʻa #1; low, lowly, minimum, humble, degraded, meek, unpretentious, modest, unassuming, unobtrusive; lowness, humility.

Pukui, Mary Kawena, Hawaiian dictionary : Hawaiian-English, English-Hawaiian 

ALOHA FOCUS FOR THE WEEK: HAʻAHAʻA

Sitting at Boston’s Logan Airport, feeling a strange mixture of sadness, optimism, exhaustion, excitement and parental pride, I am lost in my emotions. Just six hours ago, I hugged my daughter goodbye outside of her new apartment. Her graduate program begins next week and she needs to start studying, yet I regret not staying through the weekend…especially after hearing her say she wished I’d stay longer. While she certainly doesn’t need me, I wish we had more time setting up her place, bonding over Ted Lasso, eating pizza and making supply runs to Target. 

Four years ago, as she began her undergraduate degree, the vibe was resemblant yet so different. Back then, I took off a week as I envisioned spending a lot of time helping her set up her dorm, figuring out where her classes were, and getting to know the surrounding neighborhood. Instead, I spent much of the time alone. There was the requisite runs to Bed Bath and Beyond and IKEA, but the school already arranged for a charter bus to take all of the freshmen to Target. After dropping her belongings off at the dorm, parents were swiftly ushered off, allowing the students to begin their life as college students and being independent. On my last night in Tacoma, I begged to see her one last time. On the steps of her dorm, we had 5 minutes to sneak a hug and say goodbye before she had to return to a freshman social.

On the returning flight, I wept profusely while trying to appear nonchalant. Back then, if you asked me, I would’ve said I felt empty. But really, I was not empty. Loneliness and wistful memories of my daughter as an infant, clinging to my chest as she struggled to fall asleep completely filled my heart. As she rushed towards independence, her trailing wake, pulled on my heart and filled me with the longing to again be needed.

Now, as I prepare to board another plane, reflecting upon the teachings of Uncle Pono and Aunty Pilahi, I realize the stark difference between feeling empty and emptying yourself – especially if you need to be there for someone else. So despite being filled with those same feelings of nostalgia and yearning on this trip, I acknowledged their existence. In doing so, I did better at setting them aside so I could also make space to be present for my daughter and again set her on her way.

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5 PURSUITS of Haʻahaʻa

Inspired by Gholdy Muhammad

Please watch this: The Rabbit Listened written and read by Cori Doerrfeld. Then with you child, answer the following:

• IDENTITY: When you are sad, what makes you feel better? What about other members of your family? What makes them feel sad? What helps them feel better? 
• SKILLS: Create a Bubble Map that describes the main character, Taylor, and the rabbit.
• INTELLECT: In the book, the rabbit practices empathetic listening. What is the meaning of empathy? How is it different from sympathy? (Here’s a good resource if needed.)
• CRITICALITY: All of the other animals wanted to help Taylor feel better. Why were they unsuccessful? How might this be a lesson for us at school and in our family?
• JOY: Uncle Pono said that to be a good listener, we must be haʻahaʻa or go empty. In other words we need to temporarily empty ourselves of our thoughts, feelings, and judgements and be filled by the words and nonverbal cues of someone else. Practice being haʻahaʻa by listening to a family member tell you a story of when they were your age.

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VIRTUAL FALL MATH CAMP FOR 1ST – 3RD GRADERS

During the upcoming Fall Break (October 9 – 13) the Hawaiʻi DOE is sponsoring a free virtual Fall Math camp for Hawaiʻi public elementary school students in grades 1, 2, and 3 (not including public charter schools). Space is limited and it fills up fast. Registration is open and available here.

WEAR PINK FOR MAUI WEDNESDAYS

We are continuing to Wear Pink for Maui on Wednesdays and invite all to continue joining us in letting “that light, that divine inspiration that Aunty Pilahi Paki says is given to you at your very beginning, come through and let your ALOHA join with the ALOHA of the collective to bring about healing.” 

