HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0246.001 2022-2024 nci
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From: Dana McLaughlin :
Sent: Monday, May 01, 2023 5:28 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony for Resolution 146-23
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Aloha kakou,
Mahalo for allowing me this opportunity to thank you for considering our request for support. The HKM is a
relatively new museum, a grass-roots effort started by the community in Kona to increase STEM (science,
technology, engineering, and math) education and opportuntites for island keiki. At HKM we believe that every
young child should have equal access to high-quality STEAM engagement in an environment built to nurture
their natural curiosity.
The museum was opened in 2022 with a dozen interactive exhibits and hands-on activities about island
science. As the museum gained popularity and support from the community, it expanded its offerings to include
field trips and drop-off workshop programs. The museum has already had over 10,000 visitors. The exhibits
and activities at the museum continue to evolve over time, with new exhibits added regularly and feedback
from visitors taken into consideration.
The Opihi Toddler Learning Area focuses on our littlest guests to the museum, those under the age of 5.
However, in our experience, this area garners wide-spread usage, because it has a diverse appeal, and all
keiki who visit the museum end up in this play area.
In fact, it is the larger keiki who sometimes cause the most damage to the chairs, tables and toys in the Ophihi
Learning Area. Therefore, we must anticipate heavy usage of all the items in this area and build accordingly.
Items in this area are swapped out regularly for cleaning and maintenance. The area currently has a small farm
stand, kitchen set, and puppet theater. This kind of make-believe play appeals to both boys and girls.
Upgrading this highly used area is important because items here currently experience excessive wear and
breakage. Simple furnishings, and store-bought furniture is inadequate for the amount and the kind of use that
this imaginative play engenders. Grandparents, fathers, nannies, therapists and teachers all use the space
differently and have different needs for their interaction with these young keiki. Right now adults sit on the floor
with their little ones. This grant will help us to make soft seating which will help our kapuna, and other
caregivers to enjoy their family bonding time.
We are fortunate to have a volunteer who has designed and built modular furniture for children's libraries. His
designs are attached below. We will either re-make these same designs, or let him be inspired to
envision something similar that represents Kona-style. This funding will cover the cost of having this seating
manufactured and shipped.
In the future, maintenance, cleaning, and repair costs for this seating will be born by the HKM.
Thank you for your consideration and for all your support.
For the keiki,
to diversify our economy,
for the future.
Mahalo a nui loa,
Dana McLaughlin 'p
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1 Ref. Date NIM a 3 2023
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