Monthly Archives: October 2025

LŌKAHI AND THE POWER OF PARAPHRASING

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To show Lōkahi, 

  1. Be curious with haʻahaʻa (empty without judgement);
  2. Thoughtfully ask questions to uncover connections;
  3. Listen to understand;
  4. Be vulnerable; and 
  5. Share to solidify connections..

ALOHA FOCUS FOR THE WEEK: LŌKAHI

Recently someone told me that I am a good listener … for a man. We shared a laughed at the qualifier she used and I can totally understand why she included it. Men often get stereotyped for not being good listeners. However, I think there are ways we can all improve, especially in how we listen.

My reputation of being a good listener started when I was in college volunteering for the YMCA. But back then, I think I was just quiet and typically ceded attention to whomever was talking. People felt comfortable being vulnerable with me, because I stood by them and didn’t say judgmental things. I also didn’t turn the attention on my story no matter how it seemed to mimic what I experienced. It wasn’t until I started teaching and took several courses in Cognitive Coaching that I realized I was only partially proficient in listening.

One of the listening competencies I needed to master was how to paraphrase. Paraphrasing is how we demonstrate our efforts to understand what is being said and our valuing of the speaker. Paraphrasing is also how we uncover connections and empathize with the speaker.

As a novice, I would echo what the speaker stated. “So what you are saying is …” and I would nearly word-for-word repeat what I heard. This was not paraphrasing. Just as being able to pronounce a word is not the same as understanding its definition, I did not show I comprehended what was shared.

Eventually, I could summarize what was voiced. “Sounds like you felt…” This was better. I grasped the speaker’s emotional state and showed empathy. But I could do better.

Now I summarize what I hear and follow-up with a question that digs deeper while demonstrating my care for the person. “You must’ve felt…How did you respond?” My question is not meant to be intrusive. I phrase it so that speaker can go as deep or shallow as they wish, without judgement. It conveys that I care how and want to be there for them. Further, I do not turn the attention back to myself unless the speak wants to hear my thoughts. 

If asked, I am willing to share something that connects and is vulnerable. But even without sharing, I also believe that I show vulnerability by demonstrating a willingness to simply listen and emotionally be there for someone. After all the lōkahi we share is the value of being heard, understood, and cared for. 

5 PURSUITS of LŌKAHI:

Inspired by Gholdy Muhammad

Please watch More Than Peach written by Bellan Woodward and illustrated by Fanny Liem. Then with you child, answer the following:

  • IDENTITY: Ask members of your ʻohana, “What crayon color would you use to match your skin color?” And “Have you ever been treated differently because of the color of your skin? How did that make you feel?”
  • SKILLS: Citing evidence from the text, how did Bellan feel when asked to pass the skin colored crayon.
  • INTELLECT: Watch how crayons are made. 
  • CRITICALITY: Watch this video featuring the author, 10 year old Bellan Woodward and how she became a crayon activist. How did she show lōkahi and ʻoluʻolu in changing how people view skin color?
  • JOY: Create a portrait that includes you, your friends and family. Use colors that captures your/their identity.

CONCRETE SUPPORTS PROGRAM

If your family has experienced a recent crisis and is in need of short-term financial assistance please know help is available. The Concrete Supports Program, can help families with non-recurring emergency needs such as:

  • Sudden loss of income or employment
  • Unexpected medical expenses
  • Death or serious illness in the family
  • Domestic violence or unsafe living situations
  • Natural disasters or fire damage
  • Urgent car repairs needed for work or school
  • Temporary inability to work due to injury or caregiving responsibilities

Eligibility:

  • TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) eligible (household income below 300% of the 2022 Federal Poverty Level)
  • At least one dependent child (0–23 years old) living in the home
  • Crisis occurred within the last 4 months

Call the Concrete Supports Program at 808-935-2188 for more information or to apply for assistance. They are open Monday-Friday, 8 – 4:30 PM

MAHALO CAMPUS BEAUTIFICATION VOLUNTEERS

A huge thank you goes out to Jolyn Kresge, Wali Camvel, Dee Fujinaka, Grace Tsubaki-Noguchi, Destiny Kuhlman, Māpuna Leong and Kalei Tim Sing for organizing our first Campus Beautification event for the year. We also owe many thanks to our families, students, Representative Scot Matayoshi, and our staff who put in a tremendous effort to show akahaito our campus. Their hana, beautified the rock garden, peace path, upper parking lot and agro-forest, making our campus to be a more inviting, positive place to learn.

