KaMele Sanchez, a junior, and fellow students of the Natural Resources Program at Honokaa High &Intermediate School recently enjoyed a teaching experience at Waimea Elementary School — their alma mater.
KaMele Sanchez, a junior, and fellow students of the Natural Resources Program at Honokaa High &Intermediate School recently enjoyed a teaching experience at Waimea Elementary School — their alma mater.
KaMele shares, “Waimea Elementary and Middle Schools has been proven to raise outstanding students! This past January, three alumni of both the Waimea Elementary and Middle schools, have come back to teach the upcoming generation about plant’s growth process and hydroponics.”
Sherry Anne Pancho, Patrick Cootey and KaMele Sanchez all attended Waimea schools from K-8 grades, and were all students of Mrs. Susan Ho and are currently students of Mr. Jadulang’s Natural Resources Program at Honokaa High and Intermediate. Sherry Anne and KaMele are youth delegates of the Sustainable Hawaii Youth Leadership Initiative (SHYLI) http://shyli.org and their sustainability-in-action project has to do with the education of hydroponics around island. They, along with Patrick and their friend Elliott Sabado, visited Mrs. Ho and arranged to teach and conduct a science experiment with the entire third grade class.
“Each third-grader was able to create their very own hydroponic unit,” said Sherry Anne, “over the next two weeks they were supposed to measure the growth rate of their plant.” The group did encounter a couple setbacks though. “Some of the plants died after the two weeks,” explained KaMele, “so when we went back to see the kids, we talked about reasons why they might have died. They were a bit sad, but hey, that’s just how science goes! Trial and error, so we sent them up with new vegetable seedlings to try again.” Patrick has this to say, “It was great to come back to teach, and to see Mrs. Ho! I feel like a giant walking through these halls again. I think that the kids learned a lot, and they like me, so they have good taste.” These four, now Honokaa High, students did a great job, let’s hope that Waimea continues to produce such outgoing young adults well into the future!”
—————
Kohala Project Grad 2014 committee and parents are holding a fundraiser, “Kanikapila Up In The Country” on the Kahua Ranch Paniolo Lanai on Saturday, March 22, from 10 a.m.to 4 p.m. The admission is $10 admission for concert, with 12 and under free. Tickets are available at CSC café in Kohala or any Kohala High School Senior. Local Entertainment performing that day. John Keawe, Hawane Rios, Mark Yamanaka and friends, Hamajang, Times 5 and Mystik Rhythms.
There will be ono food concessions, tram rides around the ranch, games, silent auction, bouncys, petting zoo and a photo booth.
Bring your ohana, chairs and come enjoy Beautiful Kahua Ranch day. All proceeds go towards Kohala Project Grad 2014. Any questions, call Amoo Kainoa, 895-2545, or Maile Akamu, 987-1113.
————————
The Honokaa Elementary School Community Council is opening up nominations for a community representative and alternate and a parent representative and alternate. Meetings are held once a month on the last Tuesday of the month, from 4 to 5 p.m. The SCC’s primary role is to give input and follow up on the academic and financial plan to ensure that the needs of all students are met.
As a member of the SCC, you can help your council discover new and exciting ways to contribute to the education of students at Honokaa Elementary School. Please volunteer or nominate someone that you think would make a good representative for our students. The next Term starts with the 2014 – 2015 school year. To pick up a nomination form please contact Karen Kishimoto at 775-8820, ext. 231.
————————
Honor Dr. Seuss and Celebrate “Read to Me” Week where the dads have the opportunity to bond and have fun with their children or child while re-enforcing valuable Reading skills, such as fluency and comprehension.) Come on Dads, spend some time at Honokaa Elementary reading during the Joy of Reading this Friday, March 7, from 10:15-10:45 a.m.
——————
The ninth annual Laupahoehoe Music Festival is coming on Saturday, April 5. Look at this grand lineup for the day: Kainani Kahaunaele, Halau O Ke Anuenue, Halau O Mailelaulani, Times 5, Halau Ha‘a Kea O Kinohi, Komakakino, Laupahoehoe School Ukulele Band and Ho‘onanea, Kanakapila.
Hui Ka Koako‘o O Laupahoehoe, the nonprofit that supports Laupahoehoe Community/Public Charter School, will have a silent auction and they will have craft and food booths.
——————
“The report on geothermal energy HB November 2013, “Geothermal is a Red-Hot Topic” needed to have included these very important points about why geothermal would improve the quality of life for all of us in Hawaii,” according to Sen. Malama Solomon. “Geothermal is used worldwide and can be applied to Hawaii. According to the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources, there are several regions worldwide with geothermal and geologic conditions very similar to Hawaii, such as Iceland and New Zealand. Both nations benefit from electrical rates of up to 12 cents per kilowatt hour, compared to Hawaii’s average of 32 cents/kwh.”
DLNR also points out that these two countries, plus Japan and Indonesia, have seen decades of safe and economical use of geothermal energy. Safeguards are already in place. “The State of Hawaii has developed a thorough series of procedures to review, regulate and oversee the development of geothermal resources,” says DLNR Chair William Aila. “This includes the drilling of all geothermal wells, the protection of underground sources of drinking water, safe well construction techniques, and seismic monitoring.”
Also, geothermal development projects are required by Chapter 343, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to develop an Environmental Impact Statement, which includes public disclosure of potential impacts and proposed mitigations measures that are subject to public hearings and a public comment period before any project can proceed forward. “These processes are already in place ensure the protection of the environment, natural and cultural resources, and the public’s health and safety,” Aila says.
Geothermal has Hawaiian support. “Hawaiians have supported and continue to support geothermal development on Hawaii Island,” says Mililani Trask of the Innovations Development Group. She points out geothermal development has received support by the largest Hawaiian organization, the Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Hawaiian energy producers and land owners, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, who has also invested in a Hawaiian company seeking to develop the resource on Hawaii Island. Solomon said, “we have a great opportunity to responsibly to develop geothermal providing clean, renewable and firm power to our homes and businesses at a lower cost.”
To reach the Kokua Way, email waiukahenutz@gmail.com or call Carol on her cellphone at 936-0067.