Category Archives: Lokahi

Lōkahi, often translated as unity and expressed with a feeling of harmony, helps us understand that all of us are part of a life force that is unbroken, even when some of us feel separated from the group. With lōkahi, we support and accept each other in acknowledgement of this unbrokenness and work together in love.

Aloha At Home

ALOHA FOCUS FOR THE WEEK: LŌKAHI

Unusually large for a fifth grader, he was shaped like a bull mastiff. He stood a head shorter than me but his girth was twice as wide. His arms were thick, the size of my thighs and each of his fists could easily eclipse my face. He walked with his chest puffed out and head tilted back. Though new to our school, everyone knew and was afraid of Sam. He had few friends since most feared his taunts and threats. I too attempted to be where he was not. 

When I saw him picking on other kids, I walked in the other direction. Instead of letting our teacher know, I pretended not to see anything. Yet, there was a limit to how much I could go unnoticed. As the second tallest kid in my grade level, I was not inconspicuous. Additionally, there was a girl I demonstrably liked. Michelle liked me back and we spent much of our recesses, playing tag together.

One day, as the recess bell rang, signaling the time to return to class, I dillydallied, walking beside Michelle, attempting to prolong our minutes together. Then, suddenly, I felt a sharp blow between my shoulder blades as I tumbled to the ground. Sam stood above me, taunting me to get up and fight. Michelle yelled at him to stop and he replied with a forceful shove to her chest. As he towered over us, laughing at Michelle, I felt nothing but blind rage. Fueled by adrenaline, I quickly leapt to my feet, grabbed Sam’s shirt with both hands and lifted him into the air until we were eye-to-eye. He surprisingly cowered and promised never to bother us again. Hands still shaking with shock, I let him go. I stood there, hyperventilating, watching Sam run back to class. I didn’t realize it but blood poured down from my nose, probably from slamming into the ground. Michelle hurried me to the health room where I admitted to what I had done.

I share this story not to boast or to serve as a model for what our kids should do. To the contrary, I look back and feel ashamed for my many acts of cowardice that in the end caused me to thoughtlessly react with anger. Had I struck Sam and he fought back, or if Michelle further intervened, things could have easily escalated and resulted in much greater harm. As a bystander, I had many opportunities to stand up to Sam or ask an adult for their help. I choose to do nothing.

One of most common questions I get while providing school tours for parents and care givers of prospective kindergarteners is, “What is bullying like at your school and how do you handle it?” When I was a new principal, this question unnerved me. I wanted to be honest, but wondered how other principals answered this question. Did they downplay it, touting the kindness of their students? Did they avoid a direct answer by replying that they have a zero-tolerance policy for bullying? How did I instill confidence knowing that our efforts to extinguish bullying behaviors is a constant work-in-progress? 

I also thought about my own personal experiences with bullying, for myself as well as what happened with my daughter and son. As a father, what did I expect of my children’s school?

Today, I am forthright. I let families know that bullying exists at our school just as it exists at any school you go to. Despite persistent efforts to stamp it out and to exclaim having zero tolerance, bullying persists because it is most likely an evolutionary trait. Bullying offered an advantage to those seeking power, a greater share of food, and the ability to reproduce. Even today, kids who bully are rewarded with popularity, confidence, and ruling by fear.

Hence, to eliminate bullying, we cannot just not tolerate its existence. Instead, we must proactively strive to educate our students to act with Aloha by honoring our lōkahi, our universal desire for respect, agency and kindness. To do this, our efforts involve both the perpetrator and the victim.

In my experience as an educator, no perpetrator of bullying ever admits their actions are designed to inflict harm. Often they say they were playing, trying be funny, or just having fun. So it’s important they hear from the victim how their actions are actually being perceived. It’s vital they understand the harm they are causing. It’s also critical for   them to hear from the victim how the harm can be addressed and peace restored. Over time, the perpetrator should self-assess their behavior, as they set a goal to act with aloha and not harm others.

For the victim, a sense of empowerment must be instilled. Victims of bullying must feel like they can stand up to those who harm them without fear of reprisal. At first, this may  likely require the aide of an adult. But eventually, we want our children to act with independence. We do this by teaching them tools they can use to address bullying, like the Peace Path. 

Parents and care givers can also powerfully contribute to these efforts by modeling kindness and rewarding kids who show aloha with praise and attention. When we treat others (especially our children) with aloha, they follow in suit. When you express admiration for those who show akahai, they will endeavor to gain your praise by showing grace as well. 

Fifty million years ago, the ancestors of whales and dolphins walked the land on four legs. Then within 10 million years, a relative blink of an eye on an evolutionary scale, these animals returned to the water, lost their legs and became truly aquatic creatures. The abundance of food found in the water seemed to drive this change. Similarly, with the right conditions, the evolutionary drivers of bullying can be reversed. By teaching, modeling, and praising acts of aloha, we too can make changes on a monumental scale.

5 PURSUITS of LŌKAHI

Inspired by Gholdy Muhammad

Please watch this: Sakamoto’s Swim Club: How a Teacher Led an Unlikely Team to Victory written by Julie Abery, illustrated by Chris Sasaki and read by our very own Academic Coach, Ms. Miyuki Sekimitsu. Then with you child, answer the following:

• IDENTITY: Ask your kupuna who was their favorite teacher growing up and why that person was their favorite.
• SKILLS: Using a similar poetry structure used by the author (4 lines with 3 to 4 syllables per line), write a poem about your favorite sport or PE activity.
• INTELLECT: What does “regime” mean?
• CRITICALITY: How did Coach Sakamoto provide children of migrant sugarcane workers opportunities to learn teamwork and attain their Olympic dreams? 
• JOY: With a kupuna, go swimming.