DAILY VIRTUAL PIKO – please join us

The Daily Piko helps us become centered and ready to learn. It helps us get on the same page, hearing one message of focus for the day and the week. If you are able, we begin at 8 AM everyday except Wednesday when we conduct the piko in-person.

https://hidoe.zoom.us/j/89410873182?pwd=dERWOEs2SldQdW5aZHpDM29vdWdhdz09

UPCOMING EVENTS

Wed, Aug 30, 2023, 4:30 – 5:30 PM	School Community Council Mtg – Join by Zoom
Thur, Aug 31, 2023, 9:30 AM	Royal Hawaiian Band Performance
Tue, Sept 5, 2023, 8:30 AM	Senator Akaka Foundation Book Celebration
Tue, Sept 12, 2023, 8:30 AM	Frank DeLima Performance
Fri, Sept 22, 2023	Waiver Day – No Students
Tue, Sept 26, 2023	Fall Picture Taking Day
Sat, Sept 30, 2023	Campus Beautification Day

Redup. of ʻolu; pleasant, nice, amiable, satisfied, contented, happy, affable, agreeable, congenial, cordial, gracious; please.

Pukui, Mary Kawena, Hawaiian dictionary : Hawaiian-English, English-Hawaiian 

ALOHA FOCUS FOR THE WEEK: ʻOLUʻOLU

When I first got into teaching, I brought to the job an engineering degree and five years experience as a camp counselor. I could lead attention-getters and ice-breakers all while explaining how to design a sewer system, but somehow these tools were ineffective with 30 ninth-graders who did not want to be in my class learning physical science. Most displayed their boredom by passively putting their heads down, but one or two competed for the class’ attention by making inappropriate jokes and noises. I tried to be strict, setting up stringent expectations and giving stern looks when students did not meet them. But students continued to show disrespect and seemed to become even more defiant. I then tried to be punitive, holding students in to make up for the time “they wasted.” But this strategy was unenforcible when the students needed to rush to another class and failed to come back for detention later in the day. Even when I could hold them in, the whole session usually devolved into a venomous battle of wills that never seemed to teach the desired lesson.

Eventually, my vice-principal arranged for me to see one of the most effective teachers on our campus, Kathy Ellwin. Mrs. Ellwin taught social studies to the same cohort of students I had for physical science. Sitting in the back of her classroom, I was dumbfounded. The same students who gave me a hard time earlier that morning, were diligently working and respectfully relating to their peers. Instead of ruling the class with stern looks, Mrs. Ellwin wore an infectious smile and taught with a melodic voice. When one student began to look frustrated – a look I’ve seen many times from this same student and often before an emotional explosion – Mrs. Ellwin calmly crouched beside him, whispered something inaudible to anyone else around and the frustration seemed to melt away. What was this magic Mrs. Ellwin beheld? How did she get such different results from the same group of students? 

Though I didn’t have the vocabulary for it back then, I now recognize it as ʻoluʻolu. Mrs. Ellwin had an affable personality, indefatigably positive and supportive. She clearly loved teaching and was wholly dedicated to her students.  The students knew this too and did not want to disappoint her.  Even if they became frustrated, as learning something challenging can elicit, Mrs. Ellwin simply whispered, “I see you are getting frustrated. How can I help you? I know that you can learn this.” And this was big for those kids who rarely had anyone express confidence in they’re being able to learn something hard. Somehow, it was what they needed to stay resilient and complete the task.

While certainly gracious, pleasant and nice, I would never call Mrs. Ellwin weak. In fact, after witnessing her teach 30 ninth graders how to write a persuasive essay, I would call her the strongest woman in the world. She did not resort to threats or punishments. Instead, she treated them like people deserving of respect, saw the best in them, and showed them aloha. She was the embodiment of ʻoluʻolu.

