November ‘AINA In Schools Events

Posted On: Dec 01, 11

Kainalu and SBES ‘AINA Family Night Highlights

Kainalu Elementary and Sunset Beach Elementary in partnership with ‘AINA In Schools each hosted their own ‘AINA Family Nights highlighting ‘AINA IS practices at their schools. Kainalu students led their parents on garden tours, and Kainalu Parent Chef Rod Uyehara delighted families with a cooking demonstration for using Thanksgiving leftovers with his rendition of fresh garden spinach gnocchi and turkey bolognese.

Sunset Beach Elementary families munched on popcorn donated by North Shore Naturals while watching the thought provoking movie “Bag It”, followed by a presentation from the Method folks visiting from California, who upcycle marine debris plastics into soap bottles!  ‘AINA IS Family Night fun at Sunset Beach Elementary included herb bouquet making, garden tours, reusable bags sewn from old t-shirts, and some family-friendly informational displays on packing healthy and waste free lunches from Plastic Free Schools. Thank you to Turtle Bay and Chef Hector Morales for donating pupus.

Mahalo to all the parents and school staff who volunteered their time to host these ‘AINA IS family evening events at school. Part of the family and outreach component of the ‘AINA In Schools program, these events increase awareness of ‘AINA IS initiatives at schools and encourage families to bring ‘AINA lessons home.

‘Aikahi Elementary School Plants a Fruit Orchard

On November 16, more than 500 students, teachers and volunteers participated in planting a Legacy Orchard at ‘Aikahi Elementary to commemorate the school’s focus on farm-to-school education. The Legacy Orchard is a partnership between Kaiser Permanente and Kokua Hawai’i Foundation’s ‘AINA in Schools program. Each grade level, K-6, at ‘Aikahi Elementary planted a tree to create the school’s Legacy Orchard, serving as a tangible symbol of the school community’s commitment to being a green school and providing a healthy, whole-child education that connects to the environment. The day’s activities also included a tour of the 16 on-campus ‘AINA in Schools garden beds, a Healthy Choice Salad Bar lunch, and a performance by KHF co-founder Jack Johnson.

Farm Field Trips

‘AINA IS school, Wai’alae Elementary PCS 3rd graders visited Nalo Farms, a farm that has been stewarded by the Okimoto family for over 60 years. Students tasted an assortment of fresh veggies and herbs including a Morimoto tomato, corn sprouts, basil, and thyme, as well as samples of the 13 different varieties of micro greens used to make Nalo Greens. While students tasted the peppery Mizuna and mellow arugula, the farmers explained the importance of producing safe food, and why buying and eating local is important. Farm fresh produce is often harvested and put to market the same day, creating a product that is picked at its peak when it’s most nutritious and delicious. Mahalo to Nalo Farms for sharing a day in the life of a farmer with ‘AINA students showing them where their food comes from and what it takes to get it to their plates. Check out the ‘AINA In Schools Farm Field Trips Resource Guide and book a Farm Filed Trip for your students TODAY!