THE SCIENCE OF STUDENT MOTIVATION

What truly motivates students? According to psychologist David Yeager, students crave status and respect. When students feel respected for what they can contribute, when they feel they truly belong, students will work hard to meet high expectations. However, when they feel contempt or mistreated, they will not put in an effort. 

For example, Yeager cites a study that asked, “ʻWhat happens in the teenage brain when your mom is nagging you?ʻ

So they had moms pre-record themselves completing the sentence, “What bothers me about you is . . .” and then they brought the teenage daughters in and had them listen to their mom’s actual audio finishing that sentence. Approximately 0% of teenage girls said, “You know what, Mom, you have a point. I’m really glad we had this chat and I’m going to change everything. So, thanks for the laundry list of my flaws.” So that didn’t happen. 

Instead, what you saw was teenagers experiencing increases in blood flow signifying greater activation in regions of the brain related to anger and decreases in regions related to thinking and planning. So kids aren’t making a plan to change their behaviors, and they’re not spending any cognitive effort trying to understand what their mom really wants. 

That tends to suggest that the communication styles we resort to when we’re at our most exasperated are the very conversation styles that undercut their motivation.”

Read more about The Science of Student Motivation 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 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.

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

UPCOMING EVENTS

To be alike; to be agreed; to be of one mind; to be in union or unison 

Andrews, Hawaiian Dictionary, 1865

ALOHA FOCUS FOR THE WEEK: LŌKAHI

This weekend, my girlfriend and I were blessed to participate in a community work day at Pālehua. Though outside the ahupuaʻa in which we live and work, the day provided an opportunity to experience conservation efforts similar to what we are attempting in Kāneʻohe. While immersed in the hana of pulling out invasives and planting lonomea and ʻaʻaliʻi, we bathed in connecting with those that joined in the effort. 

Pālehua sits within the Honouliuli ahupuaʻa, and features a pā where people gathered to observe the rising and falling of the Makali’i or Pleiades constellation that marked the beginning and end of the Makahiki season. Aligned with the practices of Makahiki, Pālehua is tranquil and a place dedicated to agriculture. 

At 2,400 feet above sea level, Pālehua is 24 times higher than Kāneʻohe and thus far cooler. The air is also drier, feeding different types of vegetation such as eucalyptus, iron wood, and kiawe. It is the home of the Oʻahu ʻelepaio, a bird primarily found in this area and whom can be seen foraging in pairs from tree to tree. Here the endangered Achatinella mustelina, a species of kāhuli endemic to the Wai‘anae Mountains, resides in armored enclosures sheltering them from predators such as rats, Jackson Chameleons, and rosy wolfsnails. 

Despite distinct differences, there is much Pālehua and Kāneʻohe share.  Both hold spiritual significance and are protected by caretakers rich with ʻike Hawaiʻi. In both, people gather to plant, to share, to play, and to learn. In both, we struggle to preserve culture and ways of life that promote sustainability, peace, and care for one another. In both, by serving the ʻāina we honor indigenous practices and cultivate deeper connections to our shared kuleana.

At the start of the morning, before mud stained our knees and brows sparkled with sweat, we gathered in circle. Folks shared where they were from and what they hoped to learn from the experience. Most reside in the Honouliuli ahupuaʻa but others journeyed as far as Brooklyn, New York and one person originally came from France. Notwithstanding the miles each traveled to Pālehua, each endeavored to pay respect to the area through their service. And by the end, each gleaned wisdom from Alia, our guide for the day. From bits of laʻau lapaʻau applications of the plants we encountered to the moʻolelo of the area, we each grew in our appreciation for Pālehua and the need to continue its restoration. 

5 PURSUITS of LŌKAHI

Inspired by Gholdy Muhammad

Please watch this: When Harriet Met Sojourner written by Catherine Clinton and illustrated by Shane W. Evans. Then with you child, answer the following:

• IDENTITY: The author imagines Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth’s meeting as one defined by “a kinship that went deeper than language; perhaps deeper than blood; a kinship of spirit” in other words, their lōkahi. Ask your kūpuna to share a story about a person with whom they might have a similar kinship.
• SKILLS: Citing evidence from the text, in what ways were Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth’s lives similar.
• INTELLECT: As the author states, Harriet Tubman was only one of the conductors of the Underground Railroad. Check out this site and learn about a few other people who were “upstanders”, bravely leading enslaved people to their freedom. 
• CRITICALITY: How might we follow in Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth’s footsteps and standup against hate today? 
• JOY: As Dr. Cruz (the narrator) suggests, write a love letter to yourself from a kupuna. Imagine what they would appreciate about you and advice they might have to offer.

UNLEASH THE DATA DETECTIVE IN YOUR CHILD

Could your child become a Data Scientist, one of the emerging, in-demand careers? You can help your keiki get headstart right now according to the National Association of Elementary School Principals. 

“The home is a treasure trove of opportunities for kids to explore the fascinating world of data. In this Report to Parents, find simple, home-based activities—divided out by age group—families can use to nurture this vital skill set in their children.”

IN THE NEWS

Check out this article in last week’s MidWeek about two of our alumni that are giving back to Kāneʻohe by returning to read and inspire our first graders.

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.

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

UPCOMING EVENTS

Everything in the reef is connected. The fish rely on the reef to survive. The fish, the water, the reef, and the land are interconnected. There is lōkahi when the ecosystem is healthy.

