Inside the November 11, 2004 issue:
Complex schools face 'standards' challenges; Kahuku football team wins OIA semifinals; City recycling plans put on hold; Iosepa crew representatives go to Kaho'olawe; Country Sisters: If only I had a craft; Aunty, you like buy? (fundraising); Kahuku High haps: An Army of one; Lä'ie Park football helps kids; Kahuku sports reports: Girls win OIA volleyball title; Ko'olauloa Community Calendar.
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In October the Hawai'i State Department of Education (DOE) released figures that show four of the five elementary schools in the Kahuku Complex — including Ka'a'awa, Lä'ie, Kahuku and Sunset Beach — have met or exceeded federal and state "no child left behind" standards.
The figures also showed two complex schools had not met the standards: Kahuku High and Intermediate School is in "school improvement year 1" of a two-year period required to show it meets the standards; and Hau'ula Elementary is "restructuring."
Subsequent reports, however, show that all the schools are making good progress, and in some cases the majority of students have met or exceeded the standards, while failing in only one area.
Kahuku High principal Lisa DeLong explained, "There are 37 different categories [of standards], but not all of them apply to all schools. We met every benchmark, except the special education ones. If you have at least 30 in special education or ESL [English as a second language], chances are you won’t make it.
"As a school, we made the minimum yearly progress, but not every subcategory made it. We’re okay with ESL, because we don’t have the minimum number of 30.
"We showed improvement in all groups," DeLong stressed, but explained that all schools must demonstrate the "adequate yearly progress" required by the federal and state law.
DeLong noted that 3% of the SPED students "made it, but it needed to be 10%. In math, 8% of that subgroup made it, but it needed to be 30%."
She added that low-functioning SPED students have a special test, "but they’re also showing growth. Our special ed teachers have been working very hard to help their students understand."
"Still, because we didn’t make it for two years in a row, we’re receiving sanctions," she continued, pointing out that means the school will notify the parents in their next newsletter, "and our students can now opt to go to another school. In reality, only Kaiser and Radford made it, and that’s because they don’t have the number of special education and ESL students."
Lä'ie Elementary
Lä'ie Elementary, for example, had been under "corrective action," but recently completed its second year of meeting or exceeding the standards. Nearly all of our students made gains and 66% are reading at-or-above grade level," said principal Deborah Voorhies, giving credit "to all of the hardworking kids, teachers, PTTs [part-time teachers], staff and volunteers who made it happen."
She added that more recent tests such as the Hawai'i State Assessment, the Gates-Mac-Ginitie, SFA Roots and DIBELS, "show an increase of 20-30% in almost every grade.
Last year Lä'ie implemented the SFA (Success-For-All) reading program and this year teachers have adopted a new process-based approach to math.
She also indicated in the next few years students at Lä'ie Elementary can expect to find more and more of their curriculum supported by engaging academic software as technology literacy joins their list of priorities.
Hau'ula Elementary
School principal Brad Odagiri said Hau'ula Elementary, after being placed in "restructuring" mode, "has developed an intervention plan based on a Price-Waterhouse [accounting and management firm] audit.
"That plan calls for administering this year’s tests before the spring break," Odagiri said, pointing out that last year’s test was given after the break, and some people feel the students tend to forget some of their skills in the interval.
"We’ve also created a common-block schedule for the core subject area," he continued. "We added 30 minutes to the language arts block and now require weekly lesson plans for the literature block, math, science and social studies."
"We also administer reading and math 'prompts’ once a month and chart the results on a large chart in the cafeteria," he said, noting these are similar to the tests the students are required to take. "We’ve been meeting the 3% improvement required in each month."
Odagiri also said Hau'ula Elementary gets a lot of support from the DOE through the intervention plan, and that everyone is working toward meeting or exceeding the standards this year.
100% by 2014
Kahuku High principal Delong explained that every year the "no child left behind" law requires the percentage of students meeting or exceeding the minimum target increases until it reaches 100% in 2014.
"We believe in the kinds of skills the tests measure," she said. As a school we’re working toward those goals, even though we understand not all of them are achievable by all groups. We’re trying to help all groups get as close as they can."
For example, she said last school year 10% of all 8th and 10th graders had to pass math and reading tests at the 10% level, "but we passed at 21%. This school year we have to meet or exceed 28%."
She also said after attending a national principals convention she now knows that "Hawai'i has a very rigorous test. A lot of people would have a hard time answering the questions. They’re very difficult. In Michigan, for example, only 3% of the schools didn’t make it, but there tests are not as rigorous.
"Some people are arguing the tests should be made easier, while others want the tests to more accurately test what students are learning," DeLong continued, noting the tests include a "structured response.
