FREE Screening of “Bag It” next week!

Mahalo for your support!

During the 2010-2011 school year we reached thousands through our programs. Here’s a snapshot:

‘AINA In Schools

This farm to school program aims to connect children to their land, waters and food in order to grow a healthier future for Hawai’i. ‘AINA IS brings nutrition education, garden-based learning, agricultural literacy, and healthy food choices to Hawai’i's schools.

12 elementary schools on O’ahu participate in our ‘AINA IS program. is year 1,800 students participated in garden lessons, while 1,300 took part in nutrition lessons. Five ‘AINA schools served a weekly Fresh Choice Salad Bar and six schools participated in the Hawaiian Harvest Snack pilot program. Both programs aim to serve more fresh, local produce on school campuses. Over 450 parent and community volunteers supported the program by giving 3,500 hours of service.

Environmental Education Field Trip Assistance Program

Kokua’s field trip assistance grants bring students to outdoor sites where they can experience hands-on learning about Hawai’i's natural environment.

5,946 students at 68 schools participated in Kokua-supported field trips. Field trip sites include Wai’opae Marine Life Conservation District, Waimea Valley, Honouliuli Wetlands, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, and many others. An additional 3,350 children visited Hoa ‘Aina O Makaha’s educational farm, which receives Kokua funding to support their Ke Ala Learning Center.

Environmental Education Mini-Grants

Teachers from Hawai’i public schools can apply for mini-grants to help advance their environmental education goals.

11,500 students at 41 schools received assistance for environmental education supplies, curricula, and workshops. Mini-grants supported vermicomposting workshops, garden supplies, aquaponics systems, and more this school year.

Kokua Earth Action Projects (KEAP)

KEAP is an environmental service-learning initiative encouraging students to work toward creating lasting, positive change in their schools and communities.

During the 2010-2011 school year over 1,200 students from across the state completed KEAP projects. Projects included: “Green Schools Documentary,” “Our Garbage Isn’t Garbage Anymore,” and “Invasive Limu Eradication.”

3R’s School Recycling Program

Our 3 R’s Program encourages reducing, reusing, and recycling on campus by providing educational resources and recycling bins to participating schools

32,500 students at 45 participating schools reduce, reuse, and recycle on campus. Several of these schools have started composting and vermicomposting food and green waste on campus. Kokua sponsored a 3R’s School Recycling Drive at Kahuku High School and diverted over 8,000 lbs. of recyclables from the landfill.

Plastic Free Schools

Launched in March 2011, Plastic Free Schools aims to reduce single-use plastics on campuses. The program encourages students, faculty, and parents to make plastic free commitments like packing waste free lunches and carrying reusable bottles and tote bags. The program provides educational resources to make these commitments come to life.

40 students from 12 schools participated in our Student Ambassador Workshop at the 5th International Marine Debris Conference.  Over 100 volunteers supported our co-sponsored beach clean up that removed an estimated 1.6 tons of marine debris in just 2 hours!

Plastic Free Hawai’i is a coalition of community members and business owners that strives to educate the stores, restaurants, schools, residents and visitors of Hawai’i on the environmental and health benefits of going plastic free to minimize the consumption and pollution of plastics in our islands

Currently over 60 businesses from Hale’iwa and Kailua towns have pledged to stop disbursing single-use plastics such as plastic bags, cups, and styrofoam containers.

Simplify the Holidays focuses on our traditional holiday dreams and ideals, while helping our local economy, environment and communities too.

Over 1,600 KHF members and friends pledged to give back to their environment and communities this past holiday season.

Educational Events allow us to share a variety of environmental issues with a broader community audience including parents, educators and school administrators

This year 500 people attended KHF-hosted film screenings and discussions, cooking demonstrations, school garden conferences and teacher institutes.

KHF looking for Volunteers

Our ‘AINA In Schools program is recruiting parent and community docents to teach nutrition lessons for grades 2 & 6, and garden lessons for Grades K, 1, and 5. No experience is necessary! Join us in educating the next generation about how to make healthy food choices and how to grow their own food at schools all over O’ahu. Must be available for monthly lessons and quarterly trainings beginning in August.

