MEMO: 25 Kepakemapa 2012
Aloha,
Ok–first things first, do not get overwhelmed by the length of this message. There are a couple things that we need to take care of before Senior Service Day, & although these things are relatively simple, they also need explanation. Please read carefully & slowly as you are ultimately responsible for carrying out this kuleana. As always, if you need kōkua, do not wait until the last minute to contact me. My email is [email protected], & you can reach me on campus at x.28498 or from anywhere at (808) 842-8498.
Homeroom kumu & representatives, please work together in carrying out the following kuleana:
- Waiver forms (time-sensitive): using the information above (click on the chart for better viewing), contact your organization to see if waiver forms are required for your service site. If so, have them email you the form & make copies for everyone (students & teachers). All students must have their parents/guardians (not their Dorm Advisors) sign these forms even if they are over 18 years old. If your service site does not require waiver forms, please disregard this request. Waiver forms must be completely filled out, signed, & collected by homeroom teachers prior to Senior Service Day, or students cannot participate. Please obtain waiver forms soon to give enough time for students–especially boarders–to mail or to take home their forms to be signed. Fall Break is approaching soon; do not wait until the last minute. Homeroom kumu will be responsible for making sure that all students have their waiver forms signed. Please collect all forms, make a copy of the signed forms for your records, & provide the original copies to the service organization upon your arrival to the site (unless directed otherwise by the service agency).
- Campus Visit/Presentation: between now & Senior Service Day, I hope your organization will have the opportunity to meet with you during a homeroom block. They may show a DVD or a PowerPoint of their ahupua‘a, or even share interesting mo‘olelo of the area & insights on what you will be doing there. The purpose of this time together is to launa, or to introduce & to familiarize ourselves, with those who will be hosting us. Feel free to make it as formal or informal, simple or elaborate, as you wish, keeping in mind that the objective is for us to capture the spirit of service during this time. As a friendly reminder, homeroom kumu, please be sure to email the front gate ([email protected]) with the name of the presenter(s), the est. time of arrival, the purpose of the meeting, & the make & model of the vehicle(s) to avoid pilikia. Although this campus visit/presentation is not mandatory (yet highly recommended), having your homerooms meet their respective community partners beforehand will establish a strong foundation & ensure a smooth transition. On Oct. 17, if service organizations want to conduct on-site tours or give presentations about their area to your homerooms, we kindly ask that the tours/presentations do not exceed 15-30 mins. so we can maximize our time to give back.
- Cultural Protocol (mana‘o, oli, ho‘okupu, pule): as guests of the lands we will be visiting, we want to ensure that our work there is pono & that we arrive with the right na‘au–prepared not only to work hard but also to share aloha & respect for the ‘āina & to the people who will assist us on both sides of the veil. Upon arrival at the service sites, homerooms will conduct a simple protocol prior to engaging in service that will entail brief mana‘o, oli, ho‘okupu, & pule. The protocol need not be a production but rather a heartfelt presentation of what we represent as a kula Hawai‘i & as a lāhui. The purpose of oli is three-fold, commonly known as the 3 Ps: to prepare our hearts & minds, to ask for permission, & to provide protection. Whether you are paired with another homeroom or going to your own service site, please use the next few weeks to meet together to discuss an appropriate oli that all of your classmates would like to present to the service agency. The oli can be the one you learned at Kū Mauna, your class oli, or even another oli that is pili, or connected, to the area. In the next few weeks, all haumāna & kumu should practice chanting together & rehearsing how the protocol will happen during homeroom periods. Make sure to select Alaka‘i who will lead the oli along with a spokesperson to introduce your homeroom(s) & to explain briefly the cultural protocol that will take place. Inform your service organization that you would like to do a small Hawaiian protocol before engaging in service so they can prepare appropriately. Most times this protocol begins shortly after everyone has disembarked from the bus & gathered their ukana (belongings). Should you need kōkua in preparing for this portion, please do not hesitate to contact me or anyone else who may be of assistance. On Wednesday, Oct. 17, please bring a small ho‘okupu to the Auditorium if possible–perhaps handmade ti-leaf or flower lei, pa‘i ‘ai/poi, or mahalo cards, or even just your oli–to give as an offering of aloha to the organization. Whatever you can give–even if just the oli–is appreciated as long as it is done with aloha. Please don’t stress out on this part. After oli have been recited & ho‘okupu have been received, thank the service organization & feel free to have a classmate or kumu offer a pule to bless your time & work there. Then, get ready to have fun & work hard 🙂
- Dress attire: although most sites will have the similar expected dress attire of “comfortable work clothes that you wouldn’t mind getting dirty,” double-check with your service agency to see if there are any particulars of which you should be aware. For example, if you are going to Kahana Valley, Aunty Renee does not want you folks to wear tabis in the lo‘i because their lo‘i are “apple snail free,” & your tabis might carry bacteria from a previous lo‘i or service site. Kahana lo‘i are relatively safe–maybe a few mid-sized pōhaku here & there & a few frogs for kicks & giggles, but other than that, no dangerous objects. But just to be safe, email, or better yet, call your contact point to determine exactly what you will need to bring. Everyone will be required to bring at least 1 liter of bottled water to SSD. We will have limited water jugs at each site, but it will be the responsibility of all students & teachers to provide at least 1 liter of water in a sustainable water container/bottle.
- Camera Phone Photographer: help us capture the memories! Please choose 1 person from your homeroom that will be the “official” photographer for Oct. 17. If your homeroom is pairing up with another homeroom, please choose only 1 photographer to avoid duplicate pics. Using his/her cell phone (hopefully an iPhone–just kidding 😉 ha ha), please take the following pictures: 1 “before” of the area; 1 “after” showcasing the work you did; a few snapshots of your homeroom in action (close-ups are best), & 1 or 2 group shots with your service organization. The photographer will text those pictures to a cell number that will be disclosed at the Auditorium on Oct. 17. Please text all pics by 12 noon so there is adequate time to complete the slide show. Don’t forget to text the name of your service site so the pics can be organized accordingly.
Friendly reminder: in all communication to your service organizations & partnering homerooms, please “cc” me ([email protected]) so I am in the loop. I will do the same for all of you. If you are unsure about something, please contact me first so that I can make sure we can accommodate your request.
The following agenda is a general outline of what our entire day will look like. All supervision kumu will be expected to stay for the entire day. Please do not leave early.
October 17 Schedule:
7:30-8:30 Morning assembly (piko) at Auditorium with guest speaker, Keith Nehls
8:30-8:45 Transition to buses; grab lunches & water voids at Smith parking lot
8:45-1:30 Head to service sites; perform service; lunch; return to campus (note: see
chart below for specific arrival & departure times)
1:30-1:45 Head into Auditorium for afternoon assembly (piko)
1:45-2:30 Afternoon assembly (piko) – select student speakers & slide show
2:30p Pau ka lā kōkua (Service Day is done)
The following chart below (click on the chart for better viewing) lists bus coding & detailed drop-off/pick-up times for every site. The bus coding is the order that the buses will be leaving Smith Parking lot on Oct. 17, so please memorize your letter. For example, Bus “A” (Ka‘ena Cultural Practice Project) will be leaving Konia first, followed by Bus “B” (Hanauma Bay Education Program)…& so on & so forth.
Feel free to let your respective service organizations know the exact drop-off & pick-up times so they are informed. You will notice that, depending on the commute time, your homeroom(s) may have more or less time at your service site. Plan accordingly with your organization to ensure your time with them is productive, purposeful, & meaningful.