Ke Ku‘una Na‘au

On September 17, 1959, less than a month after Hawaiʻi became a state, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited Honolulu and spoke to members of our legislature. Looking across his interracial audience, far different from the politicians on the continent, Dr. King lauded Hawaiʻi as “a noble example” of progress “in the area of racial harmony and racial justice.” During his speech to the House of Representatives, Dr King said, “This [solving racial inequality] is not our struggle today to free 17,000,000 Negroes. It’s bigger than that. We are seeking to free the soul of America. Segregation debilitates the white man as well as the Negro. We are to free all men, all races and all groups. This is our responsibility and this is our challenge and we look to this great new state in our Union as the example and as the inspiration. As we move on in this realm, let us move on with the faith that this problem can be solved and that it will be solved, believing firmly that all reality hinges on moral foundations and we are struggling for what is right and we are destined to win.”

ALOHA FOCUS FOR THE WEEK: LŌKAHI

Pono Shim taught us that amongst its many definitions, lōkahi is “a desire for harmony from within and from that peaceful place looking for the “one story” or the “story from heaven’s perspective” where there are no sides (walls, prejudices, biases, silos, agendas).” To this end, Dr. King sought to find the lōkahi – the heavenly perspective – on how we are to live with each other, treat one another and heal all. 

While Dr. King regarded Hawaiʻi as model for the rest of the nation, he also noted in his speech, “You see, it would be a fact for me to say we have come a long, long way but it wouldn’t be telling the truth. A fact is the absence of contradiction but truth is the presence of coherence. Truth is the relatedness of facts. Now, it is a fact that we have come a long, long way but in order to tell the truth, it is necessary to move on and say we have a long, long way to go. If we stop here, we would be the victims of a dangerous optimism. We would be the victims of an illusion wrapped in superficiality. So, in order to tell the truth, it’s necessary to move on and say we have a long, long way to go.”

Dr. King praised advances made in the effort to pass the Civil Rights Act, eliminating lynching of blacks, strengthening voter right laws, and increasing economic prosperity of Americans of African descent. But then he countered those advances with areas still alarmingly in deficit including the bombing of churches, homes, and schools that were occurring in the South; continued efforts to suppress voting; continued lack of economic opportunities; and the continuation of segregation. Keep in mind, that when Dr. King spoke, passage of the Civil Rights Act was still five years away, African Americans were still being denied service at lunch counters, and racially biased housing   practices were still in effect well into the 1970s and beyond.

Perhaps as Dr. King looked across the legislators, he may have noted out of the 51 members of the House, only two were women. He may have also saw that while Caucasians were in the minority, Japanese Americans formed the vast majority while Native Hawaiians comprised 10% of the body, despite making up at least 20% of the overall population. Other racial groups such as those of Filipino descent were largely under represented. Perhaps unbeknownst to Dr. King, examples of segregation in Hawaiʻi’s schools were within three mile radius of the capitol. English Standard Schools were on their last legs but still guaranteed children whose parents spoke English (and were largely Caucasian) did not need to intermingle with those of recent, non-English speaking immigrants. As a state, we may had been further ahead than those on the continent, but in terms of being a manifestation of Dr. King’s dream, we still had (and have) a long, long way to go.

Eventually, when Dr. King returned home, he shared with is congregation what he saw in Hawaiʻi. He may have taken an overly optimistic perspective, but it is still one that feels true and defines the heavenly view we strive to attain. “As I looked at all of these various faces and various colors mingled together like the waters of the sea, I could see only one face– the face of the future!” (“Dr. King Reports on Trip to Hawaii,” Dexter Echo, 4 November 1959).

5 PURSUITS of LŌKAHI

Inspired by Gholdy Muhammad

Please watch this: The Boxitechs written and illustrated by Kim Smith. Then with you child, answer the following:

• IDENTITY: What are different ways your family works together? Think of several examples and explain the role each person in your family plays. 
• SKILLS: What caused Meg and Simone to decide to collaborate? Why do you think Meg thought it would be a better idea than working by herself? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.
• INTELLECT: What is the difference between cooperation and collaboration?
• CRITICALITY: The kupuna in ancient times worked together in the ahupuaʻa to sustainably feed themselves and help each other survive. Today, what lessons from the past could we use to solve the problems our community face today?
• JOY: Work with someone in your family to build something creative out of cardboard. 

INVITATION TO SHARE

Every morning at piko, we invite students and staff to share their stories and reflection on the Aloha Focus of the Week. Starting this week, we invite ʻohana to join in the sharing. At minimum, we encourage you to talk with your children about the Aloha value and positively reinforce their practice. However, if you would like to share with our school community, please email or call me to schedule a time for your sharing – even if it’s to ask if I can share your message on your behalf. I look forward to hearing from you.

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.

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

He waiwai nui ka lōkahi #977

Unity is a precious possession

Pukui, Mary Kawena, (1983). ʻŌlelo Noʻeau

ALOHA FOCUS FOR THE WEEK: LŌKAHI

Transferring to a new school can be scary, especially if you are in an upper grade. Friendships and cliques have already been established. You do not know who you might get along with or if anyone has common interests as you. Yet, it may take a few days or even a few weeks, but eventually new friendships blossom like the purple bells on a Jacaranda tree. Like the Jacaranda flowers, however, many of those friendships are ephemeral. They last a season or even throughout your school years. But a few span decades and stay vibrant for a lifetime. What makes the difference? I’ve been observing a few of our students new to Kāneʻohe intently interested in how they begin to make friendships that last.

When I think of my own circle of friends, those I hold most dear are not defined by what interests we shared or liking the same foods. In fact, in many cases, on the surface, we couldn’t be more different. What we do share however are enduring challenges together and moments of vulnerability that drew us closer. 

