Hōkūpaʻa Updates
Resources, community news, and bright spots.
Bright Spot: Transformative Translations
Recognizing that young people from multilingual households are often underappreciated community assets, a West Hawaiʻi teacher gathered support to launch an innovative career pathway and community service project.
Cup-of-Cheer Returns!
After a couple of years on hiatus, we are once again working with our original partners to bring back Cup-of-Cheer. The HIDOE complex area, Delta Kappa Gamma Rho Chapter, and Hōkūpaʻa are reunited with the intention to visit all 19 public schools in the Honokaʻa-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena Complex Area. And we could use some help!
GUEST BLOG: Kaukau 4 Keiki Project by Laʻakea Judd, UH-Hilo Ka Pouhana Peer Mentor
Amidst the busy summer bustle, dedicated students from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo’s Ka Pouhana Program spent six weeks leading a community project for Hilo families.
Return of the Hui for Youth Opportunities
After taking a hiatus for several months, hui collaborators reconvened in May of 2023. The hui members are passionate about address youth’s needs and aspirations so that they can be successful, well-connected, and just have fun.
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.
Bright Spot: Holualoa Elementary School Murals
This spring, Holualoa Elementary School has been getting a powerful makeover. It’s all thanks to a collaboration between the school and its parent-teacher organization, the grassroots art nonprofit Lydia8, and the community-based organization Aloha MAP.
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.
Remembering Art Souza
Art Souza was a champion for education, youth, and community for decades. Art brought so much warmth and wisdom to our navigation council, and continued to serve with us after his retirement from the Department of Education.
Bright Spot: Konawaena Elementary Family Craft Night
Families can always use more positive opportunities to visit their student’s campus. Mandatory meetings with teachers and other staff can be seen as a chore or even provoke anxiety. But we know that good things happen when families, students, and staff gather together to do something fun.
Bright Spot: Kohala High School Mental Health Awareness
We believe students are at their best when they feel connected to their schools. When those who work with young people build connections, they’re also building up students’ social-emotional and mental wellbeing.
In the spirit of reconnecting and student wellbeing, Kohala High School counselor Erin Henderson applied for a Hōkūpaʻa mini grant this semester to purchase supplies for a mental health awareness campaign.
Hōkūpaʻa Op-Ed: Put Focus on Transportation, Digital Literacy, Learning Gap as Students Head Back to School
As we transition into an era indelibly shaped by our COVID experiences, we also have a transition in the Hawaii Department of Education leadership. With Keith Hayashi selected as the new superintendent of Hawaii public schools and Gov. David Ige naming Bruce Voss as the new Board of Education chairman, the DOE has an opportunity to harness the momentum of change and address the educational needs of our students.
Hōkūpaʻa Op-Ed: Fight for Our Future
Mental health issues exacerbated by the pandemic, combined with long-festering substance use disorders in our community, are colliding in our youth population in a way that has long-reaching consequences for our entire island.
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: HAWAIʻI COUNTY FENTANYL TASK FORCE
Behavioral health and substance abuse have emerged as issues of acute concern in our West Hawaiʻi community. Last month, a coalition of Hawaiʻi Island organizations, government entities, healthcare providers, and community members held a virtual opioid summit called “Don’t Die HI.” The event was a response to a dangerous rise in fentanyl throughout the United States and the state of Hawaiʻi— particularly West Hawaiʻi.
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.
Teacher Feature #7: Ric Mendoza and the Honoka'a Dragon Den
Ric Elloy Mendoza is in his third year of teaching grades 9-12. Although he never planned to become a teacher, he fell in love with teaching after taking education classes as an undergraduate and pursuing a minor in education. Before moving to Honoka‘a to join his family, Ric taught in the Philippines for three years as a university Assistant Professor of business, and for one year at the Senior High level. After arriving here, Ric considered what he could offer his new community, especially the kids.
Career Conversation: Lisa DeSantis of Hawai'i Public Health Institute & Kokua Harvest
Hōkūpaʻa invited Lisa to chat because of growing public interest around the importance of sustainable food systems and public health. Lisa is passionate about the importance of these intertwined systems, and also shares Hōkūpaʻa’s mission for engaging and empowering youth to sustain their communities.