Category Archives: Lokahi

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

Andrews, Hawaiian Dictionary, 1865

ALOHA FOCUS FOR THE WEEK: LŌKAHI

As a high school physics teacher, I challenged myself to make physics understandable, applicable to real life, and enjoyable to learn. To do this, I couldn’t base my lessons solely on what I found interesting. I needed to get to know my students, become familiar with their interests, and appeal to what they found relevant. Consequently, for my group of beginning and aspiring drivers, we learned about the dynamics of motion by going into to the community to determine which was the most dangerous intersection in Enchanted Lakes. For our beach lovers, we learned about wave behavior by measuring sand erosion at Kailua Beach. And for every sweets lover, we learned about thermodynamics by creating human powered ice cream making machines. While many of my students were imbued with memorable lessons that inspired them to pursue careers in science and engineering, there was one lesson that inspired all and helped me to see the Lōkahi between teachers and students.

Did you know that we are comprised primarily of four elements: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen? In a myriad of combinations, they comprise the air filling our lungs, the blood flowing through our veins, and the bones giving our bodies structure. But how did they get into our bodies – especially when 98% of the universe is hydrogen and helium? The answer lies in the way carbon, oxygen and nitrogen are created: in the nuclear reactors of stars. Only stars have the immense energy needed to fuse hydrogen and helium together to create these elements. And when a star explodes, these complex elements are shot across the vast universe and, despite the minuscule odds, onto our planet. Therefore, each and everyone of us are comprised of the rarest of stardust.

Students reliably marveled at this fact. They looks at their reflections differently, seeing themselves as a wonder of nature – as they should. As their teacher, I felt pleased to share this lesson with them since I could’ve benefited from knowing that fact when I was a teenager. Simultaneously, it served as a reminder of how even as an adult I needed to assimilate this lesson. Too often, as a teacher and now as an administrator, I mistakenly saw myself as separate from my students. I treated teacher and student as a one way relationship. Yet, in reality we are equal; all are learners. For in teaching one is simultaneously learning and in learning one is simultaneously teaching, even if one is not aware of it. And in this case, as I taught, I learned that I still needed practice in seeing all as beautifully rare stardust for whom the heavens as our elemental ancestors.

5 PURSUITS of LŌKAHI

Inspired by Gholdy Muhammad

Please watch this: The Day You Begin read by its author Jacqueline Woodson (same author as last week’s read aloud) and illustrated by Rafael López. Then with you child, answer the following:

• IDENTITY: With a parent or kupuna, talk about something that makes each of you “fabulously different from everyone else you meet.” How can you turn this trait into your new beginning?
• SKILLS: The illustrator used rulers as a metaphor for how we measure ourselves against other people. Rewatch the story to see at which points the rulers appear. What was happening in the story? How were the characters measuring themselves?
• INTELLECT: The author shares that rice is the most eaten food in the world. Research what other foods are among the most eaten. What foods do you and your ohana eat that are among the most eaten in the world? What are foods you and your ohana love that are not on that list? Why do you think some foods are eaten across the world and others are not?
• CRITICALITY: The author reminds us, “how grateful every room we walk into should be for our presence there.” What are the gifts you bring into the room? What gifts do others bring into the room that you are grateful for?
• JOY: Draw a picture of a time where you measured yourself against others. Include a ruler in your drawing as Rafael López did for this book. Share your picture with your parents, kupuna, or class.

VISIT BY PULITZER-PRIZE WINNING JOURNALIST & KĀNEʻOHE ALUMNUS

Last week Wednesday, Mrs. Nagaishi’s Language Arts Enrichment students were treated to a special visit by Ellen Nakashima, an alumnus of Kāneʻohe Elementary and a journalist with the Washington Post. During her talk, Ms. Nakashima regaled students with stories about her career, the world affairs she covered, and the amazing people she met. She even shared how at one point she narrowly avoided being kidnapped by terrorists in the Philippines. As a reporter with the Washington Post, Ms. Nakashima has been “a member of three Pulitzer-prize winning teams at The Post, including in 2022 for an investigation of the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol, in 2018 for digging into Moscow’s efforts to influence the 2016 election, and in 2018 for exploring the hidden scope National Security Agency surveillance.” We mahalo Ms. Nakashima for inspiring our students and letting them know that being from Kāneʻohe is an asset from which they can explore the world and make a great difference. Fun fact: Ms. Nakashima is Aunty Karen Kimura, our STEM resource teacher’s sister.

HALLOWEEN CELEBRATIONS

To get us into the fall spirit, our student council organized a Halloween Spirit “Week” for our school. 

• On Monday, we invite students to wear orange and/or black. 
• On Tuesday, we will have a Halloween Costume Parade on the lower field after morning piko (weather permitting). NOTE: we invite parents/kupuna to watch the parade and piko.
• We will also be putting out an anti-BOOllying video next week by our student council.  

Lastly, please remember that our School Celebration Policy prohibits the distribution of cupcakes and other sugary snacks. Instead, if you are wanting to give out goodies, please consider non-edible Halloween treats such as: Bubbles, Lego, glow sticks, games, playdough, slime, vampire teeth, finger puppet rings, bugs, spider soap, funny pencils, beads and strings. Please know that any cupcakes or sugary snacks brought to school will be returned and not distributed.