Recently, one of my friends, Ramona Takahashi, retired after serving the students of Kailua High School for 38 years. Since leaving Kailua 14 years ago, I’ve only spoken with her on occasion. Despite that, I would still consider one of my closest friends. While at Kailua, I served as her assistant coach for the JV Girls Basketball team and then eventually I followed her to the varsity level. Though only a year younger than me, when I joined the team, Ramona had already been coaching for five years. She started straight out of high school and when I transferred to Kailua as a brand new teacher, luckily for me there was an opening on the coaching staff under her tutelage.

At first, we possessed differences in philosophy and approaches to the game, fueled by our disparate experiences playing the game. She, a much more seasoned and successful player, exhibited confidence balanced with empathy. She saw herself as a classic jock, but valued my input. We often disagreed, but eventually found our way to being a solid coaching team. Through the long hours spent together, we learned how to communicate with each other, build trust, and support one another. Those are the true connections that unite us. That is our lōkahi.

He waiwai nui ka lōkahi. On the surface, one might interpret this as a call for standing together…how we are stronger when we unite. Yet, applying the teachings of Aunty Pilahi and Pono Shim, a deeper meaning might reflect how all we already connected and our efforts towards discovering those connections become what we hold precious and must be greatly valued. 

5 PURSUITS of LŌKAHI:

Inspired by Gholdy Muhammad

Please watch this: We are Water Protectors written by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Michaela Goade. Then with you child, answer the following:

• IDENTITY:  Discuss with your ʻohana all the ways how water is important to your family and their daily life.
• SKILLS: The author tells about a black snake that is poisoning the water, plants, animals, and land. What might this be a metaphor for? 
• INTELLECT: Compare how the poisoning of our water supply by the military at Red Hill  is similar to what is described in the book. Read how youth (including Kāneʻohe Elementary alumnus Bronson Kainoa Azama) serve as water protectors here in Hawaiʻi. How do you feel about their stance?
• CRITICALITY: In the book, the girl talks about fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves including the animals, plants, trees, and earth. How might we join with others to fight on their behalf?
• JOY: With your ʻohana, take a nature walk. Notice all the ways water is used in your community. Consider what happens to your neighborhood if/when the water is polluted.

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.

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

Lōkahi, often translated as unity and expressed with a feeling of harmony, helps us understand that all of us are part of a life force that is unbroken, even when some of us feel separated from the group. With lōkahi, we support and accept each other in acknowledgement of this unbrokenness and work together in love.

Aloha At Home

ALOHA FOCUS FOR THE WEEK: LŌKAHI

This is how you know I’m old. I grew up in a time before Spam musubi. In fact, some of my friends who were not of Japanese ancestry didn’t even know what was a musubi. When I brought one for lunch they asked, “What’s that?” I thought they were crazy. I assumed we all ate the same food and were exposed to the same cultural traditions. At the same time, they stared at me in disbelief when I had not heard of meat jun, bibingka or squid luau. We marveled over the smells of each other’s foods. No one wanted to try my natto and I had a difficult time with bagaong, but we all agreed on the deliciousness of the foods we dared to taste. 

Food opened our eyes to new worlds, expanding our palates. Yet, it was not what bonded us. What made us friends ran a lot deeper. We all liked trying new things, especially if one us considered the experience a must. We weren’t afraid to be temporarily repulsed and gave everything a second or third chance before totally dismissing it. 

This shared value was something hidden to us at first. Before we were friends, we started off as a bunch of boys playing chase every recess. We zigged-n-zagged across the field without even knowing each other’s names. Eventually a few of us tired of running after each other and suggested inventing our own games. Some guys wanted to continue playing chase and peeled away to form their own group. Those of us who wanted to play something more novel, moved over to the monkey bars. Over time, recess extended to hanging out after school. We walked to each other’s houses and played until the sun slipped below the Waianae range. We stayed for dinner, trying delicacies considered ordinary by our hosts. 

As a kid, I never considered what connected us. I just knew we had fun together and enjoyed each other’s company. Looking back, I realize the lōkahi – the undiscovered connections – we shared, made us compatible as friends. It helped us become closer while prompting us to grow as individuals. Eventually, we went to different schools, moved apart, and lost touch. Yet, despite this distance, our friendship; our aloha remains with me to this day.

5 PURSUITS of LŌKAHI:

Inspired by Gholdy Muhammad

Please watch this: The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad with S.K. Ali, art by Hatem Aly. Then with you child, answer the following:

• IDENTITY: Discuss with a kupuna, how does your family/culture celebrate when you are getting older and becoming an adult?
• SKILLS: What is your favorite way Faizah describes her sister’s hijab? Explain how Faizah’s description paints a vivid picture of her sister’s hijab.
• INTELLECT: Research what is a hijab and it’s significance to people who wear them.
• CRITICALITY: Faizah’s mother told her and Asiya not to carry around the hurtful words of others. What does it look like to drop the words? What does it mean that they are not yours to keep and belong only to those who said them?
• JOY: Faizah and Asiya share a deep connection in that they have a strong pride in cultural traditions and in celebrating each other. Share with a family member why you are proud of them.

LIVE ALOHA KĀKOU

In 1993, community leaders and kupuna gathered to answer a simple question: how do we create a culture of positive and responsible action?

They agreed upon a set of twelve actions that each would take, and encourage others to carry out. In committing to this, they believed all of Hawaiʻi could begin to create the kind of community we value.

This week, Kāneʻohe Elementary once again renews its commitment to Live Aloha. You will receive the list of twelve actions as well as a Live Aloha sticker. From this list of twelve actions, there are no minimum commitments. Take what you need, give what you can. All we ask is that each of us strive to Live Aloha.

