The Proposal and Design- 04/11/18
The Problem:
Kamehameha Schools provides an ample amount of opportunities for their students. As high schoolers, students are required to repay that generosity through service. This service, although a graduate requirement, allows students to give their appreciation; however, some do it in a greater means than others. Possible school service options include dish room in ʻAkahi, delivering slips from the office, or stapling papers for kumu.
Kamehameha Schools provides an ample amount of opportunities for their students. As high schoolers, students are required to repay that generosity through service. This service, although a graduate requirement, allows students to give their appreciation; however, some do it in a greater means than others. Possible school service options include dish room in ʻAkahi, delivering slips from the office, or stapling papers for kumu.
The Solution:
Sophomores and juniors that have school service for the quarter will spend it working and raising a māla instead of doing paperwork for a teacher. There are multiple ways that we could attack our issue whether it be through detention or school service, but that doesn’t affect our main focus: building character in a person by connecting them to the land.
This solution makes Kamehameha a better place by improving the character of the students, which will directly impact how they treat their peers and their school. This strategy will also create the sense of a more sustainable Kamehameha within those who experience it. This addresses the need for a higher percentage of students who meet the expectation of being “good and industrious,” as well as the need for creating a sense of sustainability in nature. This plan will benefit a lot of people, but most importantly it benefits the student themself. They will build character, maturity and responsibility by serving the land. With these experiences and feelings in them, they will be able to carry on their work ethics and rejuvenated character wherever they go, whether it be in their community, workplace or in their college classrooms. That is the main point that we want to drive home to our audience, learning from this experience and growing into a better person because of it.
Sophomores and juniors that have school service for the quarter will spend it working and raising a māla instead of doing paperwork for a teacher. There are multiple ways that we could attack our issue whether it be through detention or school service, but that doesn’t affect our main focus: building character in a person by connecting them to the land.
This solution makes Kamehameha a better place by improving the character of the students, which will directly impact how they treat their peers and their school. This strategy will also create the sense of a more sustainable Kamehameha within those who experience it. This addresses the need for a higher percentage of students who meet the expectation of being “good and industrious,” as well as the need for creating a sense of sustainability in nature. This plan will benefit a lot of people, but most importantly it benefits the student themself. They will build character, maturity and responsibility by serving the land. With these experiences and feelings in them, they will be able to carry on their work ethics and rejuvenated character wherever they go, whether it be in their community, workplace or in their college classrooms. That is the main point that we want to drive home to our audience, learning from this experience and growing into a better person because of it.
Our Plan:
In the little time that we have to complete this project, we will work hard to build the foundation for this vision. It is not possible for the plan to be in effect this school year because it is the fourth quarter; however, we will work hard to convince administration and get this into effect for next year. We are looking into the future rather than focusing on something that can be completed right now.
Our project does not have a budget or require any special tools. We will focus on collecting data and writing another proposal that we will pitch to administration. The data will be a combination of surveys and interviews with other students and possible kumu that will lead the effort. We will need to schedule a meeting with administration, so if this project is approved, we will write and send an email right away. We are aware that we may not get a response for weeks, but we are prepared to wait and possibly alter the plan. We also recognize that this is an ambitious plan because it advocates for a change and requires efforts to be made by administration, but any effort for change on this campus requires permission from higher authority.
This project will demonstrate our understanding in being sustainable as a society and making choices that will benefit the most important thing to Kamehameha, the land and their people. From this understanding we will make decisions that push, not only our specific group, but the new generation of Hawaiians to strive for the sustainability of our land and our people. One of the major concepts that this project will incorporate is the social dimension of the principles of sustainability. This project brings about change in the way we act towards others and our strategy will hopefully bring positive change in the right direction and come from the right place.
In the little time that we have to complete this project, we will work hard to build the foundation for this vision. It is not possible for the plan to be in effect this school year because it is the fourth quarter; however, we will work hard to convince administration and get this into effect for next year. We are looking into the future rather than focusing on something that can be completed right now.
Our project does not have a budget or require any special tools. We will focus on collecting data and writing another proposal that we will pitch to administration. The data will be a combination of surveys and interviews with other students and possible kumu that will lead the effort. We will need to schedule a meeting with administration, so if this project is approved, we will write and send an email right away. We are aware that we may not get a response for weeks, but we are prepared to wait and possibly alter the plan. We also recognize that this is an ambitious plan because it advocates for a change and requires efforts to be made by administration, but any effort for change on this campus requires permission from higher authority.
This project will demonstrate our understanding in being sustainable as a society and making choices that will benefit the most important thing to Kamehameha, the land and their people. From this understanding we will make decisions that push, not only our specific group, but the new generation of Hawaiians to strive for the sustainability of our land and our people. One of the major concepts that this project will incorporate is the social dimension of the principles of sustainability. This project brings about change in the way we act towards others and our strategy will hopefully bring positive change in the right direction and come from the right place.
More:
For more about our undertaking, you can visit
For more about our undertaking, you can visit
Sustʻāinability Fair- 04/23/18
Fair Prep:
In preparation for the Sustʻāinability fair, the group made a poster to hang up at the booth. All four group members went to the SPC during the class period to design and paint this sign.