CONTINUED PRACTICES:

NATIONAL BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH CONTINUES

It is the last week of National Bullying Prevention Month, yet our efforts to be kinder, be more respectful, and act more civilly towards others will indefinitely continue.

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

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

Andrews, Hawaiian Dictionary, 1865

ALOHA FOCUS FOR THE WEEK: LŌKAHI

This post is a copy of the first sixth grade promotion ceremony speech I ever gave at Kāneʻohe Elementary, way back in 2012. I am unsure how many of those sixth graders were actually listening as they eagerly waited to be celebrated by their ʻohana. Even now, as high school is a distant memory for them, I wonder if any recall my words. Who am I kidding? I barely remembered what I said. Yet reading it now, I am pleasantly surprised. Although I wouldn’t meet Uncle Pono Shim for another five years, much of its content aligns with the foundations of Aloha he taught.

As I reflect upon this yearʻs motto: “Light the Fire” I am reminded of a story of when I was in the sixth grade.  It happened way back in 1979. I was kind of big, on the shy side, kind, and soft spoken. Like you, I was about to leave the only school I knew. It was a place where I felt safe, cared for and loved by my teachers. Yet, I was excited and full of anticipation for a new adventure. I was heading to a new school. Back then, that new school had only just begun accepting girls. However, the grade I was going into was still all boys, which (at the time) was fine by me. 

When I got there, it was nothing like I imagined. On my first day, I realized that I was only one of two kids that were new to the class.  The rest of the boys had been together for many years. In a gaggle, they whispered to each other about the new kids, snickered and glared. Well, actually they snickered and glared at me because the other new kid resembled the Incredible Hulk ready to smash. One boy focused in on one of my most prominent characteristics and created a jeering chant about my full lips. The rest of the class joined in and started chanting louder and louder. I felt smaller and smaller. I wished I could disappear. That was my first day.

The next three months didn’t get any better. In fact, it just felt worse. At my former school, I had many friends and felt well liked. At this new school, I had no friends; I had no fire. Everyday my mom asked me how was school, I just said, “okay” and didn’t go into detail because it felt so hopeless.

Finally, at the beginning of November, I had enough. As recess began, one of the boys started to chant about my lips. Anger clouded my head. I puffed up my chest, clenched my fists, and readied to hit him. He began to dance around ducking in and out reaching in to slap me. The rest of the boys gathered around and started to chant “BEEF BEEF BEEF.” Just as I was about to swing, I suddenly felt a huge hand grip my shoulder and jerk me backwards. Quickly the crowded dispersed while the two of us were dragged into the office by the principal. He sat the us down and gruffly stated, “This is your only warning. You fight, youʻre kicked out.”

Luckily I avoided being expelled. However, the principal called my mom and when I went home, she coerced me to say how I really felt about school. I whined that I didn’t have any friends and wanted to quit and go to another school. After I finished complaining and after she was done lecturing, my mother told me that I need to be myself. She said, “Be yourself. Forgive and be kind. Eventually they will see who you truly are and come to accept you.” 

I would like to tell you that my mom’s advice lit my fire. I would like to say that I marched forward with confidence, totally believing in myself. But what I actually thought was that my mom didn’t know what she was talking about.

Regardless, I went to school. I didn’t fight, and I didn’t quit.  I did try to be myself. So instead of feeling angry, I chose to forgive and ignore. Instead of acting out, I chose to act in kindness. Eventually I shared a rocket engine with one of the boys. His name was Jack and he was doing a science project on model rockets and ran out of supplies. I also happened to be doing a model rocket project and had a few extra engines.  He thanked me and the next time everyone was chanting about my lips, he said, “You know, maybe we should give him a break. Heʻs really OK.” Slowly the chanting became less frequent. By the end of the year, because I chose kindness I made some really good friends. Because I chose forgiveness and found connections, I regained my fire.

5 PURSUITS of LŌKAHI

Inspired by Gholdy Muhammad

Please watch this: The Banana-Leaf Ball: How Play Can Change the World written by Katie Smith Milway and illustrated by Shane W Evans. Then with you child, answer the following:

• IDENTITY: What are games that you and your ohana like to play? Talk to your kupuna and ask about the games they played as kids.
• SKILLS: Create a double-bubble map comparing Deo and Remy. 
• INTELLECT: To understand what Deo goes through in this book, we will need empathy. Define empathy and how it can help us make friends.
• CRITICALITY: How does telling moʻolelo (stories) or playing games help to overcome hate? 
• JOY: With two friends or family members, try making a “banana-leaf ball” with plastic bags from grocery stores, cardboard, or other recycled materials. See if you can figure out your own process. If not, here’s one way you can do it.

You can also read/hear about the real Deo here.

MAHALO FRANK DELIMA

While you might not see him as often on TV asking you to call The Cab dressed as a tutu, Frank Delima still looms large as a comedic influencer in our community. This week, we were treated to his latest show on valuing reading, treating each other with aloha, taking care of our health and dancing like a sumo wrestler. At 74, Mr. Delima is still going strong and making his way to every elementary school across the state, sharing his message and humor with every student. Mahalo nui loa Frank Delima.

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

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