KES OHANA PUMPKIN CARVING

Mahalo to our KES Ohana for sponsoring a spookily fun pumpkin carving night this past weekend. We appreciate all of the ʻohana that attended the event, dressed up and got into the spirit of the event. Mahalo nui loa to all the volunteers that made this event possible including the Acopan ʻohana, the Kamiya ʻohana, Dee Fujinaka, Kumu Kalei Tim Sing and Cherisse Yamada. 

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.

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

To be alike; to be agreed; to be of one mind; to be in union or unison 

Andrews, Hawaiian Dictionary, 1865

ALOHA FOCUS FOR THE WEEK: LŌKAHI

This week’s read aloud featured shines a light on all of the people who work behind the scenes to build and make things in our everyday lives. This has inspired me to highlight a few of our staff who “build the dream” of Kāneʻohe Elementary but rarely get recognized. Much like our fabulous teachers, they too share a commitment to ensuring our students get the best education possible. 

Many families that drop off and pick up their children at the top of our campus are familiar with our Health Aide, Donna Yano. Donna has been dedicatedly working at Kāneʻohe Elementary for many years, even at one point running our A+ afterschool program. When a student does not feel well, Donna is our first responder. She provides care and helps students get better so they may get back to learning as soon as possible. During the pandemic, when the state school food services department did not allow our kitchen to open and provide summer feeding, Donna kindly volunteered to transport the food from King Intermediate back to our cafeteria. We are so fortunate to have someone like Donna nursing our students and school.

Even those who eat in our cafeteria might not know that Leiko Iwaoka is our cafeteria manager. Along with Baker Leina Daniel and School Cook Madeline Murata, her talented, dedicated team runs so smoothly, that despite being short staffed, they make all of the stress and hard work of feeding a school of 600 people look effortless from the outside. Leiko and her team are charged with ensuring all of our students’ stomachs and brains are well sustained with delicious food. They regularly adjust their menus and methods to make it more appealing for students. Outside of her immediate role, Leiko advocates strongly for our students to the statewide menu committee, championing for more student choice. We are so fortunate to have someone like Leiko nourishing our students and school.

Our students all know our head custodian Wali Camvel as he is a constant presence on our campus. Wali, Pikake Apuakehau and his team of substitute custodians, also often short staffed, help each other make certain that our school is clean, safe, and appealing – a must to keep it conducive to learning. Visitors to our campus consistently remark how beautifully maintained our custodians keep it, no easy task since our campus encompasses 16 acres. Apart from his chief kuleana, Wali serves as our school’s cultural advisor. He co-wrote the two oli students and staff recite at piko. He selects the students that serve as ʻalalā and pū kani and guides them in their growth as leaders. We are so fortunate to have someone like Wali nurturing our students and school.

The front office is the face of our school, often providing the first impression for anyone new to Kāneʻohe Elementary. Behind the front desk, is an incredibly affable, helpful, and kind team comprised of Brigette Leavy, Eva So, Ashley Gomez, Lynda Gouviea, and Gail Keawe – all led by our School Administrative Services Assistant, Kristel Hoʻomana. Although new to our school, Kristel has already gained our trust by empowering her team to improve operations, make them run smoother, and solve problems as they arise – all with a positive, can do attitude. We are so fortunate to have someone like Kristel maintaining our students and school.

Beyond the people mentioned here, there are dozens of others who help our students and school run. In the coming year, as we revisit LŌKAHI, I will be highlighting who they are and what they do. For we are so fortunate to have all of them supporting our students and school. 

5 PURSUITS of LŌKAHI:

Inspired by Gholdy Muhammad

Please watch this: Someone Builds the Dream written by Lisa Wheeler; illustrated by Loren Long. Then with you child, answer the following:

• IDENTITY: Talk with your kupuna about the different jobs/professions people in your ʻohana have and who might they work with as part of a team.
• SKILLS: Based on the text, what do you think is the author’s message regarding the workers who “build the dream?”
• INTELLECT:  Pick something in your life that you love (e.g. a food item, a book, a car, the park, etc.) and research all the people who might have helped build/make it. 
• CRITICALITY: Thinking about the thing you researched and all the people who helped build/make it, how do you think you are connected to all of those people? How might you show your gratitude to them?
• JOY: Discuss with your kupuna something you notice in the world around you that inspires your own dreams of making something.

MAHALO AKAKA ʻOHANA

Last week, to kick-off Aloha Akaka Week, the Senator’s ʻohana, including his wife Mrs. Akaka gathered at the Kāneʻohe Elementary library to celebrate reading and shared their new book, “A Summer Job with Pa” to our 2nd graders. At the conclusion of the celebration, all of the students received a book to take home. They also left books to share with all of our other students as well. Mahalo nui loa Akaka ʻohana for your generosity and continuing Senator Akaka’s mission to promote education and spread aloha across the world.

FUN FAIR UPDATE

Our KES Fun Fair committee continues to prepare this tremendous event and things are coming together in a big way. Food and craft vendors have been secured. A pre-sale order form for scripts and ride bands was sent home with students. Donations are being gathered for the Fun Fair, including a silent auction and for the keiki swap meet. The biggest need remaining is to fill all volunteer spots. 

With less than two weeks to go, we want to ensure all tasks are covered. Please help out by volunteering for a shift. With our combined efforts, our Fun Fair is sure to be a success. If you are able to lend some time, please sign-up 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 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.

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

Lōkahi:  To be connected or undivided (already whole)…the practice is in recognizing the connection and expressing through storytelling. To look for and/or recognize the connections we have (which may not be readily recognizable) and then find the story which unveils the connection. It also conveys a desire for harmony from within and from that peaceful place looking for the “one story” or the “story from heaven’s perspective” where there are no sides (walls, prejudices, biases, silos, agendas).

