Posted On: Jan 20, 09
January was a month of renewal for the ‘AINA In Schools Gardens. The garden parties were accomplishments thanks to school families and volunteers from the community who showed up to help in honor of Martin Luther King Day, and the National Day Of Service. Students used tools bigger than themselves to mix compost and fertilizer into the garden beds. Small fingers removed the delicate seeds from spent flower heads, and load after load of mulch were placed around the gardens to create a weed free barrier. Soon Kindergarteners, first graders and 5th graders will be planting their Spring edible gardens. Mahalo to the volunteers who help keep our gardens growing!
(Clockwise from Top Left: Wai’alae volunteers collecting & saving seeds, ‘Aikahi volunteers after a successful garden party, Sunset volunteers taking steps to keep the weeds out, Ala Wai volunteers prepare beds for replanting.
We hope each of you continue to find ways to help your communities throughout the year. For more information on volunteer opportunities with Kokua, visit our website and keep reading our newsletters!
Posted On: Jan 19, 09
On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Kokua Hawai’i Foundation took part in one of over 13,000 service projects organized for the Day of Service. Families, teachers, college students, and kids of all ages weeded, harvested, composted, and planted at the educational farm HYPERLINK “http://www.hoa-aina.org/” Hoa ‘Aina O Makaha [http://www.hoa-aina.org/]. We worked alongside Mr. Gigi, Sunny, Kumu and other Hoa ‘Aina regulars whose love and sweat keep Hoa ‘Aina flourishing year-round.
Hoa ‘Aina O Makaha is a popular field trip destination for schools taking advantage of Kokua’s environmental education field trip assistance program. Each student at Makaha Elementary School visits the farm for hands-on learning at least once a week!
One of the highlights of the project was helping to prepare a garden especially for Makaha Elementary School’s teachers. It will be a place where they can garden, harvest vegetables, and enjoy their lunch—a sanctuary in the shade for these hard working educators. The “Built With Our Own Two Hands” garden was built by Makaha Elementary’s 6th graders and dedicated to Jack & Kim Johnson in 2007. The Johnsons and Kokua ‘ohana are excited that this garden will be a place for the teachers to enjoy, relax, and be inspired to do their very important work!
Posted On: Jan 15, 09
Make Martin Luther King Jr. holiday a “day on” rather than a “day off” by joining thousands of people across Hawai’i and the U.S. in service to our communities. President-Elect Obama is encouraging people throughout the U.S to get involved in service this weekend and year-round. Visit www.usaservice.org to search for an opportunity near you.
Hoa ‘Aina O Makaha and Kokua Hawai’i Foundation invite you to join us at Hoa ‘Aina O Makaha’s farm. We’ll be weeding, planting, and enjoying each other’s company as we celebrate peace and community.
Hoa ‘Aina O Makaha Volunteer Day
Monday, January 19, 2009
9 -11 a.m.
Next to Makaha Elementary School: 84-200 Ala Na’auao Place
Bring sun protection and water and prepare to get dirty!
Contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to RSVP.
Please call Gigi if you have any questions: (808) 695-9730
Other Service Events Happening this Weekend:
Saturday, 1/17. Help prepare the ‘AINA In Schools garden beds at Ala Wai Elementary (8:30 a.m.) and ‘Aikahi Elementary (3 p.m.). Contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to RSVP.
Posted On: Jan 01, 09
Happy New Year members and friends! As 2009 rolls in, we ask that you please consider the environment in your New Year resolutions. Please continue to check our website periodically and your membership settings for up to date information about our programs and events. May you have a peaceful and “green” year!
Posted On: Jan 01, 09
Tired of the same old school fundraising drives—bake sales, car washes or wrapping paper offers? Fundraising does not have to involve buying high-calorie sweets, disposable junk you don’t need or want, or harm to our environment. We all know how desperate our schools are for funds, especially now, but how to raise funds without lowering our environmental standards? Many schools continue to rely on, and profit from, well-known efforts that are environmentally friendly. The array of better, greener fundraising options is actually astounding. Check out Green Schools for a simple guide with lots of options and resources. Here are some of our favorite ideas:
- -Selling seed packets. Buy seed in bulk and repackage through a student-run seed company or grow and save seeds from home and school gardens. Download a great Seed School Curriculum at FedcoSeeds.com and some fundraising tips at SeedsOfChange.com.
- -A community-supported Farmer’s Market for the school!
- -Book fairs promote literacy while raising funds. Organize a gently-used book fair where families can donate the books they have cleared off their shelves.
- -Children’s toy & clothes swaps, where recycling old treasures to new ones benefit the school.
- -Walk-a-thons, bowl-a-thons, and other sports-related fundraisers promote physical activity for students and can be lucrative for schools.
Sunset Beach Elementary found a great way to recycle and earn money for the school at their first ever, Holiday Kids’ Stuff Exchange! Instead of spending way too much money on holiday gifts, students exchanged their gently used kids’ stuff and shopped for some new ones. They saved a ton of money, got rid of their old toys (saving space for “new” ones) and supported a great cause, Sunset Beach Elementary School! This fun & successful event took place on Saturday, 12.13.08 from 9am – 12 noon. All remaining items were donated to Operation Toy Box, a local charity.
Posted On: Jan 01, 09
In the first semester of the 2008-2009 school year we have been able to reach thousands of children through our programs:
3R’s School Recycling - 13,000 students at 25 participating schools reduce, reuse, and recycle on campus. Several of these schools have started composting and vermicomposting food and green waste on campus. This fall, 6300 students will see “The Trash Heap,” a play co-produced by the Kokua Hawaii Foundation.
‘AINA In Schools - 10 elementary schools participate in our ‘AINA IS programs. This semester 800 students participated in garden lessons, while 600 took part in nutrition lessons. Parent and community volunteers supported the program by giving 887 hours from August to October. 116 educators from over 60 public and private schools in Hawai’i attended school garden workshops presented by ‘AINA IS.
Environmental Education Mini-Grants - 330 students and 20 teachers have received assistance for environmental education supplies, curricula, and workshops. One school has raised enough worms to start a commercial-scale vermicomposting bin for their campus food waste!
Environmental Education Field Trip Assistance Program - In the Fall of 2008, 2,363 students at 25 schools participated in field trips supported by Kokua. Field trip sites include Hoa’aina O Makaha, Hawai’i Nature Center Iao Valley, Mokupapapa Discovery Center in Hilo, and many others.
Kokua Earth Action Projects (KEAP) - During the 2007-2008 school year 1450 students from across the state developed KEAP projects. For the 2008-2009 school year, over 1400 students will participate. Sustainable agriculture, energy conservation, and waste reduction are some of the issues students address with their projects.
Community Programs and Campaigns:
Plastic Free Hale’iwa - Since the coalition launched last January, over 55 businesses have become members and pledged to stop disbursing single-use plastics such as plastic bags and Styrofoam containers.
Film Screenings: Over 400 community members have attended our film screenings and discussions.
Simplify the Holidays - Hundreds of KHF members have pledged to give back to their environment and communities this holiday season.
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