Kokua 2010-2011 School Year Calendar

This years’ Kokua Calendar features vibrant student works of art that follow the theme
Be Energy and Water Wise.

Calendar pages offer helpful ways to minimize our carbon footprints, tips for conserving water and more!

Over 1,400 Kokua Calendars have been distributed to principals, teachers and students so we can all Be Energy and Water Wise this school year.

A limited number of Kokua Calendars are for sale, $10 each at the KHF Online Store.

Proceeds from the sale of this calendar will go to further Kokua Hawaii Foundation programs.

3R’s School Recycling Program

Launched in Fall 2003 at Sunset Beach Elementary School, our 3 R’s School Recycling Program introduces the value of recycling to O’ahu’s schools. The 3R’s School Recycling Program brings together the school’s administration, students and community to engage in learning and working together on recycling. The 3R’s School Recycling Program is provided to O’ahu public schools free of charge. We provide recycling bins, educational resources and trainings, and assistance with recycling pickups and drives.

This August, we delivered over 500 recycling bins to schools across O’ahu who are excited to implement the 3R’s School Recycling Program on their campuses. Please join us in welcoming the following new schools to the program:

For more information on the 3R’s School Recycling Program or to see a complete list of participating schools click here.

‘AINA In Schools Back to School Update

Mahalo to the many volunteers who joined us in preparing the ‘AINA In Schools garden beds for our fall garden lessons. In August, over 100 individuals contributed more than 200 hours weeding the gardens and loosening and amending soils with compost, vermicast tea, and mulch. In addition to the individuals and families who assisted in the gardens, the following organizations lent their support: Hands In Helping Out, Kintetsu Travel Agency, MOA, and Students of Tokai College.
                                           

August was also a big month for docent workshops. ‘AINA In Schools School Garden Coordinator Lydi Morgan-Bernal trained 42 enthusiastic garden docents to teach the first two garden lessons of the school year. ‘AINA In Schools Nutrition Education Coordinator Deanna Moncrief prepared 69 nutrition docents to get our nutrition lessons off to a running start.

This assortment of talented ‘AINA IS docents includes people from a variety of backgrounds and walks of life: parents (stay at home and working), Master Gardeners, dietitians, personal trainers, graduate students, farmers, event planners, teachers, small business owners, a waitress, a professor, a chef, a physical therapist, and a nurse. All share a common goal: supporting ‘AINA In Schools in connecting kids to where their food comes from so they can make healthy food choice for their bodies and the environment.

Take the Eat Local Challenge

WHAT: A challenge to attempt to eat strictly local for the week, and participate in actions that support our local food system, such as shopping at farmers’ and fish markets, buying local produce, working at local farms, dining at restaurants serving Hawai’i-grown meals, and hosting eat local pot lucks, etc.

WHERE: Across the State of Hawai’i at farms, homes, restaurants, food stores, and everywhere else that food and the resources we need to produce it exist.

WHY: To get thousands of islanders involved in the effort to create more sustainable, secure, local food systems in Hawai’i.

WHEN: Sunday, September 26 to Saturday, October 2.

Get more info at www.kanuhawaii.org/eatlocal to make your commitment and for resources to help your family Eat Local.

Kid Chef Cooking Local

On September 22, as a kickoff to Kanu Hawai’i’s Eat Local Challenge, 9 year old Duke Kenney and his assistant, Chef Ed Kenney, will be demonstrating how to prepare a wonderful locally-sourced meal that your family can make at home.

This ‘AINA In Schools family event is hosted by Wai’alae Elementary Public Charter School with support from Whole Foods Market Kahala.

It will be an educational and fun evening as we discover the joys of cooking and enjoy the tastes and smells of a local meal cooked up by Chef Duke.

If you would like to attend please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more info.

Tips for the Eat Local Challenge

At School:

• Take a field trip to a farmers’ market for a morning scavenger hunt. Many are within walking distance of schools.

• Have a tasting of one local fruit or vegetable each day of the week. Have students journal about each food item.

• Ask each student to bring one locally grown fruit or vegetable and, as a class, make a salad and dressing. It’s a great opportunity for young children to discover texture, color and shape. Local food can also be an excellent research project for older students.

At Home:

• Shop for the week and get to know local growers by visiting a farmers’ market . Be sure to ask the vendor where the produce is from, as a few farmers’ markets also sell imported produce. Bring a reusable bag and buy your produce loose rather than prepackaged in plastic.

• To keep things simple you could replace just one imported item each day with a local one. Instead of regular potato salad, try replacing it with Okinawan sweet potato (locally grown of course)!

• Plant something edible. You may not be able to eat it in time for the challenge, but there’s nothing more satisfying than eating something from your own backyard or lanai.

“GO GREEN!” at School

Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind at the start of this new school year:

1. Rethink your school supplies.

• Before buying new, check out which supplies from last year are still usable.
• Shop at your local thrift store for gently used backpacks, lunch boxes and other items that are on your school supplies list. Check out NewAmericanDream.org for more ideas.
• Purchase earth-friendly school supplies like recycled paper, refillable pens and pencils, and durable supplies that will last for several years.

2. Pack a smart lunch.

• Use reusable containers, utensils, refillable bottles, and cloth napkins to pack a waste-free lunch of yummy local and/or organic products.
• Whole fruits come in their own “wrapper” and are healthier than processed snacks!
• Visit WasteFreeLunches.org or TheLunchBox.org for more ideas.

3. Get involved in greening your school!

• Save energy, start a garden, or reduce and recycle waste on campus.
• Get more ideas GreenSchools.net.

4. Plan a green fundraiser for your school.

• Art Auction
• CFL Bulb Swap
• School Swap Meet
• For more ideas and details, check out our Green Fundraising Ideas for Schools guide.