Pilahi Paki as shared by Pono Shim to The Mānoa Heritage Center.

ALOHA FOCUS FOR THE WEEK: LŌKAHI

Have you ever eaten something so ʻono that you thought it must’ve been conjured by a magician who sold his soul in order to dazzle every diner with incomprehensible flavors that explode in the mouth? For me, these thoughts occur whenever I eat really great sushi. In some ways, the ingredients by themself are humble and simple: rice, vinegar, sugar, salt, fish, seaweed, soy sauce, and wasabi. Yet, they are combined in such a way that the resulting combination is much greater than the ingredients alone. You definitely would be convinced if you ate each in isolation, like eating a bite of rice, followed by a teaspoon of vinegar, then by a pinch of sugar, a pinch of salt, and then some fish. 

Somehow when we combine things just right that are compatible on a deeper level – whether chemically, molecularly, or whatever are the tiniest components of taste – they meld to form something superior. 

However, just throwing a bunch of ingredients – no matter how fine – together won’t have the same effect. Ever had a bland stew that seemed nothing more than meat floating in water? Or a cake so dry that it your tastebuds thought you banished them to the Sahara Desert? Cooking is a craft where knife work and control of heat are critical ingredients that help the individual components to harmonize.

Similarly, a great school is more than a bunch of talented educators doing their own thing. It’s not enough to simply “do your part.” We must work together in concert, relying on peers while simultaneously elevating each other. A great school is most “ ʻono ” when everyone shares an unbreakable, higher purpose and collectively strives towards that purpose. For Kāneʻohe Elementary, this higher shared purpose is our students. They are our Lōkahi along with our mission – to inspire them to embrace learning..to guide them towards discovering their passions…and to do all of this with ALOHA at our core.

5 PURSUITS of LŌKAHI:

Inspired by Gholdy Muhammad

Please watch ʻOhana Means Family  written by by Ilima Loomis and illustrated by Kenard Pak. Then with you child, answer the following:

• IDENTITY: What does a meal where your entire ʻohana (extended family and close friends included) look/sound/feel like? What are the typical foods you have at those meals?
• SKILLS: How does the author use repetition to enhance meaning and tone of the story?
• INTELLECT: How do geography, climate, and natural resources affect the way people live, work, and connect with their community?
• CRITICALITY: How does kalo connect the ʻohana in this story? How do other elements such as the sun, land, and water play a role in helping the ʻohana to connect?
• JOY: Volunteer at a loʻi such as our partner ʻĀina Aloha o na Lima Hana. They usually hold workdays on the first Saturday of the month, 9 AM – 1 PM. Text 808-454-3177 or email ainaalohaonalimahana@gmail.com to confirm if you will be attending. 

LIGHTHOUSE PARENTS (VS TUGBOAT PARENTS)

One of my friends, Jamie Hong manages a media company along with her husband and documents the ups, downs and lessons learned in work and at home in a newsletter they send out to friends and clients. In her latest piece, Jamie shares advice from a coach for teens and parents that she applied in a recent situation with her teenage son. While aimed more for those with teens/tweens, our parents of younger kids might appreciate the advice for their future selves.

See Coach Will at his Instagram Page

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.

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

Lōkahi:  To be connected or undivided (already whole)…the practice is in recognizing the connection and expressing through storytelling. To look for and/or recognize the connections we have (which may not be readily recognizable) and then find the story which unveils the connection. It also conveys a desire for harmony from within and from that peaceful place looking for the “one story” or the “story from heaven’s perspective” where there are no sides (walls, prejudices, biases, silos, agendas).

Pilahi Paki as shared by Pono Shim to The Mānoa Heritage Center.

ALOHA FOCUS FOR THE WEEK: LŌKAHI

What do 50 active duty service members from the military, a group of 20 juniors from Kamehameha that created their own nonprofit, a collection of parents and their children, and a core team of Kāneʻohe Elementary staff have in common? With such a disparate assembly of folks spanning a wide age range, ethnic backgrounds, religions, socioeconomic situations, and an abundance of distinctive categories that set us apart, commonalities might be difficult to find. Yet, we were all gathered in one place, at the same time, and working towards one outcome. 

Queen Liliuokalani once said, “To gain the kingdom of heaven is to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen, and to know the unknowable — that is Aloha.  All things in this world are two; in heaven, there is but one” Our eyes and ears often deceive us. We judge, applying our own narratives, colored by our own experiences. We think our memories are infallible, yet time twists and degrades those recollections to fit the stories we tell. The first fish we caught gets bigger over time. Our first kiss, lasts longer and feels more fraught the farther away from it we get. Even with a historically traumatic event such as 9/11, years later witnesses will dispute what they wrote a week after the attack.¹ What we hear, see and think are flawed. But when we can haʻahaʻa, set aside our ego and judgements, we can know aloha. When we take a heavenly perspective, we can perceive lōkahi and understand how we are connected.

So what did we have in common? What connected us this past Saturday? We were all there to help. We gave up a fraction of our precious weekend to show akahai to Kāneʻohe Elementary. That was our lōkahi.

Mahalo nui loa to all who generously gave of their time and efforts to mālama our campus including our ʻohana, staff, military partners, Pencils for People, Sustʻāinabilty club and Rep. Scot Matayoshi. Mahalo Piha to Jolyn Kresge, Wali Camvel, Kalei Tim Sing, and Dee Fujinaka for organizing this amazing event that activated over 100 volunteers.