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5 PURSUITS of ʻOluʻolu:

Inspired by Gholdy Muhammad

Please watch this: Those Shoes written by Maribeth Boelts  and illustrated by Noah Z. Jones. Then with you child, answer the following:

• IDENTITY: How do you feel when you help others? Has there been a time where other people helped your family? How did that feel?
• SKILLS: Theme is the underlying message or lesson that the author is trying to convey to the reader. What do you think might be the theme of this book? What are the story elements and picture clues that tell you that this might be the theme?
• INTELLECT: In Hawaiʻi we don’t have to worry about going to school in the snow. Research what it might be like to live in a place where it snows and what you might need to go to school when it snows.
• CRITICALITY: Have you ever given something to someone that they needed but didn’t ask for? How did that feel?
• JOY: Make a list of volunteer activities or ways that people can share and give in your community. Point out different examples to your child and talk about the different ways people help each other. Pick an activity and do something that helps others this week.

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WEAR PINK FOR MAUI WEDNESDAYS

For the time being, we will continue to Wear Pink for Maui on Wednesdays and we hope all continue to join us in letting “that light, that divine inspiration that Aunty Pilahi Paki says is given to you at your very beginning, come through and let your ALOHA join with the ALOHA of the collective to bring about healing.” 

DAILY VIRTUAL PIKO – please join us

The Daily Piko helps us become centered and ready to learn. It helps us get on the same page, hearing one message of focus for the day and the week. If you are able, we begin at 8 AM everyday except Wednesday when we conduct the piko in-person.

https://hidoe.zoom.us/j/89410873182?pwd=dERWOEs2SldQdW5aZHpDM29vdWdhdz09

UPCOMING EVENTS

Wed, Aug 30, 2023, 4:30 – 5:30 PM	School Community Council Mtg – Join by Zoom
Thur, Aug 31, 2023, 9:30 AM	Royal Hawaiian Band Performance
Tue, Sept 5, 2023, 8:30 AM	Senator Akaka Foundation Book Celebration
Tue, Sept 12, 2023, 8:30 AM	Frank DeLima Performance
Fri, Sept 22, 2023	Waiver Day – No Students
Tue, Sept 26, 2023	Fall Picture Taking Day
Sat, Sept 30, 2023	Campus Beautification Day

Agreement in mind; unanimity of sentiment; union of feeling; oneness; similarity. 

Andrews, Hawaiian Dictionary, 1865

ALOHA FOCUS FOR THE WEEK: LŌKAHI

Before he passed, Uncle Pono Shim was asked to mediate between military leaders and community members protesting the poisoning of the wells beneath Red Hill. Amidst the angry outcries and the weary excuses, Uncle Pono asked for everyone’s attention. He shared his observations about the contempt each side seemed to have for the other and then said, “Despite this, do you know what we all have in common?” An impatient silence fell across the room. “None of us here caused this. This is a problem we inherited and it’s a problem only together we can solve.” Once the Lōkahi all parties shared was pointed out and acknowledged, the healing began. Discussions became more productive and progress was made.

Aunty Pilahi Paki taught Pono that Lōkahi was about how we are already connected and aloha was about acknowledging and building upon this shared connection. Whether addressing a community calamity or a dispute on the playground, we need to uncover our Lōkahi. With regards to the playground, the Lōkahi might be that everyone wants to have fun and to make friends. Depending on our age, background, interests, and social awareness, we may need to clarify what we like and don’t appreciate. Sometimes someone’s fun might be interpreted as bullying by the receiver. So the behavior needs to be pointed out and the Lōkahi needs to be acknowledge so that all can have fun.

When we teach our children to advocate for themselves in a kind yet strong manner, we help them to become leaders. They learn that they have agency in instances where they might’ve felt fear or powerlessness. Even if the interaction results in the need for our children to ask an adult to step in, they are left more empowered. And this begins with their being able to recognize the Lōkahi in any interaction.

