‘A’ohe hua o ka mai’a i ka la ho’okahi #143
Bananas do not fruit in a single day.
A retort to an impatient person
Pukui, Mary Kawena, (1983). ʻŌlelo Noʻeau
ALOHA FOCUS FOR THE WEEK: AHONUI
My friends and I leaned our backs against a hollow-tile wall crouching in the middle of a line that stretched around the corner, the beginning no where in sight. We had been waiting since sunrise, with the hope of getting into the first show. But dozens of people camped out from the night before, something our parents would have never allowed. Even if we miss the first show, but catch the second or third, soon our three year wait would be over.
It seemed like an eternity since we last saw Star Wars at this very same theater, The Cinerama. As a third grader, Star Wars captured my imagination as also it enthralled all of my friends’. The year it came out, every summer birthday party I attended featured going to the Cinerama to see it. Back then, there were no streaming videos and no on-demand movies. Once it left the theater, you probably wouldn’t see the movie again. So when the news broke that a second installment was forthcoming in three years, my friends and I felt a mixture of excitement and frustration. Three years to an eight year old is an eternity. But at least we could cling to the hope that our imaginations would once again be set alit when the sequel premiered.
Finally, the wait was nearly over and my friends and I concocted a plan to see it on the day of its debut. As early as our parents would allow, we caught the bus into town and merged into an already lengthy line. As we waited, we talked about the last film, shared our predictions, and mostly sat in long periods of silence. Keep in mind handheld electronics and mobile phones were years away from being invented. All we had to keep us occupied were coins, playing cards, string, and our imagination. Time passed differently in those days.
Today, my children have no concept of what it means to wait like this for something to happen. In some ways this is a good thing. They can create their moment. They have more power over what occupies their time. Heck, I am thankful I can watch any of the Star Wars movies whenever I like and wherever I am at the moment. But in other, more significant ways, this limits us. We can’t create every moment nor can we control all variables. A banana still operates on its own time. We can’t point our electronics at it to get it to ripen…at least not yet. Hence, it’s valuable to get out in the real, analog world where we are forced to practice waiting and observing to determine the right time to act. Ahonui requires us to be mindful of others and also of ourselves. It has us using our observations to inform our naʻau, our gut, to determine when is the most opportune time to speak or do something.
Devices get in the way of this process. It makes us less observant. It dulls our senses. It keeps us from deepening our connections. Ahonui is truly analog. We must disconnect in order to connect.
5 PURSUITS of AHONUI:
Inspired by Gholdy Muhammad
In honor of Women’s History Month, I will be featuring stories written by and featuring prominent women of history.
Please watch Shark Lady:The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Oceans Most Fearless Scientist written Jess Keating and illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguéns. Then with you child, answer the following:
- IDENTITY: Talk to you kupuna about what the ocean means to each of you and your family.
- SKILLS: What are some unfamiliar words from this text? What do you think they mean based on the story? Look them up in the dictionary to find their definition.
- INTELLECT: Create a Tree Map of different species of sharks including the ones from this book and their qualities and the myths about sharks that Dr. Eugenie Clark dispelled
- CRITICALITY: Born in 1922 to a Japanese mother and white, American father, Dr. Eugenie Clark faced several forms of discrimination as she strived to become a marine biologist. What lessons might we learn from Eugenie Clark that helped her eventually succeed despite these obstacles.
- JOY: Visit the Waikiki Aquarium or take a virtual visit to either the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago or the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
MAHALO NUI LOA FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR FUN RUN
(Note – the date of our rescheduled Fun Run is to be determined)
As in year’s past, this year’s Fun Run remains a day our students and school look forward to all year. This event helps us raise a considerable amount of money that in the past helped us keep our technology up-to-date, replace the crumbling stage curtain, and installed new ceiling fans in the cafe. This year, the money will assist one of the schools in Lahaina restock supplies lost in the fire, expand our library collection, and install a new sound system in our cafeteria. Thank you to all who have generously contributed to our efforts and encouraged their friends and extended families to also support.
Mahalo also goes out to our teachers who coordinated efforts in the classroom and gratitude especially goes out to our Fun Run Committee, organized by Ms. Shigezawa. Together they have collaborated to ensure our students have an awesome, truly fun day along with vibrant t-shirts and swag. Their efforts are truly appreciated.
CRICKETS WHEN YOU ASK “HOW WAS YOUR DAY?” TRY THESE
If your child is anything like mine, it’s difficult to elicit more than a one word answer. “Good” “Fine” “Meh” Sometimes, to get him to talk, I need to delve into different topics, subjects he likes, teachers he has strong opinions about. This Edutopia article makes several different suggestions including limiting yourself to just one or two questions per day, asking during a time when both of you can focus on the conversation like dinner, validate their feelings (even if you wouldn’t have felt the same), and ask for more (“I’d love to hear more about that…”). Read all the tips here plus sample questions to ask here.
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, Mar 27, 2024 | 5 PM KES School Community Council Meeting 6 PM KES Ohana Meeting – Join in-person at the Library or Online |
| Thur, April 4, 2024 | 6 – 7 PM A Night of Kindness – presented by our Wellness Committee |
| Fri, April 5, 2024 | 5 – 8:30 PM 6th Gr Movie Night |
| Fri, Apr 19, 2024 | 2:20 – 3:50 PM STEM Hōʻike Ohana Visitation |
| Apr 22 – May 10 | Smarter Balance Assessment testing |