"We know a lot of the time students have the skills, but they don’t know how to answer the question in the proper format. Now, every month we’re practicing how to do that. This Friday is the second school-wide one."
"The 'prompt’ is a really good teaching tool. It involves critical thinking and students accessing their own prior knowledge, writing and critical thinking skills," DeLong said.
"It’s kind of like break-through teaching. We really feel a lot of the students can do it. Teachers are actually changing how they teach. For example, if a student has trouble with times tables, we’ve found they can still learn higher-level math.
"Even though we didn’t meet the benchmark, we’re still showing growth, and we’re all moving in the same direction," DeLong said.
"The school-wide initiatives we’re working on are leading us in the right directions."
School calendar survey initiative
Speaking of initiatives, Delong explained that students will soon bring home a survey for parents to rank their preference for one of five proposed school calendars.
"Right now all the schools are on different calendars, which is very expensive for the state. The legislature passed a law, beginning in 2006-07, that all schools follow the same calendar."
For example, Kahuku High and Lä'ie Elementary are on the "traditional" schedule, Kahuku Elementary is on a modified traditional schedule, and Hau'ula goes "year-round."
DeLong said the survey has to be returned by Dec. 15th. The Board of Education will analyze the results afterward and eventually set the new statewide school schedule.
A continuous heavy rain, incredibly strong defense by both teams under the sodden conditions, lots of penalties and fumbles, and two fortunate turnovers in the first half led to Kahuku’s 12–6 victory over the Leilehua Mules on Nov. 5th in the OIA Red Conference semifinal championship match at Aloha Stadium.
Next up, it’s Kahuku vs. Mililani for the OIA Red championship this Friday.
Both teams brought only one loss into the slippery contest, plus the Mules also brought in the memory that they lost last year’s JV championship to junior Raiders.
The Red Raider defense kept Leilehua from getting very far during the Mules’ first set of downs. Kahuku responded by grinding out its yardage up the middle, but the Leilehua defense returned the favor — a pattern that would repeat all night long — and Kahuku punted on fourth-and-13.
Kahuku started showing some heat in their next series, when Kamuela Alisa carried the ball to the first first-down of the game. Siaosi Lauhingoa added more yards, and senior Viliami Tilini busted through the middle for a 19-yard gain.
Then the Mule defense kicked in. Bronson Ponciano-Ähue’s first pass of the evening fell incomplete; and Leilehua held the Kahuku drive, forcing the Raiders to punt again on fourth down. The good news? The kick went out of bounds on Leilehua’s 3-yard line.
Even though a Mule pass from the end zone brought Leilehua to a first down on the 16, David Niumatalolo and the rest of the Kahuku D-men made it hard for them to dig out of the hole. "You can’t say enough about Kahuku’s defense," said sportcaster Larry Price of their play, as the Red machine again stopped Leilehua’s progress, forcing them to try to punt on fourth down.
The kicker bobbled the ball, however, and was forced OB, leaving Kahuku at Leilehua’s 20-yard line
Alisa followed up with five yards toward the goal, ending the scoreless first quarter. In the first play of the second quarter, Lauhingoa was slowed up going through the line, and even had one hand on the ground, but he kept churning for 15 yards to make the first touchdown of the game. The point-after kick was not good. Score: 6–0.
Leilehua was not able to do much with Stanley Kauvaka’s kickoff, starting off on their own 25-yard line, and Max Fairclough put the brakes on their first-down efforts. Then senior B.J. Adolpho put a big sack on Leilehua’s quarterback, and the Mules were forced to punt away. Senior Spencer Hafoka returned the kick for a 23-yard gain, but an illegal block negated 10 yards of that gain.
In Kahuku’s next series of downs, substitute quarterback Jacob Kahawai'i recovered his own fumble on his first attempt. A false start on the next down left Kahuku five yards back. Kahawai'i, not finding his man, dodged a couple of tackles to bring the ball back to scrimmage, but Kahuku was forced to punt away on fourth down.
In Leilehua’s next series, three of Kahuku’s D-men sacked the Mule quarterback, led by B.J. Adolpho. Their next pass play fell incomplete, and while lining up for a punt, the Mules were called for a 12-men-on-the-field penalty, forcing them to kick from the end zone. The kick was good, however, and a short return by Mau-he Moala left Kahuku on about the 50-yard line.
The Leilehua defense stepped up, and Kahuku was forced to punt away on downs, setting up the second critical turnover of the evening: The Leilehua receiver fumbled following a hard hit by Jonathan Rickardson, and Kurtney Silva recovered the ball on the 1-yard line.
First-and-goal, Simi Älö leaped over the line for Kahuku’s second — and last — touchdown. The two-point PAT attempt fell just short. Score: 12-0.