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5 PURSUITS OF LŌKAHI:

Inspired by Gholdy Muhammad

Please watch this: Luli and the Language of Tea written by Andrea Wang  and illustrated by Hyewon Yum. Then with you child, answer the following:

• IDENTITY: What is the word(s) for tea in the language of your kupuna/ancestors?
• SKILLS: Setting is where a story takes place. What is the setting for this book? What are the story elements and picture clues that tell you where it is set?
• INTELLECT: Research the origins of tea. What part of the world did it come from? How did it spread to become one of the most popular beverages in the world?
• CRITICALITY: How is Lōkahi represented in this story and how did it bring the children together?
• JOY: Use these tea cup templates by the illustrator Hyewon Yum to design your own tea cup that represents your identity.

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DAILY VIRTUAL PIKO – please join us

With the start of the new year, we bring back Daily Virtual Piko. This practice helps us become centered and ready to learn. It helps us get on the same page, hearing one message of focus for the day and the week. If you are able, we begin at 8 AM everyday except Wednesday when we conduct the piko in-person.

https://hidoe.zoom.us/j/89410873182?pwd=dERWOEs2SldQdW5aZHpDM29vdWdhdz09

UPCOMING EVENTS

Wed, Aug 16, 2023 6:30 PM	KES Ohana Mtg – Hybrid  Attend in-person at the library -or- Attend via Zoom
Fri, Aug 18, 2023	Statehood Day – no school
Wed, Aug 30, 2023 4:30 – 5:30 PM	School Community Council Mtg – Join by Zoom

Modest, gentle, unassuming, unpretentious, unobtrusive, docile, decorous, meek, suave; meekness, modesty

Pukui, Mary Kawena, Hawaiian dictionary : Hawaiian-English, English-Hawaiian 

Aka, with, care, and hai, to speak. To be tender of heart; meek

Andrews, Lorrin, A Dictionary of the Hawaiian Language

ALOHA FOCUS FOR THE WEEK: AKAHAI

Over the span of my lifetime, there have been several seminal, world-disrupting events that left an indelible mark on how we live our lives. Some were like a bolt of lightening – blinding for a brief moment, but leaving burns and scars that never seem to heal – like 9-11. Prior to that horrific event, security around air travel was nonchalant. I remember my friends and I crowding the airport gates, hanging out until a classmate boarded the plane to fly off to college. And now, even a bottle of water can’t make it past security. 

The COVID-19 pandemic similarly had an immediately jarring effect, dismantling the economy, keeping us confined in our homes for nearly half-a-year, and claiming far more lives than any single terrorist attack. Yet, the pandemic continued on, evolved, worsened, and continued to linger even after a vaccine was discovered. Many people experienced (and continue to experience) trauma, felt burnt out, reassessed their lives, changed their careers. Consequently, many businesses lack enough employees to stay afloat.

COVID-19 similarly affected schools. Since 2020, we had four teachers quit, two staff transfer and five retire mid-year, causing us to scramble to fill those positions with the best personnel and substitutes we could find. At times, our discernment caused us to delay in hiring and left us scrambling to cover the classes and roles as best we could. Eventually, we were blessed to find talented and loving teachers but not without valuable time lost and many anxious moments. 

This year, we begin the school year adequately staffed. All homerooms are opening with wonderful and passionate teachers – some are new, but all are willing to learn and grow to provide our students rigorous, relevant learning experiences. While there are key positions that still need to be filled, such as our School Administrative Services Assistant, our devoted team stepped up to ensure school operations are not impacted and the start of school begins well.

The wonderful team we’ve put together, after years of struggle, reminds me of a quote I heard watching Ted Lasso. A character shares about how devastated he felt after his partner cheated and left him for another person. But then he started to see life differently, “I realized this thing didn’t happen to me, it happened for me.” Even in grief and trauma, we can still find pono – or hope – we can still experience akahai, grace.

