Hōkūpaʻa Updates
Resources, community news, and bright spots.
Navigation Council Member Feature: Wally Lau, Hawaiʻi Island Fentanyl Task Force
Today we’re featuring one of our longtime Navigation Council members: Wally Lau. Wally joined us several years ago while working for the County, and remains involved in the community. One of the commitments closest to his heart is the Hawaiʻi Island Fentanyl Task Force (HIFTF), a group he helped to found in response to an alarming rise in overdose deaths.
Wally believes that it is everyone’s kuleana, ‘opio to kupuna, to take care of the community, give back, and save lives. Like all of our members, he values youth voice, leadership, and action, working with schools and young adults in HIFTF’s mission.
Bright Spot: CU Hawai‘i Youth Programming — Reality Fairs & More
Financial literacy is important, but can be daunting. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources. CU Hawai‘i does in-person and virtual financial literacy presentations for groups of all ages, and also pops up at events like community fairs, career fairs, and school family nights.
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.
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.
Navigation Council Member Feature: Susan Maddox, Friends of the Future
We’re starting a newsletter segment to help introduce our Navigation Council members and the values driving our work.
First up is Susan Maddox, Executive Director of Friends of the Future. Mahalo Susan for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer some questions!
TEACHER FEATURE #6: THE HAWK NEST AT KEALAKEHE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
What does it look like to turn student voice into student action? At Kealakehe Intermediate School, teacher Mathieu Williams works to create student experiences that allow them to design, test, and redesign solutions that connect their learning to self, place, and others.
CAS SNELLING ON "TALK STORY WITH DR. K"
Check out this brief chat with our amazing Complex Area Superintendent Janette Snelling hosted by the state superintendent Christina Kishimoto.
Hawaii Business Interview with West Hawaiʻi CAS Janette Snelling
Janette Snelling, Honoka‘a-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena Complex Area Superintendent, sat down for an interview with Steve Petranik of Hawaii Business Magazine to talk about public education in the era of COVID-19, as well as where we’re going next.
Teacher Feature #4: Student Voice in Action
Students have thoughts, opinions, dreams and aspirations. We need to give students opportunity to share their thoughts in a meaningful way. Doug McDowell, Honokaa High School teacher, gives students voice through visual language as they communicate issues that matter to them and their community.
Teacher Feature #2: Joy Personius, District Resource Teacher
Joy Personius, SEL Resource Teacher is our October Teacher Feature
Teacher Feature #1: Geri Ann Davidson of Kahakai
There are many good things happening in our West Hawaiʻi schools and we appreciate the opportunity to share what our teachers and schools are doing. Geri Ann Davidson is our first teacher to be featured. Enjoy!