In preparation for the Sustʻāinability fair, the group made a poster to hang up at the booth. All four group members went to the SPC during the class period to design and paint this sign.
Data Collection:
To view the survey that we used to collect feedback from students, you can visit
To view the survey that we used to collect feedback from students, you can visit
Sustʻāinability Fair:
At the fair, we were able to survey an array of Kamehameha students and teachers. We did arrive a little late because there was some confusion about time (probably 10 minutes late), and when we arrived there was not table for us to set up a booth. Instead, we decided to walk around to the visitors and ask them to take part in or survey. This is when our sign came in handy! This was very effective, and it eliminated wait time that we would have probably spent trying to convince people to come over. There was a great deal of positive responses and some helpful feedback. We will use the survey responses to support our claim in our upcoming meeting with the Administration Team on Friday.
At the fair, we were able to survey an array of Kamehameha students and teachers. We did arrive a little late because there was some confusion about time (probably 10 minutes late), and when we arrived there was not table for us to set up a booth. Instead, we decided to walk around to the visitors and ask them to take part in or survey. This is when our sign came in handy! This was very effective, and it eliminated wait time that we would have probably spent trying to convince people to come over. There was a great deal of positive responses and some helpful feedback. We will use the survey responses to support our claim in our upcoming meeting with the Administration Team on Friday.
A-Team Meeting- 04/27/18
We were quite nervous the days leading up to this big meeting. Some group members expressed it more than the others, but we were all really nervous. Sitting in the office and waiting to be invited in was the worst part. When we were finally called in, we set up our presentation, and everything went smoothly from there. Luckily there were only four administrators in attendance at the meeting, so it was more like a conversation rather than a formal pitch. We shared a powerpoint and passed out handouts, and when we were done, we received lots of great feedback and suggestions. We were scheduled to be in there for only 15 minutes but wound up talking for 45. We now have a lot to think about as we continue to carry out this project. Overall, the meeting was a success. We went in with the purpose of getting feedback and a followup meeting, and that is exactly what we did. We have another meeting with the A team on May 11th and a meeting with the L team on May 8th.
Audio Recording:
Play the video below to listen to the audio recording of this meeting
Play the video below to listen to the audio recording of this meeting
L- Team Meeting- 05/08/18
This meeting was originally scheduled for April 30, but it was pushed back to this date. We were relieved, but there was no other prep that needed to be done because we were only giving a repeat of the A team presentation. Mr. Blake was not able to introduce us at this meeting, so we were nervous. We knew there was going to be a lot more people, but we knew our presentation was in good shape.
All the department heads, the vice principles, and the principle we in attendance, which made for a lot of good exposure and feedback. A lot of the kumu were supportive of the idea. In fact, Kumu Lima expressed that she would love to be involved and possibly supervise, but she does not have the ʻike to do so. There were a lot of questions that were posed, such as what will happen in the summer and what will happen to this effort after your graduate? It was also suggested that we do a mixed homeroom. We will take this into consideration and make sure to answer these questions in our upcoming A team meeting.
All the department heads, the vice principles, and the principle we in attendance, which made for a lot of good exposure and feedback. A lot of the kumu were supportive of the idea. In fact, Kumu Lima expressed that she would love to be involved and possibly supervise, but she does not have the ʻike to do so. There were a lot of questions that were posed, such as what will happen in the summer and what will happen to this effort after your graduate? It was also suggested that we do a mixed homeroom. We will take this into consideration and make sure to answer these questions in our upcoming A team meeting.
Parent and Alumni Relations Meeting- 05/11/18
In our meeting with the L team, Poʻokumu Debbie Lindsey suggested that we contact Parent and Alumni Relations (PAR) to see if they would be willing to help with this project. We immediately tried to contact them, but she did not get back to us to schedule a meeting. We called but she was not answering the phone. It just so happened that she was meeting with students in period four during this time, so Mr. Blake took us down to the ʻAkahi Student Center to see if she would meet with is briefly. Luckily, she was very kind and was willing to sit down with us.
We discussed our project and expressed that we would love for PAR to be involved with bringing in people to volunteer time and work with the students. We asked if they would be interested in reaching out to graduates with knowledge in lāʻau lapaʻau, sustainable agriculture, or anything related and bringing them in to speak and teach kumu and haumāna. She was very interested and willing to work with us, and she told us to send her a followup email when everything logistically is figured out.
We discussed our project and expressed that we would love for PAR to be involved with bringing in people to volunteer time and work with the students. We asked if they would be interested in reaching out to graduates with knowledge in lāʻau lapaʻau, sustainable agriculture, or anything related and bringing them in to speak and teach kumu and haumāna. She was very interested and willing to work with us, and she told us to send her a followup email when everything logistically is figured out.
Followup A-Team Meeting- 05/11/18
This was our final meeting with administration for this project. We discussed a solution plan to all the questions they had regarding summer and sustainability. They seemed to agree and like what we shared and commended us on our hard work. However, the big problem they mentioned was supervision and finding someone to oversee everything. Again, this meeting was a success and another step in the right direction. Although the school year in coming to an end, there is a lot more that needs to be done in order for this to be implemented.