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<br /> Page 1 of 1 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Murashige, Laura <br /> <br /> From: Ann C. Peterson [apeterson@hualalai.org] <br /> Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 10:24 AM <br /> 45 <br /> To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us FEB 5 Rid 11 <br /> Subject: school gardens ^I P <br /> G;OUNT ir HAWAII <br /> Aloha County Council Members, <br /> I am writing in support of Resolution 506-08, the School Garden Project. <br /> <br /> Hualalai Academy began its garden program 10 years ago when it moved to this campus. Since that time, each grade has had the oppormnity to <br /> experience the wonders of growing and caring for plants and vegetables. <br /> The overall mission for our program is to involve students in experiential learning that integrates different curriculum, such as arts, physical <br /> activity, and science that ultimately put students back in touch with nature. Students learn human health, cultural awareness, environmental <br /> sustainability, botany, and chemistry through fun hands-on outdoor activities. <br /> Over 20,000 square feet has been set-aside on the school grounds and a Hawauan cultural garden is flush with gourds traditionally used for <br /> food and water gathering and music making. Other gardens create a maze, celebrate the pueo (our school mascot), provide fruit and vegetables, <br /> and beautify the campus. Hualalai faculty and students are building a number of trails through the campus, and are planning to install benches <br /> and plant flowers and trees to create peaceful, shady areas where students can read and/or do art and science projects. The National Wildlife <br /> Federation recently acknowledged our efforts and named the 14-acre campus a Certified Wildlife Habitat. <br /> Wong with the educational aspects of gardening, is the more practical side. With the rise in fuel prices, and the realization that Hawaii Island <br /> now imports 90% of its food; many arc sensing the need to go back to the early practice of producing more food locally. The early Hawaiians <br /> were exceptional gardeners - creating the terraced Field System, said to be the 8th Wonder of the World by early explorers. This System fed a <br /> population equal to that of today's with locally grown and gathered food. With fertile land as an asset, the School Gardening Program can help <br /> teach children skills that may serve them and future generations in ways that could sustain their lives and the life of the land. Ua mau ke ea o ka <br /> aina i ka pond. <br /> Your YES vote can help the School Gardening Program in very substantial ways by providing funding for part-time staff to help teach students <br /> and to help maintain gardens during vacations and breaks. <br /> Thank you for your kind support of this resolution and for providing support for this most essential school program. <br /> <br /> Sincerely, <br /> <br /> .4nn C Peterson <br /> Ann C. Peterson <br /> Director of Development <br /> aoetersonChh9alalai org <br /> 808-326-9866 (work) <br /> 808-987-0185 (cell) <br /> 808-329-9542 (fax) <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Comm. No. <br /> 9sa. 9 <br /> Ref. To. Rraeihd wtci / <br /> Ref. Date _I Q 6 R <br /> 2/5/2008 <br />