Posted On: May 02, 12
Mahalo to everyone who has supported Kokua Hawaii Foundation through the purchase of the newly released (Jack Johnson and Friends - Best of Kokua Festival) album or came to see one of the recent Hawaiian Islands Tour shows. It has been tremendous to share the work Kokua Hawaii Foundation is doing to support environmental education in Hawaiiʻs schools and communities. To our volunteers who worked selling merchandise, signing up new voters and greening the events, we thank you! To our partners who donated fresh produce, flowers, food and beverages, we thank you! To everyone who bought a show ticket or merchandise, we thank you! To the online auction winners, who travelled from far and wide to join us here in Hawaii, we thank you! And lastly to Paula Fuga, John Cruz and especially KHF co-founder Jack Johnson, thank you for sharing your beautiful music and touching us with your lyrics and harmonies! We could not do what we do without the support from all of you! Mahalo!
To close the tour, Jack, Paula and John made a special visit to Waiakea Elementary School in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii to reward the students for the incredible work they have done creating a school-wide recycling program as their Kokua Earth Action Project this year.
Posted On: May 02, 12
On April 23, U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan named 78 schools as the first-ever U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools. Two Hawaii schools were on this list: Ewa Makai Middle School and Hawaii Preparatory Academy.
The 78 awarded schools were named winners from among nearly 100 nominees submitted by 30 state education agencies, the District of Columbia and the Bureau of Indian Education. More than 350 schools completed applications to their state education agencies. Among the list of winners are 66 public schools, including 8 charters, and 12 private schools. In total, the schools are composed of 43 elementary, 31 middle and 26 high schools with around 50 percent representing high poverty schools.
Last week, Kokua Hawaii Foundation co-founder Jack Johnson surprised the students, teachers and staff of Ewa Makai Middle School with a concert at an all-school assembly to announce the news. Paula Fuga, who attended Ewa Elementary, joined Jack on stage for a few songs. Following the concert, Jack, his wife Kim, and other Kokua Hawaii Foundation staff, went on a student-led tour of the school and got a chance to see their LEED Certified Gold campus, recycling program, vermicomposting pipeline used for the school cafeteriaʻs excess food waste, organic gardens, butterfly atrium, aquaponics and hydroponics systems, and much more! Ewa Makai Middle school has participated in Kokua Hawaii Foundationʻs 3Rʻs School Recycling Program, Kokua Earth Action Program and received KHF Environmental Education Mini-Grants.
The U.S. Department of Education’s “Green Ribbons” are one-year recognition awards. Next year’s competition will open in summer 2012.
Posted On: May 02, 12
The Honolulu City Council APPROVED Bill 10 last week that would ban plastic shopping bags effective July 1, 2015 if the mayor signs the bill. Mayor Carlisle said he’d review the bill and accept public input before making a decision on whether to sign it. Currently, Honolulu is the only county in the State that has not yet implemented any regulation on bags distributed to customers at checkout. Stores on Maui and Kauai are already prohibited from using plastic bags for groceries and other items. In January 2012, Hawaii County also approved a ban on plastic shopping bags that will take effect in two years.
If you are in support of the plastic bag ban on Oahu, please encourage Mayor Carlisle to sign the bill by calling 808-768-4141 or sending testimony through fax 808-768-4242 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Posted On: May 02, 12
Teachers, families and community volunteers are invited to help harvest, mulch and prepare the ‘AINA In Schools gardens and fruit tree orchards for the summer. You may RSVP for any school to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or the school contact listed below.
Ala Wai Elementary School
Wednesday, May 16th from 1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
RSVP contact: Mrs. Potter: 973-0075
Sunset Beach Elementary School
Friday, May 18th from 2:15 p.m-4:15 p.m.
RSVP contact: Rex Dubiel
Waikiki Elementary School Gardens Workday
Saturday, May 19th from 9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Projects Include: ‘AINA In Schools garden beds, Waikiki Food Farm, Fruit Tree Orchard
RSVP contact: Debbie Millikan
Kainalu Elementary School
Saturday, May 19th from 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
RSVP Contact: Catherine Heggarty
Aikahi Elementary School
Monday, May 21st from 2:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m.