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5 PURSUITS of AKAHAI:

Inspired by Gholdy Muhammad

Please watch this: The Name Jar read by the book’s author and illustrator Yangsook Choi. Then with you child, answer the following:

• IDENTITY: Do you know the meaning behind your name? Who named you and what was the reason why you were given your name?
• SKILLS: Describe the main characters in the story {looks like, feelings, thoughts, character}
• INTELLECT: Unhei immigrated to the United States from Korea. Did anyone in your family leave the home of their ancestors to come to Hawaiʻi? Where did they come fro? When did they arrive? Why did they leave their home to come here?
• CRITICALITY: “Identity is not just who we are but also who we are called to be” How might your name, be a call for you to make the world a better place?
• JOY: Follow the instructions at the end of the video and draw a self-portrait to get to know yourself.

KĀNEʻOHE ELEMENTARY ʻOHANA HANDBOOK

Please review this year’s ʻOhana Handbook prior to the start of the year. Please pay close attention to the following sections:

• Drop-Off and Pick-Up
• Attendance Policy
• Water and Snacks at Schoolincluding our celebration policy and how we ask all families to consider non-edible items when celebrating birthdays, etc. 
• Cell Phones/Smart Watches policy

DAILY VIRTUAL PIKO – please join us

With the start of the new year, we bring back Daily Virtual Piko. This practice helps us become centered and ready to learn. It helps us get on the same page, hearing one message of focus for the day and the week. If you are able, we begin at 8 AM everyday except Wednesday when we conduct the piko in-person.

https://hidoe.zoom.us/j/89410873182?pwd=dERWOEs2SldQdW5aZHpDM29vdWdhdz09

UPCOMING EVENTS

Mon, Aug 7, 2023	Castle Complex Planning and Collaboration Day, no students
Tue, Aug 8, 2023	Waiver Day, no students
Wed, Aug 9, 2023	First day of school for students Gr 1 – 6
Wed, Aug 9, 2023 4:30 – 5:30 PM	Wellness Committee Mtg – Join by Zoom
Wed, Aug 16, 2023 6:00 PM	KES Ohana Mtg – Hybrid  Attend in-person at the library Attend via Zoom
Fri, Aug 18, 2023	Statehood Day – no school
Wed, Aug 30, 2023 4:30 – 5:30 PM	School Community Council Mtg – Join by Zoom

Redup. of haʻa; low, lowly, minimum, humble, degraded, meek, unpretentious, modest, unassuming, unobtrusive; lowness, humility.

Pukui, Mary Kawena, Hawaiian dictionary : Hawaiian-English, English-Hawaiian 

ALOHA FOCUS FOR THE WEEK: HAʻAHAʻA

Our mission at Kāneʻohe Elementary is to inspire all to embrace learning and discover passions with aloha at our core. But what does that look like in practice? How do we know when we have realized this mission with our students? Sometimes students write a letter to me as part of class assignment. While wonderfully written and persuasive, I’m unsure if it stem from their passions or if they are inspired. During these times, I remind myself to be haʻahaʻa and set aside my assumptions or judgements. I look beyond the words on the paper, ask questions, and listen for passions that have been ignited. This week, I was blessed to experience that inspiration from one of our students, inspiring me to ask, “Who wants to help build Buddy Benches?”

As a teacher, one of the most fulfilling joys is seeing students’ eyes light up when they finally “got it.” When the lesson clicks and they not just understand, but can see all the different applications tied to that learning. It’s like Dorothy landing in Oz and seeing the entire world in color. For example, when I taught freshman physics, I tried to help  students see a relevance to the periodic table and the different elements. They learned that the most abundant element in the universe is hydrogen, the primary component of stars. Humans, on the other hand, are primarily composed of oxygen and carbon – much more complex elements than hydrogen. And the only way oxygen and carbon could have been created and deposited onto our planet is to be forged deep within the core of a star which then exploded, scattering its dust across the galaxies. Once students realized they were literally composed of stardust, they started to see themselves differently…more special…connected to the constellations in the night sky.

