Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 4, 1 Mei 1984 — OHA, Others Take Skills to Waianae Coast Classrooms [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA, Others Take Skills to Waianae Coast Classrooms

Kupunas, doctors, professors and knowledgeable people in various phases of employment were among the more than 40 speakers meeting with hundreds of students recently in their classes as a result of a speakers' bureau established through the cooperative efforts of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Waianae Coast School Concerns Coalition, the State Department of Education and the Hawaii State Teachers Association. This happening, hailed by OH A's Sam Holt as a "beautiful experience," took plaee May 1-4 at Waianae and Nanakuli lntermediate and High Schools to "provide something to improve learning and cultural awareness for Waianae coast students who have the lowest academic

rating in the state." "The students had a ehanee to listen and rap with role models, not necessairily Hawaiians but people fluent in Hawaiian culture. It gave students something to think about and someone to look up to," Holt declared. Nanakuli Principal Kenneth Hirohata was equally enthusiastic over the program whieh ran four days at both schools. He said this was something that should have been done a long time ago. "I know it was a very rewarding experience for the students and 1 know, too, they wished it could have been longer and more indepth," Hirohata said. "The speakers only covered the surface but they did a bangup job in the short time they were allotted. Students and teachers were happy and 1 know the speakers themselves were very mueh into their presentations," Hirohata continued. Holt and OHA Kupuna Coordinator Betty Jenkins were in charge of the bureau. Holt reported that the elementary schools have now requested the same program. "We'll be doing an evaluation of what we just did and see where and how we ean build upon it." he said. The enthusiastic Holt said it was impossible to miss the gleam in theeyes of the students as they listened and worked with these knowledgeable people. "You could see they were eating it up, absorbing it to the fullest. They knew it was a rare treat for them and that they were going to make the most of it," Holt remarked. Most of the classroom teachers, Holt reported, were very cooperative in the venture and many of them really put out. "Our deepest mahalo to these instructors," Holt declared. Holt explained that various agencies

and community groups worked together to find the speakers and arrange the schedule with classroom teachers. In addition to Holt and Mrs. Jenkins, another OHA staffer involved with the program was Cultura! Affairs Officer Bill Tagupa who !ectured before six classes on the history of culture. Among other organizations involved was Alu Like whieh had their counselors explain employment. job interviews and all phases of thejob market. The four-day program was preceded by a gathering of people on the speakers' bureau Apr. 20 at an informal afternoon get-together at Mauna Olu in Makaha. They ta!ked, reviewed their schedules and enjoyed a delicious Hawaiian repast.

These four volunteer members of the speakers' bureau were among those meeting Apr. 20 at Mauna Olu in Makaha. Busy exchanging ideas is this trio from left to right across the table. Donald Abbott. Bea Krauss and Iz/.ie Abbott. Pouring over her notes in foreground is Margaret Apo.