Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 3, 1 March 1987 — Molokaʻiʻs Alternative Program [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Molokaʻiʻs Alternative Program

Keawanui Offers Leamina in a Natural Setting

By Kenny Haina, Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA Twelve miles east of mainstream Kaunakakai on Moloka'i is a very successful program for Moloka'i High and Intermediate School students who are unahle to leam in the traditional environment because of behavioral or social problems. It was initiated by Moloka'i residents 10 years ago with the primary purpose of providing youngsters with specific skills in farming, fishing and Hawaiian cultural studies. Known then as the Moloka'i Hawaiian Academy of Knowledge, it was changed in 1985 when its board relinquished responsibility for the program. It is now known as Ka Papa Honua O Keawanui. Kazan Kaulia and Cheryl Ah Nee of the Class of 1986 eame up with the name. Keawanui to them was an ahupua'a with very rich and fertile soil where everything grew big. The name, therefore, symbolizes that solid foundation, (the Papa) of the earth's, (the Honua) richness at Keawanui, (the Ahupua'a). This Alternative Education Program (AEP) has been a joint effort of the Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate Extension Education Division and the Hawaii State Department of Education. It was established specifically to serve Hawaiian students at risk of failing in regular school settings. AEP is an educational arrangement whieh meets the objectives and requirements of the regular school program but differs from the regular program in environment, staffing, structure and/or instructional strategies. There are two other centers besides Keawanui — one at Mokule'ia on Oahu and the other at Honaunau in Kona, Hawaii. There are 12 students in the current class at Keawanui who are given doses of English, mathematics, science and art, social studies, physical education and work study programs. They are tutored by a talented and dedicated staff whieh includes Odetta Rapanot, Buddy Keala, Rose Moreno and Joe Kalima. Rapanot, Keala and Kalima are Kamehameha employees while Moreno is with the DOE. Program director is Colette Machado whose own story and a documentary film about her were reported by the late Honolulu Star-Bulletin writer Pierre Bowman in 1975.

Bowman wrote: "Colette, whose story goes from her days as a little kid on welfare on Molokai, to public housing in Palolo Valley in Honolulu, to dropping out of junior high school, to status in a Job Corps project in Oregon, to a typing job in Manhattan, and back to Honolulu for frustration — and finally, triumph." That triumph referred by Bowman is Colette's graduation with honors from the University of Hawaii in December, 1974, with a degree in education and her subsequent plaee in the job market. Like Colette, Rapanot and Keala are both products of the UH system. Rapanot graduated from UH Hilo in 1981 and Keala from UH Manoa with a marine science degree in 1983. Moreno is a Brigham Young Hawaii graduate while Kalima, who is the maintenance worker at Keawanui, graduated from Molokai High School. Outside the classroom at Keawanui, the students have established a banana patch, botanical garden, greenhouse and ti leaf patch. They have harvested and sold some of their plants and crops. They are taught grading, maintenance, fertilizing, irrigating and selling. They are a!so taught aquaculture, including fishing

and squidding. Keala and Kalima are the key figures in this project, utilizing the 54-acre Keawanui fishpond just beyond the grounds of the classroom. Keawanui students also play host to Kaunakakai and Kilohana Elementary Schoo!s fourth graders in an activity called He la I Keawanui (A Day at Keawanui). They included songfests, hula activities, limu pressing, planting vegetables and games. Kilohana students were also assisted in their preparation for the annual Ka Makahiki Moloka'i competition. Among other activities was a culture exchange in 1986 with Roosevelt High School's Malamalama O Na Opio, and trips to Kalaupapa, West Moloka'i and Halawa Va!ley. There were also trips to Hawaii to leam about koa reforestation, aquaculture and the volcano at Halemaumau. In addition to their classroom schedules, the three instructors are kept equally busy at counseling. They have one eommon goal and that is to have the students graduate or get their GED (General Equivalency Diploma). "We try to get them to advance one level and eventually back into the campus mainstream. We keep the parents informed of the student's progress, scheduling conferences with them," Keala explained. "Some of the students have already gotten their GED and some are going for it. They have shown us they

have the determination to succeed. Keawanui has had a strong impact on these kids," Keala continued. The greatest satisfaction these instructors get is when they receive reports of how well their students are doing in higher education or employment. Two examples cited by Keala and Rapanot are: One former student had suicidal tendencies. Following counseling by the staff and the learning and training acquired at Keawanui, she went on to get her GED and is now a nursing student. Another was a hard-nosed individual who was very negative and virtually unapproachable. But he, too, turned around, got his diploma and now has a good job on another island. The staff works hard and so do the kids. Its this kind of dialogue whieh brings satisfaction. Colette noted that the current class is the first with all native or part Hawaiian students. "We don't discriminate. We accept any student who seeks our help. It just happens this year we have one ethnic group represented," she said. One student perhaps summed it up best in a simple but information-filled 1986 yearbook whieh reads: " We are very fortunate at Keawanui to be in a naturally beautiful setting. This is our plaee of learning, meeting with friends and being around Mother Nature while we attend school."

Nine of the 12 students in the current class are shown here at their Christmas party. From Ieft to right are Keola Kansana, Instructor-Counselor Buddy Keala, M. SonSon McGuire, Marlin Oeampo, Donovan Tangonan, Ronald Kaauwai, Kimo Potter, lnstructor-Counselor Odetta Rapanot, Belle Kaauwai, Liz Puaa, Alize Luuloa and lnstructor-Counselor Rose Moreno. Missing from photo are David Kaai, Joshua Puaoi and Margaret Kealoha.

Sign at entrance to learning center says it all.

" - • " -■*«* • •- ■ -• v '• . •- • - '•' ' <* This is the greenhouse looking in from highway. Classroom building is at far end.