APRIL 2021

Editorial Mission: As the Department’s primary publication, we aim to live up to the meaning of ha‘aheo — to cherish with pride — by bolstering and sustaining pride in public education and touting the successes happening across the system as we deliver on the power and promise of public education. The April issue of Hoʻohaʻaheo is dedicated to highlighting voices from Kaua‘i.

Resilient Hanalei School overcomes massive obstacle for fourth-quarter return

As elementary schools continue to increase their in-person learning, Hanalei Elementary on Kauaʻi has had one of the most difficult transitions into the fourth quarter.

Following days of heavy rains, a massive landslide at Hanalei Hill brought tons of rocks, soil and trees down the adjacent slope into the valley below, covering Kūhiō Highway and blocking all traffic to North Kauaʻi just two days before spring break.

During the break week, as the state Department of Transportation worked to stabilize the hillside, Hanalei teachers and staff were working to distribute nearly three dozen laptops and wi-fi hotspots to families on both sides of the landslide closure for students needing to return to full distance learning while the highway repair work continued.

Kapaʻa Middle improves student discipline through school-wide system of positive behavior support

At Kapaʻa Middle School on Kaua‘i, student discipline looks a little different.

Part of that is credited to the school’s culture, which is grounded in the Hawaiian values of kūpono (compassion), kūpaʻa (character) and kūlia (confidence). These values are ingrained in the school’s mission and vision, and are upheld by students and staff everyday through their schoolwide systems of positive behavioral support.

Kauaʻi High School students celebrate semi-finalist ranking in STEM competition

Kaua‘i High School STEMworks students were recently ranked as national semi-finalists in Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition. The team submitted their concept of a bio-artificial leaf — a synthetic object that is anticipated to mimic the naturally occurring photosynthesis in the leaves of green plants. The students are now working on the final prototype.

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