THE KINDEST KID IN AMERICA LIVES IN KOʻOLAU

Check out this clip featuring Hauula student DJ Moses, deemed the Kindest Kid in America. DJ was recognized by his peers for the akahai he consistently shows everyday. From checking in with younger students to assisting his teachers to being there for his parents, DJ is an outstanding person and role model for us all.

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 KĀNEʻOHE SHIRT WEDNESDAYS

Help us build unity and show our lōkahi by wearing a shirt that celebrates Kāneʻohe on Wednesdays. Wear any previous Fun Run or grade level shirt.

WEEKLY VIRTUAL PIKO

At the Weekly 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 when we meet in-person. If you would like to share your reflections on the week’s Aloha value, please contact me.

If you’d like to celebrate the accomplishments of our students outside of the school day. Please use this link to share a brief shout-out for your child that we can share at piko.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Oct 258:30 – 12:30 PM Campus Beautification
Oct 27 – Nov 7ʻOhana-Teacher Conferences
Oct 294:30 – 5:30 PM KES SCC Mtg @Zoom
Nov 10Waiver Day #3 – no students

AKAHAI AND CORRECTING THE PAST

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To show AKAHAI, 

  1. Be thoughtful of your actions;
  2. Be friendly, caring, and nurturing;
  3. Thoughtfully ask questions to help others sharpen their thinking;
  4. Kindly share a harm a person caused so they may have an opportunity to repair it; and
  5. Leave people and places better through our interactions.

ALOHA FOCUS FOR THE WEEK: AKAHAI

When I first learned about Akahai from Uncle Pono Shim, he talked about “white glove service” a term we rarely hear nowadays due to its association to segregation. Knowing Pono’s strong moral code and proclivity towards acceptance and inclusion, he, like I, was probably not aware of this association. Instead Pono referred to it because it represented the pinnacle of customer service. Businesses that promoted themselves as providing “white glove service” suggested they treated their customers with the exceptional care, attending to all potential needs. However, the term could also be linked to the gloves symbolically worn by the servants in wealthy households and who were often of African American descent. Later, Pono reduced his use of this analogy and instead shared personal stories that modeled akahai. 

It can be alarming when we discover how phrases we commonly used actually have racist, hurtful pasts. For example, when I was a kid, many people used the term “Indian giver” to describe someone who gave something to another person but then demanded it back. We did not realize that this derogatory term resulted from the colonists’ misunderstanding of the Native American system of bartering. When Native Americans presented their valued goods such as plant cuttings to the colonists, the colonists thought their were meager gifts. However, the Natives thought they were initiating trade and were expecting to receive goods in turn that were of equal value. When this did not occur, the Natives figured the colonists were not interested in trading and withdrew their valuables. The colonists then developed an unfair negative stereotype of this action and used it to describe any instance of selfishness or stinginess.

Beyond words, even everyday objects like lawn jockeys or the old Aunt Jemima syrup bottles mask a racist past. On an episode of This American Life, producer Neil Drumming and rapper Breeze Brewin reflect upon the toys they played with as kids that enabled racist symbolism to become normalized. As kids, they religiously watched the Dukes of Hazzard, a TV show featuring a couple of “good ‘ole boys never meanin’ no harm” yet constantly getting in trouble with the law. Filled with chase scenes and outrageous stunts, the show seemed like a live-action version of the Road Runner cartoons. To Drumming and Breeze, the actual star of the show was The General Lee, a souped up car with the Confederate Flag painted on its roof. Both coming from African American families begged their parents for models of the car so they could pretend they were zooming across the countryside, jumping over brooks, and evading the sheriff. It was only years later did the two realize their coveted toy blatantly honored a general who led a hateful, seditious cause that despite failing, continues to plague the descendants of enslaved people.

Now that many of these phrases and objects are no longer popular or in use, it would be very easy to pretend that I never taunted my friends calling them an “Indian Giver” or thought The General Lee car was cool. Yet, doing so would be dishonest and rob me of the empathy for those that make hurtful mistakes – both unwitting and intentional. Being akahai is about showing kindness and forgiveness for all, starting with ourselves.

Despite being skilled and intuitive, Pono sometimes had his own challenges consistently practicing aloha. Once he relayed to me how he was stubbornly against meeting with a prominent leader in the community. But through the encouragement of a loved one, he reflected upon his reasons, acknowledging his ego and fears. He then committed to show akahai to both himself and the leader. As a result, Pono described his meeting as one of the most significant and momentous of his life. Like Pono; like myself; we all have egos, fears, failures that hold us back. But with akahai, we can acknowledge them, use our regret as an enduring lesson, and then proceed in doing better. 