So what could top that? For a teacher, it’s getting the validation that students took something you’ve taught them and used it to make the world a better place. A few months before the pandemic, one of my former students, Jefferson, arrived on our campus unannounced. I immediately recognized him although he now sported a goatee and it had been 20 years since we last saw each other. As a ninth grader, I found Jefferson hard to read. He wasn’t one to laugh heartily or show the wonderment his classmates often emoted. Yet, Jefferson consistently asked insightful questions, hinting at the depth of thought swirling behind his somber eyes. My mind raced, wondering what brought about his visit. Jefferson told me that he had been searching for me for a couple of years. He had moved back from the continent after working there straight from college. He inquired about me back at Kailua High School, but no one he spoke with could help him. Then he saw an article about our school and tracked me to Kāneʻohe. Like it was ninth grade all over again, I could see no clue on Jefferson’s face as to why he sought me out. “I just wanted to thank you,” Jefferson announced. He said that after high school he was inspired by my science class to become a geophysicist. Now he’s working at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory measuring the hazards posed by the current eruptions. I was blown away. I had no idea that I had such an impact on him. I had only hope that something I taught was clicking. Yet, all these years later, Jefferson’s expression of appreciation and his efforts to help Hawaiʻi and the world, was way more gratifying than all of those ooos and ahs my students expressed at the time.

A few days ago, I was treated to experience this feeling once again – not for anything I had done or taught, but resulting from the efforts of one of our part-time teachers, Ms. Scarlett. Over the past semester, Ms. Scarlett, an aspiring teacher, has been working with Luke on how to be a stronger reader and as the year comes to a close, Luke felt inspired to share something with me. So he wrote it in a letter and Ms. Scarlett brought him to my office to read to me. As Luke sat in the oversized chair on the opposite side of my desk, he gingerly opened his letter and began to read. For a first grader sitting in front of the principal, Luke did his best to hide his nervousness. He recalled how hard it was to make friends, as a shy kid starting school. He wished our school had a buddy bench. He explained that a buddy bench was somewhere you could sit and show others that you wanted to form friendships. It was a way of asking someone to play without having to go up and ask them. Like in the grownup world, there are people who are outgoing and others that are more reluctant. For some shy kids, it’s difficult to overcome the fear of putting yourself out there only to be rejected. So a buddy bench helps others be haʻahaʻa to those too shy to express their feelings.

I asked Luke where he got the idea for a buddy bench. Luke explained that he read about it in a book he read with Ms. Scarlett. Right on cue, she stepped forward with the book and handed it to Luke to show me. My heart warmed. Ms. Scarlett did not just teach Luke to be a stronger reader, she inspired him through reading. Like Jefferson, Luke wants to use what he learned to make our school a better place. So, who wants to help build Buddy Benches this summer? Luke has a design and if this inspires you to act, please let me know. We are looking for funds, materials, and labor.

To show HAʻAHAʻA, 

• Empty yourself – set aside your ego
• Be thoughtful of others and their perspective
• Listen but also be watchful

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5 PURSUITS of ʻOLUʻOLU

Inspired by Gholdy Muhammad

Please watch this: The Buddy Bench written by Patty Brozo and illustrated by Mike Deas. (Note this is not the same book Maleko read) Then with you child, answer the following:

IDENTITY: Have you ever felt too shy or afraid to join others that are playing a game you want to join? Have you ever noticed other kids watching from the side and asked them if them want to join in? What have you done in those situations?

SKILLS: The Buddy Bench uses a Coupled Rhyme scheme where the end of each pair of lines rhyme. For example,

“Iʻm new here,” said Will, “and todayʻs my first day.
No one but you has asked me to play.”

“Well help us keep this kite in the air.”
“Okay,” said Will, “I’ll be right there.”

