COM 0952.015 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 1 of 1 Murashige, Laura From: mariefh at alohahales [mariefh@alohahales.com] i E.• Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 6:03 PM To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us fl(~ 9 Sg Cc: iamrieux@speakeasy.net 2V8 FEB S Subject: For Pete Hoffman in Support of Mala'ai Garden, Waimea t , 1 4: t;OUNT~ Dear Pete and County Council Members, I want to share my thoughts about Mala'ai Garden in Waimea, a Waimea Middle School project that sometimes also benefits the Elementary School and the community. I would like you to support the Island-Wide School Garden Network. I think the Mala'ai Garden Project has benefited our schools and community in many ways. But at the most basic level, it benefits our community by educating students about healthy food and how it is grown, the benefits of eating a healthy diet, and the importance of choosing local foods (better quality in terms of freshness and nutrition, and also supports our community). With the problems of childhood obesity and our own island problems with diabetes, this program is essential to shift ways of thinking about food and making good, healthy food look exciting by offering a fun outdoor experience for the students as they learn to grow food and work in the garden. It is also a wonderful link between schools and the larger community by the outreach work Mala'ai does at local events. On a personal level, my son, who is in Elementary School, was able to get special permission to join the outdoor program in the garden after school last year. He had a wonderful time interacting with the older students, who taught him a great deal, and it was good for him to be outside and learn about plants and healthy food. He really enjoyed the experience. Thank you for your time, Marie Fellenstein Hale 65-1158 Mamalahoa PMB 118 Kamuela HI 96743 885-0737 Gomm RX L? 5,1. 15 Ref. To: t ss.> Ref. Dote B 0 6 2066 2/5/2008