Laserfiche WebLink
Tamara Laulani Wong -Morrison <br />Language Arts Teacher <br />Volcano School of Arts & Sciences <br />Volcano, Hawaii 96785 <br />February 4, 2019 <br />Charter Commission <br />Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />Regarding: 2% Land Fund Program <br />Aloha Commissioners, <br />am a language arts teacher at this charter school in Volcano; my <br />middle school students have been very fortunate to participate in <br />taking care of Kawa wildlife park in Ka'u since August 2017. We have been <br />working with Na Mamo o Kawa, Kumu James Akau, Duane and <br />Clarissa Pua, and Kaui Felder -- all homegrown resource managers. Our <br />weekly field trips to Kawa have resulted in increased engagement and <br />enjoyment of learning through this place -based project (student perception <br />data, VSAS 2017-18). They are learning valuable concepts of Aloha `Aina <br />and Malama Honua -- taking care of the land and our earth. <br />They are learning these concepts when they plant and nurture native <br />dryland coastal plants, cut away invasive plants, gather rocks and mulch to <br />help prevent beach erosion, and discover the rich cultural heritage of Kawa. <br />They are learning how important wild, undeveloped wahi pans (sacred <br />places) enrich their spirits, especially in contrast to the pressures of their <br />modern world. Our young students in America spend more time on <br />electronic devices than they do sleeping! They need to be grounded and <br />rooted in places like Kawa to strengthen them for their challenging futures. <br />Comm. No. 21.156 <br />