Good natured; not easily provoked; good humored as applied to a nature of ease and cheerfulness.
Parker, A Dictionary of the Hawaiian Language, 1865
ALOHA FOCUS FOR THE WEEK: ʻOLUʻOLU
Think of time when a loved one shared great news with you about a long, hard earned accomplishment: perhaps a child earned their college degree or maybe someone got a promotion at work. Maybe someone finally was diagnosed cancer free. That warmth and joy you felt – where did that come from? Was it created in your heart? Or did your loved one somehow, in the sharing, pass it along interwoven within their words?
I first heard Dr. Manulani Meyer speak at a H-PEP seminar on wellness where she served as the keynote. A student of Aunty Pilahi Paki, Dr. Meyer spoke about aloha mai, aloha aku or how when aloha is given, aloha is simultaneously received. It’s as if aloha is a brilliant spark that is created through our loving, compassionate exchanges. In other words, aloha is something we create together through our interactions – with our loved ones, our co-workers, even strangers we just meet. It’s created through our interactions with the ʻāina, the wai, the air, the plants, and the animals – especially when we fulfill our duty to care for this place.
Given the effort and strife required to truly care for a place or another person, it would be a mistake to think of aloha as purely gentle or passive. Earning a college degree takes discipline and sacrifice. Getting promoted at work takes teamwork, dedication, and courage. Becoming cancer-free takes devotion, resilience and endurance. Yet these are all acts of aloha.
As an educator, I feel the aloha created when students show leadership on campus and guide others in making good choices. I feel the aloha created when students gain confidence when finally mastering a skill they initially struggled with. I feel the aloha created students start rethinking their harmful words and actions and instead do service for others. To get students there, it takes ʻoluʻolu, a balance of empathy and discipline. It takes consistent, intentional modeling and teaching from our staff and myself.
It’s a fact that there will always be students who struggle learning something. It’s a fact that there will always be students who do or say harmful things. It’s a fact that there will always be a learning need that necessitates fulfillment. Fulfilling these needs is the purpose of a school. This is our kuleana. We teach, we model, we care and with ʻoluʻolu we create aloha.
5 PURSUITS of LŌKAHI
Inspired by Gholdy Muhammad
Please watch this: ABDUL’S STORY read by it’s author Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, illustrated by Tiffany Rose. Then with you child, answer the following:
- IDENTITY: In the book, Abdul has a talent for telling stories about the people and places around him. Talk with you kupuna and share your favorite stories about the people and places around you.
- SKILLS: The author states, ”Erasers are a big problem for Abdul.” Using evidence from the text, why are erasers, which can be very helpful, a big problem for Abdul?
- INTELLECT: Research where erasers come from and how they are produced.
- CRITICALITY: Like Abdul, there are people that are sometimes dismissed or looked down upon because they seem not able to do certain things. However, Mr. Muhammad, the writer from the story, sees the genius within Abdul and helps him bring it out. Name the genius you see in others, especially those you might have previously dismissed.
- JOY: Create a drawing and story of yourself as a superhero. Include the people in your family and/or neighborhoods in your story.
CONTINUED PRACTICES:
NOʻAHUNA OF ALOHA
See Uncle Pono Shim explain the Noʻahuna, the esoteric meaning, of Aloha as taught to him by Aunty Pilahi, the Keeper of Secrets.
WEAR PINK FOR MAUI WEDNESDAYS
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
At the Daily Piko, we share thoughts on the Aloha value for the week which helps us become centered and ready to learn. We begin at 8 AM everyday except Wednesdays.
UPCOMING EVENTS
| Wed, Dec 13, 2023, 4:30 PM | Wellness Committee Meeting Join by Zoom |
| Mon, Dec 18, 2023, 5 PM | School Community Council Meeting Join by Zoom |
| Wed, Dec 20, 2023 | Winter Classroom Paina end school at 2:05 PM (switch with 12/21) |
| Thur, Dec 21, 2023 | Winter Songfest end school at 1:15 PM (switch with 12/20) End of Quarter 2 |
| Dec 22, 2023 – Jan 5, 2024 | Winter Break Intersession – no school |
| Mon, Jan 8, 2024 | Waiver Day #3 – No Students |