Mahalo

It was awesome to be outdoors today with my colleagues learning about the names and places surrounding Kapi’olani Community College. Hearing Kawika tell his mo’olelo, his stories about places such as Kaimuki helped me to remember the effectiveness of storytelling.

My students bring their mana’o into the classroom each day as I learn so much from them. As a faculty member, I know it is my kuleana to facilitate student learning by creating a safe environment where students can take risks and share their stories, their mo’olelo also.

When I understand where my students are coming from or their world view, I think I can begin to make more meaningful connections with them. It’s all about giving them a voice, relating to them—their world, engaging them in learning…..
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Looking at the beautiful flowers and plants with the vast ocean as a backdrop, I was reminded of the natural beauty of Hawaii. I felt sad to see graffiti on some of the signs along the hiking path.
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I especially enjoyed the conversations I engaged in along the way with my colleagues. Mahalo nui for an enjoyable time.

le'ahi

The memory from the walk was of the sound of traffic interfereing with the beauty of nature. I have never walked this road slowly, and therefore never saw the beauty, or the buildings, so clearly.

Today: the feeling of being drawn to the beauty of the crater above and the ocean below while being interrupted by the sounds of cars and the sight of construction trying its damndest to bury the beauty of nature.

Kawaika told us about malama, the "faded torch", which calls to us for support, and a'oloko (misspelled because it's not in the dictionary) which provides inspiration for teaching (if I understand it correctly).

A lesson would be to demonstrate how progress with integrity might be possible. The practical implications of zoning? In math, interpreting data demonstrating the affects of pollution from different sources.

Well, the final episode of 24 is on so I have to go!

Nā Wa‘a Eportfolio Research Project

Presentation give at LaGuardia Community College

Nā Wa'a Research Project

Introducing Nā Wa‘a for students.

Day One - Reflection on Le‘ahi

For this prompt, your challenge is to reflect on the walk we took to Le‘ahi. Did the walk and the place inspire a memory, lesson or personal anecdote you would like to share? Link this reflection to one of the Hawaiian values that Kāwika taught you earlier this morning. Now go further. How could you use this experience in your teaching? Post your reflection and any photos you took on our walk. Instructions on how to post can be found here. Instructions for posting photos can be found here. For a Hawaiian dictionary, click here.

He wahī pa‘akai

Translated, this ‘ōlelo no‘eau literally means "just a packet of salt," but figuratively, the proverb has a much deeper meaning; "something good; a gift of anything one has grown or made" or simply put, a gift made with great skill and personal investment of time and hard work. In searching for the right name for our summer institute, we wanted a word that would best represent our goals: exploring our connection to Hawai'i and using these connections to integrate the knowledge we have in our respective fields to better serve our students through Kahikoluamea Academy learning communities and guiding their development within a Hawaiian values context.

The operative word is "connection."

Pa‘akai is a physical manifestation of the connection between sea, land and sun -- elements that make Hawai‘i, Hawai'i. Salt has been used by Hawaiians medicinally, in ceremonies and as a valuable food preservative. Most importantly, the Hawaiian tradition of making and harvesting salt is a long and labor intensive process that brings together families, thus creating community. We hope that you find these connections - literal and figurative -- with Hawai‘i, your home, and with each other during this summer institute.