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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Cynthia Punihaole Kennedy <br /> 73-4310 Mamalahoa Hwy <br /> Kailua Kona, HI 96740 <br /> Ph: 808-895-1010 E-mail: cpunihaole@hawaiiantel.net <br /> February 6, 2008 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Councilman Angel Pilago <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> 333 Kilauea Avenue <br /> Hilo, HI 96720 <br /> <br /> <br /> Resolution 506-08 The School Garden Network Project. <br /> <br /> <br /> Aloha Chairperson and Members of the Hawaii County Council <br /> I am here to testify in support of Resolution 506-08 the School Garden Network. Mahalo to <br /> Councilman Angel Pilago for pledging $5,000.00 toward this project. This is a project that <br /> will touch a minimum of 20 schools on the Island of Hawaii and support the development <br /> of on site gardens, curriculum, resources and further education of teachers. It is a project <br /> that will help many communities on our island and teach sustainability and survival to our <br /> children. In the summer of 2003, I was fortunate to be hired at Kealakehe High School to <br /> help enhance and create a Natural/Cultural Learning Resource Center with the help of my <br /> dad Robert Punihaole, my Uncle Kino Kahananui, Joel Nathanson, Sue Aronson, Manuel <br /> Jadulang, and Owen Yamaguchi. In August, we were able to welcome the students to a <br /> center that was prepared to handle animal husbandry, hydroponics, aquaculture, and <br /> agriculture. Our goal was to build this center with an ahupua' a foundation. This <br /> "classroom without walls" model showed us that students enjoyed working in the outdoors <br /> learning science, math, Hawaiian culture and how to share and work with each other. Our <br /> science and Ag teachers Joel Nathasen and Manuel Jadulang were able to bring the <br /> instruction books to life in our Center. Many of our students had difficulty understanding <br /> from books, but they were able to think and use their hands and create something special in <br /> the center. For example one of my students decided his project would be a "plant pallet". <br /> He created a very beautiful pallet with plants the flourished in the area. He also knew how to <br /> sell his vision to other students who helped him complete his project on a very large area. <br /> Another student evaluated the popolo berry's productivity by growing it hydroponically <br /> versus in the soil. <br /> One day the students were pulling what they believed to be weeds and as I passed them I <br /> explained that this plant called 'uhaloa could one day relieve their sore throats. The next <br /> thing I noticed was that they were watering the plant. <br /> At the end of our school year, we had a big pa'ina. We invited moms and dads, some heads <br /> of the community, newspaper editors, etc. We had to substitute the pig for another one <br /> because the students could not kill the one they raised. Some of the boys slaughtered the pig <br /> and was taught how to make an imu cook the pig and strip the cooked pig. Taro was pulled <br /> Gomm; NM <br /> Ref. To:h iurtei/ <br /> Ref. Doferrg <br />