5 PURSUITS of AKAHAI:

Inspired by Gholdy Muhammad

Please watch Big Red Lollipop written by Rukhsana Khan and illustrated by Sophie Blackall. Then with you child, answer the following:

  • IDENTITY: In the book, despite experiencing hurt, Rubina shows akahai to Sana. Talk with your kūpuna or makua about how your family shows akahai.
  • SKILLS: Citing evidence from the text, what reasons do you think Rubina stops receiving birthday invitations from her friends at school?
  • INTELLECT: The author was born in Lahore, Pakistan. Find Pakistan and Lahore on a map. How can you tell that the family is from Pakistan?
  • CRITICALITY: The author addresses cultural misunderstandings in the story. Watch BIG RED LOLLIPOP: In defense of the Mother
  • JOY: Watch the author sharing Sana’s version of Big Red Lollipop and learn about how this is based on a true story.

UNITY DAY

Every year on October 22, schools across the nation celebrate Akahai (kindness, inclusion and acceptance) to prevent bullying. We are asking everyone to join us in this effort and wear something orange whether a t-shirt, hat, wristband, socks, ribbon, etc.. Together, let’s send a unified message that our Kāneʻohe Elementary community strives to show akahai to all and that we are against disrespect, harassment, and bullying of any kind.

RAISING MONEY-SMARK KIDS: A FAMILY GUIDE TO FINANCIAL LITERACY

Check out this month’s NAESP Beyond the Bell: Financial literacy is about helping children build a healthy relationship with money that will serve them for life. Starting early and tailoring lessons to your child’s developmental stage can make learning about money fun, engaging, and meaningful.

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 KĀNEʻOHE SHIRT WEDNESDAYS

Help us build unity and show our lōkahi by wearing a shirt that celebrates Kāneʻohe on Wednesdays. Wear any previous Fun Run or grade level shirt.

WEEKLY VIRTUAL PIKO

At the Weekly 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 when we meet in-person. If you would like to share your reflections on the week’s Aloha value, please contact me.

If you’d like to celebrate the accomplishments of our students outside of the school day. Please use this link to share a brief shout-out for your child that we can share at piko.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Oct 20Waiver Day#2 – no students
Oct 22Unity Day – Wear Orange for Akahai and Prevent Bullying 5:30 – 6:30 PM KES Wellness Committee Mtg @KES Library
Oct 24KES Ohana Pumpkin Craft Night Sign-up to volunteer here.
Oct 258:30 – 12:30 PM Campus Beautification
Oct 27 – Nov 7ʻOhana-Teacher Conferences
Oct 294:30 – 5:30 PM KES SCC Mtg @Zoom
Nov 10Waiver Day #3 – no students

AHONUI OF SAVING HAWAIʻI’S ECOSYSTEM

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To show AHONUI, 

  1. Take a deep and cleansing breath – aho;
  2. Picture a cool and gentle wave washing over you, rinsing away temptations, anger and/or stress;
  3. Relax your muscles;
  4. Be observant of yourself and what you are feeling;
  5. Be observant of others and the world around you; and
  6. Act when it is the right time

ALOHA FOCUS FOR THE WEEK: AHONUI

Recently, I attended a workshop on Uhauhumu Pohaku by Phillip Kapu. But instead of immediately teaching us about how to build a rock wall, kumu asked, “Can you name the insects pictured here?”

Immediately, everyone could name the Monarch Butterly pictured in the upper right corner. Some even stated it by its name in ʻolelo Hawaiʻi, pulelehua. Everyone could enthusiastically identify the crownflower as the plant its caterpillar feeds on.

Yet, no one, not one single person could name the other insects. As we sat in the heavy silence, kumu began to share about the insect immediately below the Monarch. Formally known as Hyposmocoma tantalaor more generally as the fancy case caterpillar, this moth endemic to Hawaiʻi was only discovered a decade ago. A scientist found this moth in the kuahiwi of Mānoa, where it spends much of its larval stage underwater. As a caterpillar, it behaves like a snail, surrounding itself with a protective “case” of sand, branches, algae and lichen.

Kumu went on to share about the other two moths to the right of the Monarch. The moth in the middle, Scotorythra paludicola or Koa Moth, is endemic, pili to the leaves of koa trees and can sometimes defoliate entire swaths of the forest. The moth in the upper right corner, Eccoptocera ohiaha or Hawaiian Leaf-roller moth, is endemic, pili to the ʻohiʻa and was one of seven leaf-roller moths discovered in the past few years. 