¹ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/911-memory-accuracy/

5 PURSUITS of LŌKAHI:

Inspired by Gholdy Muhammad

Please watch Eyes that Weave the World’s Wonders  written by Joanna Ho and Liz Kleinrock, with illustrator Dung Ho. Then with you child, answer the following:

• IDENTITY: Talk with your kupuna about what they see when they look at you.
• SKILLS: Point out the many examples of descriptive language the authors use to illustrate the connections the main character feels with her parents. 
• INTELLECT: Adoption is a common way in which families are brought together. In the Hawaiian culture, to hānai a child was a regular practice. Research about hānai here or learn from a kupuna familiar with the practice.
• CRITICALITY: The authors wrote this and other books because growing up, they never saw themselves represented in any book. Thinking about those in your life, whose stories might still be underrepresented in books?
• JOY: Do something with your family that they find joyful.

MAHALO PIHA KES OHANA FOR STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK

On behalf of the faculty and staff of Kāneʻohe Elementary, we are so thankful for the gifts appreciation, kind words, and expressions of aloha you’ve shown over the past week. We truly treasure our families and feel so blessed to be teaching your children. Mahalo piha for helping us feel valued in return.

THE DANGERS OF DISTRACTED PARENTING

I recently read an article posted in The Atlantic that built upon research asserting children using phones harmful to their development. It maintained that parents incessantly using phones are also negatively impacting children. Educational research has already shown that the language and conversational exchanges between adults and children are the best predictor of achievement in school. So when that communication is stunted or interrupted by notifications and texts, then children lose the chance to develop their language.

Further, when parents becomes so distracted by their phones, they “not only miss emotional cues but actually misread them.” They also inadvertently communicate “through his or her non-engagement that the child is less valuable than an email” (Or text, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc). The article further explains that children will naturally attempt to regain the parent’s attention, including throwing tantrums – a behavior we are seeing with greater frequency here in school. Consequently, this and the previous article make a strong argument for putting our phones down and keeping them out of our children’s hands for as long as possible.

Read more at: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/07/the-dangers-of-distracted-parenting/561752/?utm_campaign=one-story-to-read-today&utm_content=20240508&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=One+Story+to+Read+Today 

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

He waiwai nui ka lokahi #977

Unity is a precious possession

Pukui, Mary Kawena, (1983). ʻŌlelo Noʻeau

ALOHA FOCUS FOR THE WEEK: LŌKAHI

Did you know that April is World Autism Awareness Month? It is also National Humor Month, National Poetry Month, National Soft Pretzel Month, and Distracted Driving Awareness Month along with a slew of other observances for the month of April. With so many causes vying for attention, it can be difficult for any one to emerge and gain recognition. But maybe focusing all our attention on one is not the point. Maybe our attention goes to what is pertinent in any given instance.

Ryan rarely spoke up in class. He often sat quietly with his head down, avoiding eye contact. His demeanor paled when compared to that of his classmates. Albert would not sit still and rarely stopped talking to his neighbors. Rob constantly pounded his chest, asking others, “What you looking at?” Peter sat front and center, stared at me as he made a string of snarky comments, eliciting snickers from the rest of the class. Ashlyn too possessed a wealth of sarcasm, but laced it with all the correct answers to every question I asked. 

As a first year teacher, it took me a while to figure out that I shouldn’t divide my attention. At first, I struggled to make everyone happy…a fool’s journey. I couldn’t extinguish every fire as it erupted. As soon as I got Albert to sit and listen, I had to break up the brewing fracas between Rob and Peter. If I tried to acknowledge Ashlyn’s contributions, Peter took offense and began wising off. Meanwhile Ryan faded into the background.

Eventually, I realized that what all of my students wanted was attention. They wanted to know that I cared and was willing to work with them. Because of their personalities, this didn’t occur all at once, but everyone was given their time. While they worked on their assignments, I’d sit with each. I found out about their families, their dreams, and their talents. This was not a cure all, Ryan still remained quiet, Albert hyper, Rob belligerent, Peter mocking, and Ashlyn condescending. However, I was able to get my students to care a bit more and learn.

5 PURSUITS of LŌKAHI:

Inspired by Gholdy Muhammad

Please watch Emile and the Field written by Kevin Young and illustrated by Chioma Ebinama. Then with you child, answer the following:

• IDENTITY: Talk with your kupuna about a special place you and your family treasures.
• SKILLS: The author uses different examples of figurative language to show the beauty of the field. Identify several examples of figurative language in the book.
• INTELLECT: Research Prince Kuhio’s efforts to establish a Hawaiʻi National Park, preserving the volcanoes of Hawaiʻi and Haleakala as natural historic landmarks.
• CRITICALITY: Emile’s father tells Emile, “Though they too love it, if we share, and learn to take care, it means the field will be here forever.” How might we help others learn to take care of the places special to us in our community?
• JOY:  Participate in a clean-up of a special place in our community such as Luluku Farm (Aina Aloha o na Lima Hana) which occurs on the first Saturday of each month. Other community clean-ups can be found at https://808cleanups.org/calendar/.

HOʻOMAIKAʻI BRYSON & NIXON 

Please join me in congratulating and showing appreciation to Nixon Ihu and Bryson Tanji for representing Kāneʻohe Elementary well at the Hawaiʻi State Science and Engineering Fair. Their project, the Tako Box, utilized the Engineering Design Process in innovating a tool used to hunt octopus.  Mahalo nui loa for making us proud

MAHALO KES OHANA FOR A SUCCESSFUL CLOTHING DRIVE 

While we still have yet to find out how many pounds of clothing we collected, I would like to thank all of our community for cleaning out their closets and making a donation to our school. In the end, it certainly looked like we exceeded the 3000 lb minimum! Regardless if we did or not, the donations will be put to good use, helping those in need. Further, our volunteers from our KES Ohana throughout the week and on Saturday, assisting with the collection certainly showed how dedicated they are to our school. We certainly owe them a debt of gratitude!

