Hau’ula Kuleana Community Awareness Day

On August 20th, the Hau’ula community held its first annual Kuleana Community Awareness Day. The event was held at Hau’ula Beach Park and included a beach cleanup of the shoreline. Various groups, including the Honolulu Police Department, Hau’ula Community Association and Ko’olauloa Health and Wellness Center set up booths to help increase awareness of various health and safety issues in the community. It was great to see everyone take part in this event and I hope to see everyone out next year!

City Council Honors Kahuku’s Junior Primacio and Laie Elementary!

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At last week’s City Council meeting, councilmember’s had the priveledge to recognize Junior Primacio and students from Laie Elementary.

A longtime member of the Ko’olauloa Neighborhood Board, Kahuku’s Junior Primacio was honored for his years of community service within the Ko’olauloa area. A product of the Kahuku Sugar Plantation, Junior has been a part of over 15 community organizations and has participated in the neighborhood board system since 1977.

Junior has become a household name at the board meetings and I do not expect him to slow down anytime soon with this community activism.

Laie Elementary sixth graders Kamaile Aluli, Kaylee Alana Miller and Truman Spring took home the top prize in the Best Website category at the 2011 National History Day contest held at the University of Maryland.

The student’s submission, titled “Between a Rock and a Hard Place: the Battle Over Hetch Hetchy,” represented the group’s thesis that building the dam at Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite Park led to greater protection of national forests with an array of videos and pictures tied into a well built site.

Mahalo to you all for showing what special people come out of Ko’olauloa!

KEY Project Ho’ike 2011

Every summer, KEY Project holds an end of summer program displaying what they learned at the facility’s extensive Hawaiian immersion program. I am honored to have been invited to attend and definitely look forward to coming back next year!

City Council Honors Leilehua’s Aloha Coleman

Last week, I had the privelege of presenting Ms. Aloha Coleman, principal of Leilehua High School with an Honorary Certificate in Full Council June 3, 2011. Aloha was selected by the Hawaii Association of Secondary School Administrators as the State National Distinguished 2012 Principal of the Year. 

Complex Area Superintendent Patricia Park nominated Ms. Coleman based on her excellence in the areas of collaborative leadership and her effectiveness as an outstanding instructional leader at Leilehua High School.  Principal Coleman is totally committed to providing a quality education for all students.  This commitment to her students has been a model for other educators as they make informed decisions on curriculum, instruction and assessments to create a learning environment that enhances the growth of each individual student. 

Aloha began her career as a teacher at Laie Elementary School where the principal repeatedly suggested she go into administration.  She chose to stay with teaching and after years at Laie, she went on to teach at Haleiwa Elementary School in the early 1990’s.  During this time, the Haleiwa community experienced great change as the Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Village for the homeless came in behind the old Haleiwa gym. Homeless individuals and families were placed in the village from all over the island.  This influx affected the small school of Haleiwa as the administration, teachers and faculty braced themselves to support the children that resided in the village. Haleiwa Elementary had no Vice Principal so the Principal asked Aloha if she would be willing to be the Administrative Assistant to support the teachers and assist the principal in meeting the needs of the students.  She found she enjoyed working with the children and faculty throughout the school to create a positive environment for learning and growth.

After a year as the Administrative Assistant she decided to go through the D.O.E. Administration Training Program and was placed at Aiea High School.  With only rural elementary school experience, the idea of working in a high school in the city was a bit terrifying.  But after her first contact with the students, she knew that she would love working with students of all ages and any demographic.  She was offered a position at Leilehua High School as a Vice Principal where she served from 1996 to 1999.  In 1999 she was offered the position of Principal of Waialua Intermediate and High School where she remained until 2005 when she accepted a position in the District Office.  In 2007 she was offered her current position of Principal of Leilehua High School. 

Above all else there is a strong sense of ohana in the halls of Leilehua.  Administration, teachers and faculty work closely together and rely on each other for the support, encouragement and guidance needed to be successful in meeting the needs of the diverse student body of Leilehua High School.

Congratulations, Aloha! This is a well-deserved award to a very hardworking principal. Mahalo and we wish you the best in the future.

Ko’olauloa Relay for Life

With Brother Sage Chee

On May 20th , the Ko‘olauloa community came out to support a cause that is near and dear to my heart. The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life raises money to help find a cure for cancer. It is also a celebration of the lives of survivors, their caretakers, and anyone who has been affected by cancer directly or indirectly.

The survivors walking the first lap.

The event, which was held at the Hau‘ula Community Park invited anyone and everyone to join in on the festivities which included a basketball tournament, a haircut station, music, and food. All proceeds were donated to the American Red Cross.

Jacob Nihipali and his team put together a great event that surpassed many of their goals including raising over $22,000. Their initial goal of $20,000.

Jacob Nihipali with some event attendees

   

With over 30 teams, the overnight event began with a first lap by cancer survivors which totaled over 95. Following the first lap, everyone was invited to continue the walk. My wife and I took to the course, walking and talking with survivors and other community members.

After the sun sets, the Luminaria Ceremony begins in which candles are lit to illuminate bags with the written names of loved ones who have been affected by cancer.

I was glad to have been able to participate in this great event for a great cause and look forward to next year’s ceremony!

Banzai Skate Park

 

With community residents at Banzai Skatepark

North Shore residents and supporters of the Banzai Skateboard Park gathered at the park on Sunday, May 22nd to demonstrate strong community support for completion of the project. 

Brianne Randle, a reporter for KHON and a Kahuku graduate, covered the story which aired that evening.  She interviewed members of the newly formed Citizens Advisory Group and members of the Sunset Beach Community Association along with other residents as to their opinions on the current and future condition of the park. 

I am very optimistic that the advisory group and the community at large will have a significant impact on the final design of the park.  I commend all of the supporters for donating their time and talent to the cause.  There were also promises of monetary assistance to the special park fund established by the Sunset Beach Community Association. 

In addition to the construction funds allocated by the City, contributions to the SBCA fund will be used for enhancements not currently included in the construction budget.  Providing an additional incentive for the City to expedite the work schedule at the site, Vans Triple Crown will be celebrating its 30^th anniversary next year and has expressed an interest in sponsoring a skate board competition at the park. 

When interviewed on the financial status of the park, I reported that the City estimates it will take an additional $1.3 million to complete the skateboard park.  Although I have included the full amount in the budget for Fiscal 2012 which begins on July 1^st, there is a possibility that the administration could restrict the release of the funds due to our current economic predicament.  That makes the public/private partnership between the community and the city a very viable option to finally get this project done.

 

 

KHON’s coverage can be found at http://www.khon2.com/news/local/story/City-community-partnership-to-finish-North-Shore/mIwnbBuouESii-cxy3BDrQ.cspx

45th Annual Senior Recognition

 

Our kupuna are the cornerstone of our communities. Taking care of one’s hometown is a daunting task and doing it pro bono is sure to detract many. Thankfully, we have many people who are willing to give their time to help their communities.

Director of Community Services Sam Moku, Junior Primacio, and myself at the 45th Annual Senior Recognition Program

I am thankful to have one such resident living in Kahuku. Junior Primacio has given many years to the betterment of his community and I am honored to have been able to nominate him for recognition. He currently serves on the Ko’olauloa Neighborhood Board as the Chair of the Committee on Agriculture. There is no person more deserving to be recognized for the contributions he has given to his community. Congratulations, Junior!