Nani Pai

Our April Hāweo awardees were Makaʻala Rosehill and Mia Fajardo. They happen to sit on the same table in class.

Let me introduce Makaʻala first. Makaʻala is our class ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi expert. As she was preparing her research on the flora and fauna found in Hilo, she asked me if kō, or sugar cane was a kinolau of Kāne. Now thatʻs not a question that you expect from a fifth grader but I was happy to hear the question from her and responded yes, it is a kinolau of Kāne. ʻAkamai ʻoia!

Mia is a real sweetie who is an articulate speaker. On the quiet side, Mia likes to hang out with her friends whenever she can. She is helpful in class and loves to draw. Whenever someone on her table needs a pencil or eraser, Mia offers one of hers. He wahine lokomaikaʻi!

Aloha mai e nā keiki,
You were all magnificent during our Makawalu Hilo! Hereʻs a question to ponder and respond to:
How does the past define our future? Or does it? In other words,thinking about all the lessons our kupuna shared with us through their moʻolelo and all the information we learned from one another about Hiloʻs past, how has those manaʻo shaped what we will be and do in the future? Or will they?

Please respond in a single paragraph, 5-7 sentences long.

Gosh, sorry this is coming so late. Technical difficulties and busy-ness with Makawalu HIlo has interrupted the “FLOW.” Even though itʻs not letting me insert two photos, one each of the March awardees, I wanted to at least get the written part posted.
First of all, meet Gianina Manuel-Cortez! Gia is a great helper in class and her injury has not impeded her enthusiasm one bit. One thing I like about Gia is her willingness to help others. You donʻt have to ask twice. Another thing is Gia is a great reader! Ask her about what sheʻs read recently.
The other Hāweo awardee is Jake Nishimoto, or Jake N.. I have watched this young man since Kinder just blossom! Jake is always thinking ahead and is good about having a “back-up” plan. A math whiz, this unassuming young man also found a favorite author this year, Gary Paulsen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1R-jKKp3NA

Please view this video of Steve Jobs, one of the original inventors of the Mac computer. The speech was given at Stanford Universityʻs commencement (graduation) exercise in Palo Alto, California a few years ago.
Tell what your thoughts are, what you learned from his speech. Your comment should be three paragraphs long, each with one main idea and supporting details. It should combine what you learned and your own thoughts together (synthesizing). Steve Jobs was truly a great man, indeed, a creative genius.

Meet Kaʻohinani Ho, recipient of Februaryʻs Hāweo award for pilina. Kaʻo is a joy to have in class and gets along fabulously with her peers. She is definitely a team player and has forged great friendships.
Pictured here with her Mom and Dad, Kaʻo usually wears a smile on her face. In fact, if she is not smiling, itʻs usually because she is deep in thought. I am confident that we will hear more about Kaʻo as she moves to Middle School and beyond. I mua Kaʻo!

Papa ʻelima had a wonderful day with Kumu Lehua at various wahi pana along the Keaukaha coastline. Students and kumu learned so much from Kumu Lehua on this walking tour starting at Puhi Bay and ending at Onekahakaha.
Did you know that there are moʻolelo about each of these wahi pana? Kumu Lehua also shared an oli that tells a little bit about each of the places we visited (and some we didnʻt have a chance to learn about yet). Ask your keiki to tell you at least one of the moʻolelo that she or he learned. It is truly fascinating!!

 

 

2013, the year of the snake, just started yesterday, February 10th. Kung Hee Fat Choy!!
Hereʻs some general information about the year of the snake. Focus and discipline are necessary for you to accomplish your goals. The Chinese believe that having a Snake in your house (someone born in the year of the Snake) is good because your family will never starve. Why, you say? People born in the year of the Snake are thoughtful and wise. They approach problems in a logical and rational manner.
The Snake is the sixth sign of the Chinese Zodiac. What sign were you born under? What are you looking forward to this year? How will you ensure that your goals are met?

Our January Hāweo recipients are Makana Kohara and Kay-Leigh Polido. Did you know that Makana is a math whiz? Yep, he is! He is also an avid reader. Right now he is into the Sammy Keyes series. Although he can be shy at times, he is definitely NOT shy when playing kickball!
Kay-Leigh has a smile on her face the majority of the time. She is pleasant and gets along well with her peers. What you may not know about Kay-Leigh is that she competed in the Makahiki games in Waimea, Hawaiʻi and won first place in kōnane (Hawaiian checker game) and second in uma (hand-wrestling).
Congratulations to these two keiki!!

Here is your assignment for January 2013! Read this quote and tell me what you think it means and how you can apply it to yourself, your ʻohana, your community and our kula. I would like four separate paragraphs, each containing a main idea and three supporting details.
This is due by the end of the month!!

While our keiki were still enjoying their Christmas break, kumu came back to school on January 3rd to learn from one another during Nohona Hawaiʻi day at our campus. I attended a workshop given by Kumu Kealiʻi on homemade organic fertilizers using various ingredients that you find around the house. Your keiki will make one of these organic fertilizers on Friday, January 18th. Thatʻs this Friday!!
They will need to bring egg shells (dried out and crumbled) and a small glass or plastic jar as long as itʻs clean, like a used baby food or jelly jar. Thatʻs it! I will provide the apple cider vinegar.
The idea is to use stuff that youʻd normally throw away to make fertilizer. The other thing is to discourage chemical fertilizers. Youʻll have to let the liquid sit until the shells have disintegrated but once they have, you can use it to strengthen your plants at home with the mixture.
Yay for us and yay for Kumu Kealiʻi!!!!
Stay tuned – next month weʻll try another recipe.