Hōkūpaʻa Updates
Resources, community news, and bright spots.
Youth Sustainability Summit Resolutions
The Hawai‘i Sustainability Summit held in May 2024 convened local stakeholders to keep driving the county — and the state — into a more sustainable future…the summit involved local youth in grades 8-12 to create actionable plans. Updated 9/12/24.
Kealakehe Intermediate Students’ Community Service Ideas
This past March, Kealakehe Intermediate School hosted a career fair to introduce students to local career pathways. As part of our booth highlighting nonprofit management as a career pathway, we asked students to imagine that they could do anything to benefit their community.
Stories from the Field: Kealakehe Intermediate School’s career fair
It is so important to expose kids to potential career pathways early. Especially with the multitude of new career and technical education pathways students have to choose from, it’s especially beneficial for them to learn their options before high school.
BRIGHT SPOT: NO KE OLA PONO O NĀ KEIKI FIELD DAYS
What better way to uplift everyone than by coming together to host fun elementary school field days? Led by the West Hawaii Department of Education district office, these GEER Grant-funded* “No Ke Ola Pono O Nā Keiki” — roughly translated as “For the Health of Our Children” field day events include activities, sports equipment, and refreshments for students, teachers, and school staff.
BRIGHT SPOT: "WINTER WONDERLAND" AT KE KULA 'O 'EHUNUIKAIMALINO
What to do when Winter Break is approaching and everyone could use a boost?
Kumu Alapaʻi Kaulia, the Parent Community Networking Coordinator at Ke Kula ʻO ʻEhunuikaimalino, applied for a Hōkūpaʻa mini grant for a drive-through “Winter Wonderland.”
GUEST BLOG: TAKE ACTION BY THE COALITION FOR A TOBACCO-FREE HAWAIʻI YOUTH COUNCIL
Hawaiian POG. Blue Razz. Lush Ice. These are not flavors of candy or shave ice but e-cigarettes. Behind these sweet flavors promising notes of sweet and tangy flavors of guava, orange, and passion fruit or freshly sliced candied watermelons with a touch of refreshing menthol are the nicotine equivalent of two packs of cigarettes.
Community Bright Spot: Aloha MAP
While financial cost is a known barrier to going to college, many also face barriers to even exploring the possibility. These families need support systems to help them see college as a viable option. We spoke with Aloha MAP (Meritorious Achievement Program) director Lilinoi Grace to learn about how her program successfully supports local families so that their students can succeed in school, college, and beyond.
STORIES FROM THE (VIRTUAL) FIELD: THE ONGOING HAWAI'I ISLAND YOUTH SUMMIT
The 2021 Hawaiʻi Island Youth Summit kicked off last month with students from the Kealakehe area. Despite many challenges in planning this year — including a rapid pivot to a virtual event in the fall — Hōkūpaʻa and our planning partners kept this important work with youth and community a priority.
STORIES FROM THE FIELD: CINCO DE MAYO CUP-OF-CHEER AT HONOKA'A
As the unprecedented 2020-2021 School Year comes to a close, we wanted to share some photos from a fun school event with Honoka‘a High & Intermediate School and Honoka‘a Elementary School. While we weren’t there for the whole event, we were able to kick things off with a spin on our usual morning coffee “Cup-of-Cheer.”
STORIES FROM THE FIELD: PARTNERING TO HOST VIRTUAL CAREER FAIRS FOR WEST HAWAII PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Last fall, nobody knew how long distance learning would be the norm. We decided not to wait around, and talked to our partners. West Hawaii Complex Area’s awesome district office was willing to rapidly produce a pilot virtual event together.
Community Bright Spot #3: "Cup-o-Cheer" Teacher Appreciation
Distance learning hasn’t just been a challenge for students and families. When teachers told us that they were feeling overwhelmed and in need of support, we worked together to show them that the community appreciates their hard work.
FAMILY GUIDE TO TALKING TO STUDENTS IN YOUR FAMILY ABOUT THEIR FUTURE PLANS
Talking about what to do after high school can be awkward, scary, embarrassing, stressful, confusing…but it doesn’t have to be that bad.
Here are some simple tips from Hōkūpa‘a. Good luck!
TEACHER FEATURE #6: THE HAWK NEST AT KEALAKEHE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
What does it look like to turn student voice into student action? At Kealakehe Intermediate School, teacher Mathieu Williams works to create student experiences that allow them to design, test, and redesign solutions that connect their learning to self, place, and others.
Does It Fit?
There’s always the temptation to achieve too much, do too much, eat too much. Wait, that last one was for another conversation. Putting too much on our plates, no pun intended, can mean that the work isn’t carried out efficiently nor is it properly resourced.
The Hōkūpa`a SEL team wanted to be sure that this isn’t the case at our project school, Konawaena Middle School.