‘AINA IS: Actively Integrating Nutrition & Agriculture In Schools

‘AINA In Schools is a farm to school program connecting children to their land, waters and food in order to grow a healthier future for Hawai’i.

OUR AREAS OF FOCUS:

Addressing childhood health issues by fostering healthy eating habits
Encouraging environmental stewardship by connecting children to the land & water that sustains them
Contributing to a healthy local food system by supporting Hawai’i's farmers and their produce

NEW! Kokua Hawaii Foundation is currently accepting applications from public elementary schools on O’ahu for participation in our ‘ĀINA In Schools program starting in the 2012-2013 school year. Download application here!

SIX INTEGRATED PROGRAM COMPONENTS:

Core components include:

Nutrition Education in the classroom empowers students to make healthy choices that will last a lifetime
Garden-based Learning reconnects students to the natural world through the joys of gardening
Healthy Food on Campus increases local, fresh products in school lunches and snack programs to provide healthy choices

Additional components include:

Agricultural Literacy introduces students to where their food comes from and who grows their food
Waste Reduction reduces, reuses and recycles waste in gardens, schoolyards, cafeterias, and classrooms
Family & Community Outreach raises awareness to support ‘AINA IS at school and at home

Participating ʻĀINA Schools wil implement at least two of the three core components, along with one additional component. “Model” ʻĀINA Schools successfully implement at least five of the six program components.

KŌKUA HAWAIʻI FOUNDATION RESOURCES

Available to any Hawai’i educator and school interested in implementing farm to school initiatives:

Kōkua Earth Action Program Mini-grants support gardens, composting systems, teacher trainings, and a variety of other projects;
Environmental Field Trip Assistance Grants help to cover bus fare and admission to local farms, lo’i, and loko i’a;
ʻĀINA IS Curricula incorporate current academic standards;
Conferences & Workshops on our curricula, school food, and gardening basics;
A Variety of Toolkits and Resource Guides on school gardens, healthy snacks, zero-waste lunches, composting, and more.

KEY FARM TO SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS:

Co-leader and founding partner of the Oʻahu Farm to School Network. Join the ʻĀINA e-list to learn more.
Founding member of the Hawaiʻi Farm to School & School Garden Hui.
Hawaiʻi state lead for the National Farm to School Network.
Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation is also an Advisory Committee member of the Hawaiʻi Environmental Education Alliance.

12 O’ahu Elementary Schools Participate in the Program:

Ahuimanu,‘Aikahi, Ala Wai, Kainalu, Ke Kula ‘O Kamakau, La’ie, Makaha, Wai’alae, Waialua, Waikiki, Wheeler, Sunset Beach