RSVP contact: Allyson Fairweather
Waialae Public Charter School
Saturday, May 26th from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
RSVP contact: Mel Sumida
Posted On: May 02, 12
Niu Valley Intermediate School created a 3R’s Recycling Awareness Summit on campus during the month of April. Students at Niu Valley screened 20 minute segments of the film “Bag It” in their homeroom classes. After viewing the film, students participated in discussions about the current challenges our state endures pertaining to waste and recycling. One area of particular interest to the students at Niu Valley was the removal of the Community Recycling Bins due to occur next month. Students wrote and submitted their thoughts and feelings about the situation and their statements and suggestions were sent to the Honolulu City Council for review. Their hope is that a viable and sustainable recycling system remains in place for all schools as well the community.
Over the last 5 months, Honolulu Disposal Service/Honolulu Recovery Systems, the company whose contract with the City & County of Honolulu ends in June, has spent time assessing the school recycling situation and recently announced a solution for over 40 schools across Oahu. These schools will be able to continue recycling on campus by depositing their paper, cardboard, bottles and cans into receptacles right on campus. Island Shell and Rolloffs have been equally supportive of school recycling on Oahu and are planning pilot programs to haul recycling from schools next fall. We are hopeful that a solution for the remainder of Oahu schools will come very soon. Kudos to HDS, Island Shell and Rolloffs for supporting recycling in schools!
Kahalu’u Elementary School hosted their first “Go Green Family Night” focused on recycling on April 20th. Students showcased their artwork themed around waste reduction and also screened the film “Bag It”. Along with serving a delicious dinner, families participated in activities and earned prizes such as reusable water bottles, reusable shopping bags and pencils made from recycled newspaper. In the coming school year Kahalu’u Elementary School plans to provide more education on waste reduction to their school community.
5th graders Keely Thompson and Ilima Chaize of Le Jardin Academy recently completed a project called Exhibition. They chose the topic of recycled clothing and as their Action Plan and promoted recycled clothing in the community by holding a clothing drive at their school and sewing the collected garments into upcycled reusable bags. Their creations were sold at an Earth Day event at their school on April 20th, 2012 and all proceeds benefited the Kokua Hawaii Foundation. Mahalo Keely & Illima!
Posted On: May 02, 12
Gear up for the inaugural Bike to School Day on May 9th. The National Center for Safe Routes to School, in partnership with the League of American Bicyclists, is pleased to be organizing the first-ever National Bike to School Day. Did you know biking enhances our health and well being, and eases traffic congestion near schools? In a fun way, you can improve our air quality and our overall quality of life!
Some Environmental Benefits of Bicycling:
- Reduces Air Pollution
- Reduces Noise Pollution
- Reduces Energy Consumption
- Reduces Demand for Parking Lots and Road Repair
- Reduces Water Pollution - Bikes don’t drip brake fluid, anti-freeze and transmission fluid!
Safety Tips for Bicyclists:
- ALWAYS wear a helmet!
- Ride with traffic and follow the rules of the road
- Don’t ride on the sidewalk
- Ride on the trail, paved shoulder, bike lanes or bike route
- Be predictable, visible and courteous
- Watch for turning traffic
- Watch for things on the road or trail that might make you fall or swerve
Register your event, join schools nationwide and become a Bike to School Day Pioneer!
Posted On: May 01, 12
Imagine having YOUR recipe featured in Volume II of the ‘AINA In Schools Cookbook. Create a recipe that is kid, family or teacher friendly. Use fresh, high quality, and close to the source ingredients grown by local farmers or found in home, community, or school gardens. This recipe contest is open to all school-aged children grades K-8. Recipes may be submitted by an individual, team or entire class. Click here to download details and entry form. Contest entries must be postmarked by May 25, 2012.
‘AINA In Schools Cookbook Volume I is available for purchase at the Kokua Hawaii Foundation Store.
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