Hōkūpaʻa Updates
Resources, community news, and bright spots.
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: 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.
Time for Self-Care
Self-care is any activity that we do deliberately to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health. It sounds simple to do but it’s something we often overlook. More than ever, now is the time to intentionally plan for good self-care.