Create your own poem about doing something fun at school using a Coupled Rhyme scheme.f=]

INTELLECT: Similar to an architect or engineer, an Industrial Designer is someone who designs products like benches that are manufactured. Watch this video about a college student studying to be an Industrial Designer. 

CRITICALITY: Other than a Buddy Bench, think of other things could be used to help connect people who feel lonely or want to make friends.

JOY: In the story, the Buddy Bench says, “Buddy Bench – Nobody Alone.” Come up with a phrase you would like to see on a Buddy Bench and decorations that go along with it.

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PROJECT-BASED LEARNING IN MATH ENRICHMENT

Speaking of applying what’s being learned to better the world, our math enrichment students decided they wanted to use their math skills to raise money to support a good Samaritan who has been showing the Live Aloha spirit to people in his community. So they created different products centered around the theme of Aloha to support our school’s efforts and sold them to our staff and ohana. To ensure they could reach the goal of covering their costs while making enough for a sufficient donation, students needed to do all the calculations associated with running a business…without even a business degree. The project was a great success and the shopping was a highlight of our faculty meeting. Mahalo nui loa Math Enrichment students and their teacher, Mrs. Chinen.

MAHALO NUI LOA: Morning Traffic Volunteers

DAILY VIRTUAL PIKO RETURNS – please join us

Now that testing is over, we resume our Daily Virtual Piko. This practice helps us become centered and ready to learn. It helps us get on the same page, hearing one message of focus for the day and the week. If you are able, we begin at 8 AM everyday except Wednesday when we conduct the piko in-person.

https://hidoe.zoom.us/j/89410873182?pwd=dERWOEs2SldQdW5aZHpDM29vdWdhdz09

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Thur, May 25, 2023	6th Grade Promotion Ceremony
Fri, May 26, 2023	Schoolwide Awards Assembly (Students & Staff Only – ceremony will be posted on KES website) Last day of school

Good natured; not easily provoked; good humored as applied to a nature of ease and cheerfulness.

Andrews L., Parker H.H. A Dictionary of Hawaiian Language

In 1993, nearly two generations ago, I began my journey as an educator, teaching 9th grade Physical Science Y at Kailua High School. The “Y” meant students were segregated purportedly by “ability,” “X” being the “high” group and “Y” the “low.” As a newcomer to the school, it seemed to me that students were segregated less by their intelligence, and more by other qualities such as exposure to science,  zip code and ethnicity. This disparity was obvious to more than just me, the kids knew it as well. 

Just before the first period of the first day of school, my students raucously made their way into class as I greeted them at the door and showed them where to sit. Most of the students behaved like old friends, shaking hands, nodding heads, and smiles of acknowledgment. The tardy bell rang with just one seat vacant. Then as I turned to the chalkboard (yes – legit chalk back then) I spied a short boy of Japanese decent peaking into the door. I bade him in but before I could confirm his name, a loud, rowdy voice shouted, “Eh! You in the wrong class! Japanese kids next door!” I quickly turned my head to face the largest freshman I’d ever seen, a boy of Hawaiian descent, pouring out of his too small seat, sporting a goatee and sparkling, wary eyes. He pointed towards the “X” class. I quickly and embarrassingly said “no, no, hold on.” And asked the boy at the door for his name. I confirmed he was in our class and showed him to his seat.  

Later I took a look next door to see a class filled with students of white and Asian ancestry. My class on the other hand was filled with kids largely from Waimanalo and of Hawaiian descent. Just a few days into my teaching career and I vowed to change this gross inequity. 

Thankfully, my neighbor who taught Physical Science X was also fairly new to the school and not entrenched into the existing structure. He easily became convinced a change needed to be made. We agreed to untrack the course the next school year thus creating a more diverse mix of students in each class. Beyond feeling  this was the right thing to do, we discovered greater benefits resulting from untracking. Students’ academic performance increased so much that we could no longer detect a difference between students based on where they lived. Further, student behavior immediately improved. Students no longer felt like a “Y” student, no longer ashamed for being labeled “low”, no longer feeling stupid. 