Kumu asked why would all of us know all about the Monarch, a non-native species of butterfly introduced to Hawaiʻi in the 1840s. Yet, none of us could name species native and endemic to our islands, many of which are struggling to survive. As an educator, I believe it is important to teach our students about animals from across the world as they feature prominently in stories, science and popular culture. Equal to this, is the significance of teaching them about the species that exist here in their home. These moths illustrate the uniqueness, fragility and resilience of the Hawaiian ecosystem. 

The bottom middle moth, Tinostoma smaragditis or fabulous green sphinx of Kauaʻi, was thought to be extinct for decades, was rediscovered in 1998. It is pili to the ʻōlulu, which in the 1970s, because of deforestation and invasive predators had been nearly decimated in the wild. Resultantly, the fabulous green sphinx of Kauaʻi also disappeared. One solitary plant was found on the inaccessible, sheer cliffs above the ocean. With out the moth, the plant had no way of reproducing. So scientists hand pollinated the plant and successfully propagated it such that today, you can purchase one as a house plant. The ʻōlulu is still considered endangered and similarly, sitings of the fabulous green sphinx of Kauaʻi are rare.

The last moth is the Aumakua omaomao, an endemic species found in 1980. It too is rarely seen in the wild, yet in 2023, when conservationists began propagating the critically endangered native hāhā plant, the Kauaʻi ‘amakihi and the ‘aumakua moth returned.

Ahonui calls us to act when the time is right, a component to being actively patient; as lawaiʻa watching the kai as they ready their throw net; as mahi ʻai observing the phases of the moon with a ready supply of huli.  We are being called to act. As native and endemic species of animals and plants are increasingly being displaced by invasive organisms, the time to learn more and act decisively has come.

5 PURSUITS of AHONUI:

Inspired by Gholdy Muhammad

In honor of primatologist Jane Goodall’s passing, please watch The Watcher: Jane Goodall’s Life with the Chimps written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter. Then with you child, answer the following:

  • IDENTITY: Hawaiian ancestors practiced kilo to learn about nature and help them better care for the ʻāina. The Japanese practiced Shoshin by being curious and open to new experiences similar to a toddler. Talk with your kupuna about how your ancestors practiced observation and for what purposes.
  • SKILLS: In real life, Dr. Leakey selected Jane Goodall to study the chimpanzees because she could show ahonui and be haʻahaʻa. From the story, provide evidence of that and other ALOHA values Jane practiced in her study and protection of the chimpanzees.
  • INTELLECT: Like the chimpanzees, many Native Hawaiian animals and plants are endangered. Research one Native Hawaiian species in particular.
  • CRITICALITY: Jane Goodall spoke out and educated others on how and why the chimpanzees must be protected. How might you help protect the many endangered Native Hawaiian animals and plants?
  • JOY: With your kupuna, take a hike in your community and practice nature journaling.

HOʻOMAIKAʻI 4TH GRADE TEAM FOR SHARING ʻIKE

Last week, 300 teachers, school leaders, and community partners gathered at the Kamehameha Middle School for the He Aliʻi ka ʻĀina Educator Conference. Amongst the abundance of amazing presenters sharing their experiences and ʻike were our very own 4th Grade Team: Jenn Keawe, Tricia Kreidler, and Grace Tsubaki-Noguchi. They shared a unit of study they’d been working on for the past two years that engaged students in growing an agroforest at the top of our campus with the purpose of propagating food crops to address food security issues our community faces. As a finale to their informatively practical presentation, they invited one of their former students, Oliver Padilla, to share his ʻĀina Talk that expressed how much he values ʻĀina Education. Both of their sessions were filled to capacity and garnered a wealth of positive comments. Hoʻomaikaʻi and mahalo piha 4th Grade Team!

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 KĀNEʻOHE SHIRT WEDNESDAYS

Help us build unity and show our lōkahi by wearing a shirt that celebrates Kāneʻohe on Wednesdays. Wear any previous Fun Run or grade level shirt.

WEEKLY VIRTUAL PIKO

At the Weekly 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 when we meet in-person. If you would like to share your reflections on the week’s Aloha value, please contact me.

If you’d like to celebrate the accomplishments of our students outside of the school day. Please use this link to share a brief shout-out for your child that we can share at piko.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Oct 155:30 – 6:30 PM KES Ohana Mtg via Zoom
Oct 175:30 – 7:30 PM ʻOhana Eureka Math Night @KES Cafe
Oct 1810 – 3 PM Gr 6 Mākeke
Oct 20Waiver Day#2 – no students
Oct 24KES Ohana Pumpkin Craft Night Sign-up to volunteer here.
Oct 27 – Nov 7ʻOhana-Teacher Conferences