IT SURE LOOKS LIKE PHONES ARE MAKING STUDENTS DUMBER

Continuing with a series from The Atlantic, a report from the Program for International Student Assessment, found three factors that are causing a global decrease in test scores:

“students who spend less than one hour of “leisure” time on digital devices a day at school scored about 50 points higher in math than students whose eyes are glued to their screens more than five hours a day.”

“screens seem to create a general distraction throughout school, even for students who aren’t always looking at them…students reported feeling distracted by their classmates’ digital habits scored lower in math”

“nearly half of students across the OECD said that they felt “nervous” or “anxious” when they didn’t have their digital devices near them. (On average, these students also said they were less satisfied with life.) This phone anxiety was negatively correlated with math scores.”

“Studies have shown that students on their phone take fewer notes and retain less information from class, that “task-switching” between social media and homework is correlated with lower GPAs, that students who text a lot in class do worse on tests, and that students whose cellphones are taken away in experimental settings do better on tests. As Haidt, a psychologist, has written in The Atlantic, the mere presence of a smartphone in our field of vision is a drain on our focus. Even a locked phone in our pocket or on the table in front of us screams silently for the shattered fragments of our divided attention.” Read the full article 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

He waiwai nui ka lōkāhi. Unity is a precious possession. 977

Pukui, Mary Kawena, (1983). ʻŌlelo Noʻeau

ALOHA FOCUS FOR THE WEEK: LŌKAHI

Growing up, our extended family chipped in to rent a beach house on the North Shore one weekend every summer. Although we frequently got-together for dinner and family parties, going to the beach house was a treasured event. We spent all day fishing and playing along the shore. My aunties played their ukulele as we sang old songs by the campfire. Then we stayed up late into the night playing cards, talking and laughing.

My relatives from the continent planned their vacations around beach house weekend. We brought friends to join in the fun. The celebration seemed to grow each year with more people added to crowd of revelers. Now whenever I drive by the North Shore and see the old house we rented, I am in disbelief that it could hold so many people. Yet it still evokes feelings of fondness for my family mixed in with a bit of melancholy. 

After Hurricane Iwa slammed into the islands, my family stopped renting the beach house. One of my aunties became fearful that we would be caught unprepared and swept out to sea. While we still gathered to go fishing and celebrate special events, the frequency seemed to drop especially as my cousins got older. Our moments together seemed much more brief, much more intermittent.

While my family strives to remain close, some cousins have moved further away and less frequently visit. Some have even stopped seeing each other, letting minor disagreements fester into a mammoth-like wedge. As with it happens with many, people grow apart. The longer the time we spend separated and greater the distance between us, the harder it is to remain emotionally close. Friendships drift and relatives become strangers. 

The time spent at the beach house, albeit only three days out of the year, somehow bridged any divides. We didn’t talk about our feelings or told each other “I love you.” (It was the 70s. We are Japanese.) However, being together for 72 hours straight, squeezed into a small space, enjoying shared experiences deepened our appreciation for our family. And it was enough to keep us close.

5 PURSUITS of LŌKAHI

Inspired by Gholdy Muhammad

In honor of Black History Month, I will be featuring stories written by and featuring people of African descent. 

Please watch Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea written and read by Meena Harris also illustrated by Ana Ramírez González. Then with you child, answer the following:

• IDENTITY: Talk about something your family, neighbors, and/or community have come together to create something. What was that like? How did you overcome any obstacles that stood in your way? Why was this important to your ʻohana/community?
• SKILLS: What genre of literature does this book fall into? What is the evidence for your answer?
• INTELLECT: The Kamala featured in this book is based on our Vice-President Kamala Harris. Research her journey to becoming the first woman, the first Black American, and the first South Asian American to win the vice-presidency of the United States.
• CRITICALITY: Kamala’s mother would tell her, “You may be the first to do many things, but make sure you are not the last.” What meaning does this quote have for you, especially in making this world a better place?
• JOY:  Host a potluck where everyone is able to share and celebrate each other’s contributions. It could be a simple one, for example, where everyone brings different toppings for your Spam musubi. 

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION AND GES

The deadline for submitting kindergarten GEs is this Friday, March 1, 2024.

All kindergarten GEs received after the deadline will be placed on a waiting list and will be accepted as space becomes available.

Beyond, March 1, we will continue to accept applications for kindergarten for children turning 5 by July 31, 2024. 

We are also accepting Geographic Exceptions (GE), for students entering grades 1 through 6. If you have any questions about registering your child, please call me or our registration clerk, Brigette Leavy, at 305-0000.

HOʻOMAIKAʻI CPAC KIDSTART CAST

A well deserved congratulations to our Kāneʻohe Menehune for their part in presenting Sponge Bob Square Pants Jr for this year’s CPAC Kidstart show. Please join me in thanking and congratulating the following students and their ʻohana:

Kaeten Miyashiro Manatad, Kameron Goohue-Souza-Kaululaa, Kobe Bruhn, Sariah Ava, Ariana Tanoye, Grezyn Nagao, and Makalehua Pelletier!

CPAC Director, Karen Meyer also wants to let families know they are once again offering Saturday classes. Please see the flyer for more information.

INSTILL A LOVE OF HISTORY IN KIDS

As Black History Month comes to a close this week, I would encourage all to continue to learn about and celebrate the accomplishments of those who aren’t always featured when we study history. The National Association of Elementary Principals gives a few tips on how you might do this:

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