Unfortunately, it would be many more years before 10th grade biology followed suit with one of the teachers proclaiming, “these kids will never go to college!” To which I sniped, “Who are you to decide that for them?” 

Yesterday, in her closing remarks to the graduates, one of my daughter’s bioethics professors declared, “May you forever be burdened by your knowledge of the inequities in the world. Now go out and do something.” And it reminded me of my attempts to do something as a young teacher and how my approach has changed as an older school leader. If I had approached my resistant colleagues with aloha, uncovering the lokahi we share and showing ʻoluʻolu, would change have come more quickly? Perhaps like my students who behaved better when treated with dignity, my colleagues may have been more receptive if I did not vilify them. Perhaps they’d have been more willing to change if I instead enlisted them as champions for our students. Perhaps they’d have been more willing to go out and do something.

To show ʻOLUʻOLU, 

• Stay true to your values;
• Remain strong; and
• Speak and act in kindness.

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5 PURSUITS of ʻOLUʻOLU:

Inspired by Gholdy Muhammad

Please watch this: Ho’onani: Hula Warrior written by Heather Gale and illustrated by Mika Song.Then with you child, answer the following:

IDENTITY: What role does music and dance play in your culture? Who are the people in your life who are most passionate about music and/or dance? Interview one of them and ask how it makes them feel and what it makes them think.

SKILLS: Hoʻonani’s character is based on a real personwho faced a similar challenge. So, what genre of literature would this be classified as? Fiction? Non-fiction? Something else?

INTELLECT: In this story, Hoʻonani identifies as māhū, embracing both masculine and feminine traits. In nature, many animals possess different gender traits, sometimes even changing their gender in order to survive. For example, some species of butterflies change their gender in order to increase their chances of surviving cold winters. Research an animal that changes their gender.

CRITICALITY: In the introduction the authors share their hope that we might follow the Hawaiian tradition of showing “every person the same unconditional acceptance and respect.” How might you show unconditional acceptance and respect to others?

JOY: Ho’onani shows ʻoluʻolu when she reminds herself to be “strong, sure, and steady.” What do you say to yourself to give yourself courage?

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MAHALO NUI LOA: 4TH Grade ʻOhana Camping & Hōʻike

Thank you to our dedicated 4th grade team for braving the mud and rain to put on a family camping and service event at ʻĀina Aloha o Na Lima Hana, our community partner. A huge mahalo goes out to our students and their families for joining in this building of community, centered around celebrating our studentsʻ learning. Thank you also to Uncle Mark, Aunty Lina, and their ohana for hosting this wonderful and meaningful event. 

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MAHALO NUI LOA: Campus Beautification #2

A huge thank you goes out to Jolyn Kresge, Wali Camvel, and Dee Fujinaka for organizing our second Campus Beautification event, continuing the efforts to create our Peace Trail, restore Puʻu Makani, and give Kāneʻohe Elementary much needed love. Our Navy Partners and their families came out in full force along with Uncle Estria of Mele Murals, members of our staff, and many families and students who showed akahai to our campus.

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SBA TESTING

We finalize our Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) testing this week, ending on May 19, 2023.  Please ensure your child 

• has a good nightʻs rest; 
• eats a healthy breakfast;
• bring their headphones to school; and 
• is on time for school.

Tardy students cannot take the SBA on the day they are tardy.  

Depending on our completion status, we will restart our daily virtual piko on Thursday, May 18.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Apr 25 – May 19, 2023	Smarter Balance Testing at Kāneʻohe ElementaryNo piko
Thur, May 25, 2023	6th Grade Promotion Ceremony
Fri, May 26, 2023	Awards CeremonyLast day of school