Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 11, 1 November 1997 — "Kū i ka Māna" [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

"Kū i ka Māna"

nurturing the children of Waimanalo

By Manu Boyd WAIMĀNALO ELEMENTARY and Intermediate School in Windward O'ahu is home to a fledgling program that enhances the lives of students through physical, mental and spiritual "nourishment." "Kū i ka Māna," to stand in reflection of those who have fed and nourished you, is a two-month-old pro-

gram that focuses on seventh graders, but no doubt will be felt throughout the 600-plus student body, more than half of whieh is Hawaiian. Kū i ka Māna provides a unique opportunity for adults to play a vital role in the life of a child through mentoring. Created and directed by Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, an educator, kumu hula, and awardwirming composer, Kū i ka Māna weaves traditional Hawaiian values with a strong

kupuna and makua presence. "What you feed the children physically, mentally and spiritually is what they'U heeome. Good food promotes good health, and helps to prevent afflictions like diabetes and heart disease, eommon among native peoples. Good mental food in the form of values will enable the children to make good choices," Hewett explained. His two children, Kuakapuohi'iaka, 16, and Lei'ōhelo'ulaopele, 14, have given him

understanding of the minds and needs of our 'ōpio (youth). Hewett added that the program is open to students of any background, not just Hawaiians. "Kidsare kids - when children are bom here, they know no otherhome. Wehelpto develop their connectedness to Hawai'i whieh will in turn give them a sense of plaee and identi-

ty," he said. Three objectives guide the program: "Hānai i ke alo," to provide good examples and role models for children to emulate; "Kumu 'ohana," to view the community as a family because it is everyone's responsibility to raise our children; and "Pu'uhonua," to provide a safe haven for children to study, leam, relax and talk story. Funded in part by Queen's Health Systems through the Waimānalo Health Center, Kū i ka Māna employs a small administrative staff and a cadre of 15 kūpuna and mākua who not only set good examples for the students to follow, but actually attend classes with them - not as teacher assistants, but rather, as active participants alongside the students. During breaks, students and the adult mentors ean do their schoolwork together. Program makua Leinā'ala Medeiros Park has been volunteering in Waimānalo eommunity programs over the past several years while raising a family. "We wouId love to see this program expand beyond Waimānalo. So many families have both parenLs working, so children sometimes have no one to tum to. Here, they're beginning to confide in us as makua and d kupuna. This will get them and keep Jē them 'on track,' andbuildself-

esteem," Park said. Program employee Kananionāpua Painter

agreed that, "this kind of attention will also help to improve the reading skills of our keiki, some of whom are not quite up to their ' gradelevel." j The pu'uhonua (safe haven) is a former t wood shop classroom on the mauka side of the campus, selected for its slight elevation and location next to a shading monkey pod tree. It is open before school, during recess periods and after school. Often the children are dioDDed off at school earlv in the mom-

ing or are picked up late. With nowheie to go, the youngsters are vulnerable, and ean end up in gangs, or participating in detrimental activities. "We like to think of this program as a positive kind of gang," said school | piineipal Maiion Holokai. "We ean disassociate gangs I with negative behavior, and tum the concept into a positive one."

Olelo no'eau and inspira- ' tional sayings on colorful batik banners hanging in the pu'uhonua remind students, teachers, mākua and kūpuna of the guiding values. Frank Hewett and his staff help to enforce the three "laws" of the pu'uhonua: "mai 'ōlelo 'ino" (do not speak with mean intentions or negatively); "mai hana 'ino" (do not behave badly); and "e hō'ihi'ihi i ka pu'uhonua" (have respect and hold sacred the pu'uhonua sanctuary). For additional information on Kū i ka Māna, contact the Waimānalo Heahh Center at 259-7948, or Mrs. Holokai, at 259- i 7263. ■ !

1 JL " What you feed the children physically, mentally and spiritually is what they'll become."

Frank Kawaikapuokalanl Hewett, creator and director of Kū i ka Māna, spends time with students discussing thelr progress in school and using Hawaiian values to enrich their lives.

i, Waimānalo student in "Kū i ka Māna"

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