COM 0349.736 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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On the Sa` of March, 2007, middle school students at Connections Public Charter School (CPCS) in Hilo were blessed with a "Living Classroom" experience with Aumy Pele and Eazl of Ka'u Preservation at Punalu'u, Ka'u. This Living Classroom experience came about from projects studems needed to research concerning the history, culture and the marine environment of the Ka'u Coast. Enclosed with this testimony please find three supporting documents that show evidence of the importance to preserve, protect, and promote Punalu'u as a Hawaiian cultural, historical and marine educational center and safe heaven. The evidence was written by the CPCS middle school students, the Social Studies teacher-Mr. Eric Bollen, and Marine Science Teacher-Mr. Bill Ebersole. In February, 2007, Mr. Bollen and I applied for and received $1,000 each from The Kohala Center in regard to a grant the center received form the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This grant was designed to encourage teachers of all disciplines to incorporate marine sciences into their curriculum. We decided to create a project based integrated curriculum to research and document the history, cultural background and marine environment of the Kau'u coast. Social Studies and Science research and documentation, and 2D/3D Hawaiian marine life projects in Visual Arts were created. On April 19, 2007, twenty students and teachers from CPCS presented our Ka'u Projects at the Hawaii Meaningful Environmental Education for Teachers (ffiMEET) Symposium at Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo. Details of these projects and the positive educational impact these projects had at CPCS can be found in the enclosed document written by Mr. Ebersole: "Connections Intermediate Level Project Based Learning Action Plan", and by written reflections from the middle school students after these projects were completed and exhibited at the Historical Kress Building Art Gallery in May, 2007. When Mr. Bollen searched for speakers to educate our students about the historical and cultural significances, and mazine life at Punalu'u in Ka'u, there were no other resource people from Ka'u to be found. Except for aunty Pele and Earl from the Ka'u Preservation, who graciously volunteered their precious time to share important knowledge at the Punalu'u Beach, to a group of 80 middle charter school students which they have never met, or perhaps heard of. We were greeted at the Punalu'u beach pavilion where Aunty Pele shared childhood memories, cultural practices, Hawaiian Ana, and the deeply rooted meaning of this land and ocean to the Hawaiians at Punalu'u. Earl gave all of the students a "Living Classroom" lesson in Hawaiian history and preservation of the natural environment at Punalu'u by taking students for a rugged walk to view a heiau, an ancient Hawaiian temple over-looking the ocean. There, he talked about the history and cultural customs of the ancient Hawaiians, how they lived and worked with each other, and how they respected the land, ocean, and the ancestors which sustained and protected them. He talked about the danger of commercializing Punalu'u for the presently proposed hotel and homes development, due to the importance of preserving the natural and ancient landscape for educational purposes, and for appreciation of future generations about Hawaii, and the history, values and culture of the Hawaiian people.