Nutrition Docent Training Dates::

• Honolulu Schools: Monday, August 29th, 9:30 am - 12:30pm
• Windward Schools: Wednesday, August 31st, 9:30am - 12:30pm
• North Shore Schools: Thursday, September 1st, 9:30am - 12:30pm

Garden Docent Training Dates::

• Honolulu Schools: Thursday, August 18th, 9:00am - 12:00pm
• Windward Schools: Tuesday, August 23rd, 9:00am - 12:00pm
• North Shore Schools: Thursday, August 25th, 9:00am - 12:00pm

If interested in attending an orientation and training contact Kelly Perry, at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

NOW ACCEPTING Kokua Earth Action Project, Environmental Field Trip & Mini-Grant Applications!

A Kokua Earth Action Project is an environmental service learning initiative aimed at taking care of our islands and encouraging long-lasting change in your classrooms, schools or community. If your class or school is interested in starting a project to create positive change for our environment this upcoming school year or you already have an environmental project planned, we invite you to register. We want to recognize your work and share it with other schools. To participate, please download the K.E.A.P. registration form online and submit it by October 14, 2011. For more information please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Our 2011-2012 Environmental Field Trip & Mini-Grant applications are now available at kokuahawaiifoundation.org/schoolprograms. Please fill out your grant applications and submit now. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until March 1, 2012. We look forward to assisting your school in furthering your environmental education goals. For more information about our grant opportunities, please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

4th Annual Hawai’i School Garden Conference, July 7 - 9

Thursday, July 7
Special Lunch and Workshop for School Administrators
School Administrators and Principals are invited to this special gathering to discuss the growing movement and the importance of Farm to School and School Garden Programs in the State of Hawai’i.

This workshop will be from 12:30pm - 3:30pm at Hoa ‘Aina O Makaha (next to Makaha Elementary School)

Details at: kohalacenter.org. RSVP required: email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Please invite your school administrators!

Saturday, July 9
“School Food Basics” and “School Garden Basics” Workshops
Start or strengthen your school’s health and wellness initiatives with these two informative workshops presented by the Kokua Hawai’i Foundation ‘AINA In Schools team.

This workshop will take place from 9:00am - 12:00pm at Hoa ‘Aina O Makaha (next to Makaha Elementary School)

Details at: kohalacenter.org. RSVP required: email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to RSVP (walk-ins also welcome).

Take the Energy Challenge

The Kanu Hawai’i Energy Challenge calls us to cut our electric and gasoline bills by 25% during the month of July, and commit to lasting change that will carry these savings forward. Each week will feature a mini-challenge:

• Week 1: Audit Challenge - We can’t manage what we don’t measure.
• Week 2: Appliances Challenge - Learn to turn off | adjust appliances to use less energy.
• Week 3: Transportation Challenge - Get out of the car & explore alternative transportation.
• Week 4: Outreach Challenge - Share what you learned with others!

Join the Energy Challenge by making one or more commitments at KanuHawaii.org

Buy a Song, Help Kōkua Hawai’i Foundation

The Patagonia Music Collective has teamed up with Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation founder and president, Jack Johnson, and past Kokua Festival artist, Jake Shimabukuro, to help environmental groups. When you purchase Johnson’s “To the Sea” and Shimabukuro’s “Less Cowbell, More Ukulele” you will help raise funds for Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation.
Get your exclusive tracks today at www.patagonia.com

New Day Garden at Washington Place

Governor Neil Abercrombie’s “New Day Garden” was dedicated on Saturday, June 18 next to the Governor’s home, Hale Kia‘aina. The home sits on the grounds of the historic Washington Place, former home of Queen Lili‘uokalani. Abercrombie and his wife Dr. Nancie Caraway are the first “first family” in Hawaii’s history to plant a food garden and implement a composting system at Hale Kia‘aina, setting a great example of Aloha ‘Aina and increased access to fresh healthy foods.

This organic fruit, herb, and vegetable garden was made possible entirely by donations from local businesses, non-profits, and the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, in a great example of public-private partnerships. The effort was headed by Jacqueline Kozak of the Hawai‘i Invasive Species Council, who had originally submitted the idea through the Governor’s “New Day Hawai‘i” website.

Kokua Hawai‘i Foundation donated the materials and expertise for the implementation of a system to compost nearly all the yard and food wastes generated on the grounds at Washington Place. Students from the Kainalu Elementary ‘AINA In Schools Garden Club were in attendance during the dedication to plant seedlings, set up the compost system, and plant lemon and papaya trees. The Club also designed and painted the New Day Garden signs. A beautiful Hawaiian blessing was shared by Kahuna, and an ‘awa tree planted as an important symbol of Hawaiian culture and healing.

Mahalo to Governor Abercrombie and Dr. Caraway for their leadership and to the vast number of community partners for their Kokua in bringing a New Day to Hawai‘i!