ʻĀINA In Schools News

Posted On: Aug 01, 12

Exciting Volunteer Opportunities
Join 'ĀINA In Schools and the Kōkua Hawai'i Foundation in helping to grow school gardens and healthy students! No experience necessary. Volunteers are needed to:

  • Teach or assist monthly nutrition lessons for grades 2 and 6
  • Teach or assist monthly garden lessons for grades K, 1 and 5
  • Assist with piloting a new monthly Hawaiian garden curriculum for grade 4
  • Lead or assist weekly garden clubs, and help with garden care
  • Participate in August Garden Party workdays to get the gardens ready for fall plantings

For more information and to RSVP, contact Kelly Perry, KHF Volunteer Coordinator, at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Nutrition Docent Training Dates:

  • Windward Schools: Tuesday, August 21st, 9:30am - 12:30pm
  • Honolulu Schools: Thursday, August 23th, 9:30 am - 12:30pm
  • North Shore Schools: Friday, August 24th, 9:30am - 12:30pm


Garden Docent Training Dates:

  • Honolulu Schools: Wednesday, August 29th, 9:00am - 12:00pm
  • Windward Schools: Tuesday, September 4th, 9:00am - 12:00pm
  • North Shore Schools: Thursday, September 6th, 9:00am - 12:00pm


ĀINA In Schools Garden Party Dates
ʻĀINA IS Garden Party volunteers will work alongside ʻĀINA IS families and teachers to prepare the school gardens for the fall garden lessons. Garden Party Projects may include: loosening and amending the garden soil, building new garden beds, weeding, mulching, composting, creating garden artwork, and more. The general public and volunteer groups are invited. Please RSVP to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or the school contact listed below if you or your group is interested in supporting one of these ʻĀINA schools with their fall Garden Party. To learn more, visit www.kokuahawaiifoundation.org/aina.

Ala Wai Elementary
Wednesday, August 15
2:00pm-3:30pm
Contact: Candace Tonokawa, Vice Principal		 Kainalu Elementary School
Saturday, August 18th
9:00am-11:00am
Contact: Catherine Heggarty, Garden Club Advisor
Liholiho Elementary School
Saturday, August 18th
9:00am-12:00pm
Contact: Lori Shimizu, ʻĀINA Team Coordinator		 Waikīkī Elementary School
Saturday, August 18th
9:00am-11:00am
Contact: Debbie Millikan, Waikīkī Elementary Sustainability Coordinator
Waialua Elementary School
Saturday, August 18th
9:00am-11:00am
Contact: Susie Okimoto, ‘ĀINA Team Coordinator		 Sunset Beach Elementary School
Friday, August 24th
2:30pm - 4:30pm
Contact: Rex Dubiel, Garden Club Advisor
Ahuimanu Elementary School
Friday, August 24
Time TBD
Contact: Kammi Abe
ʻĀINA Team Co-Coordinator		 Waiʻalae Public Charter School
Saturday, August 25th
9:00am-11:00am
Contact: Mel Sumida, PCNC
ʻAikahi Elementary School
Saturday, August 25th
9:00am-11:00am
Contact: Carolyn Nuan, Garden Club Advisor		  

Whole Kids Foundation Awardees
Four partner schools, Ke Kula ʻO Samuel M. Kamakau, Kainalu Elementary, Mākaha Elementary, and Waikīkī Elementary were all selected to receive garden grants from the Whole Kids Foundation, a nonprofit created by Whole Foods Market. “This exciting program helps our schools grow students’ relationships with their food and provides keiki with the tools they need to develop healthy eating habits at a young age,” said Natalie Aczon, Whole Foods Market Kahala marketing supervisor.

Accolades for ʻAikahi Elementary's School Garden
ʻAikahi Elementary School Garden recently received the 2012 Betty Crocker Landscape “Award of Excellence” in the Community Garden category. ʻAikahi Elementary has been an ʻĀINA IS school since 2006. Congratulations to all who have helped to make it an exemplary school garden! Click here to read more.


School Garden Workshop Recap
Forty teachers and community volunteers gathered on Saturday, July 21st at Hoa ‘Āina O Mākaha for a school garden workshop for educators offered in partnership with the Kōkua Hawai‘i Foundation. Participants enjoyed the hands-on experience in aquaponics and vermicomposting, container gardening and natural pesticides, building raised garden beds and aerobic composting. Educators can learn about more school garden-related workshops happening throughout the year by subscribing to the Hawaiʻi Educator’s Mailing List or via the O‘ahu Farm to School Network. Field trips to Hoa ‘Āina O Mākaha are also available to schools; email or visit www.hoaainaomakaha.org for more information.