The next two-and-a-half quarters of football were very soggy, occasionally marked by some great plays. For example, junior Jason Tufuga katooshed the Mule quarterback, Tomasi Fuller almost intercepted a pass, and Afa Bridenstine did snag one near the end of the first half.
In Kahuku’s ensuing series, a bad snap on the fourth-down punt attempt left the ball in Leilehua's hands on the 22-yard-line, with 1:10 still left on the clock.
Suaesi Tuimaunei broke up Leilehua’s first pass attempt, but their second pass was good, carrying the ball to the 15-yard line. Almost breaking into the end zone, Leilehua fumbled, and then recovered on the 1-yard line. As fast as the Mule quarterback got the ball on the next play, he was hit. He dropped the ball on the next down . . . and without enough time left, the first half ended with Kahuku’s strong goal-line stand. Score 12-0, and the rain kept pouring down.
In the second half, Leilehua received, and the Red Raider defense soon forced the Leilehua kicker to punt on the run as the ball initially got away from him. Starting out on about the 50-yard-line, Tilini broke away for a nice gain, but a holding penalty called the run back, leaving Kahuku at second-and-15. A late-hit penalty against Kahuku soon moved the ball back to fourth-and-30, but fortunately, the ensuing punt took a good Kahuku bounce.
Over the next couple of series, it was a total defensive battle, featuring fumbles, sacks and interceptions by both teams, until Kamuela Alisa broke loose for two good gains that carried the ball to the 5-yard line.
The Mule defense, however came back with a huge break, stripping the ball near the goal line than recovering it in their own end zone for a touchback, which gave them the ball on the 20.
In Leilehua’s series, Micah Wily almost intercepted, but then they broke loose and ran the ball inside Kahuku’s 10-yard line, where Al Afalava finally chased down the runner. An encroachment penalty against Kahuku split the distance to the goal line, with 4 seconds left in the third quarter.
A huge Kahuku defensive effort popped the ball high into the air, which Leilehua chased down, but for a 14-yard loss. Then, in their first series of the fourth quarter, on fourth-and-goal, Leilehua put a touchdown pass into the end zone for their first score. Their kicker shanked the PAT to the right, and the score stood at 12–6.
The rest of the fourth quarter went back-and-forth defensively. Tuimaunei broke up a critical Leilehua pass with a katoosh, and their next pass went into the hands of Tomasi Fuller, but a pass interference penalty against Kahuku gave Leilehua the ball on the 34-yard line.
Leilehua decided they were still very much in the game, and kept grinding out small gains. At one critical point, with a foot-and-first to go, Joseph Faifili recovered a bad snap to break their momentum.
Two plays later, Kahuku fumbled the snap, but the officials ruled Kahawai’i was already down. As they had all night, Leilehua held the Kahuku offense. Stanley Kauvaka got off a good punt that carried to the 25-yard line. With 2:39 left in the game, Leilehua still had plenty of time and drive.
With 1:18 remaining, Leilehua converted to a first down on the 47-yard line — their first third-down conversion of the game. The next series advanced to fourth-and-one, bringing up a critical play for both teams.
The Red Raider defense — led by Joseph Faifili and Micah Wily — stepped up to the task and stopped the Mule push. The ball went over to Kahuku on downs with 51 seconds left in the game.
Kahuku took a knee on the first down. Leilehua had one time-out left, which they burned. The Red Raiders took a knee on the second and third downs as the clock ran out.
The low-scoring game was finally over. Both teams showed a lot of sportsmanship in the waning seconds as Kahuku survived Leilehua’s last scare, 12-6, to advance to the OIA Championship.
Kamuela Alisa was named player of the game for his 15 rushes for 136 yards. "A portrait of consistency," Larry Price called him.
By Andrew Miller
A lawsuit filed by the United Public Workers union on Nov. 4th threatens to delay the implementation of the City and County of Honolulu’s new curbside recycling program.
The UPW alleges the city unilaterally excluded the labor union from the planning and development process of the new program. The suit calls for a court order to stop the program until the issue is resolved in arbitration.
New blue waste carts for recyclables, along with a pamphlet outlining program particulars, were delivered to Lä'ie, Hau'ula and Kahuku during phase one of a six-phase plan to introduce curbside recycling island wide.
Automated, biweekly collection was slated to begin sometime this month. Exact starting dates and collection schedules have yet to be released, according to Saburo Goldstein, district superintendent of the Lä'ie Refuse Center. The recent legal battle is likely to delay that announcement.
"You can start filling your blue cart now," Goldstein said, "but don’t put it out until you have been notified when the dates are."
Curbside recycling is part of a larger O'ahu initiative to significantly reduce and eventually eliminate dependence on landfills. The goal is to increase recycling by 28% and reduce landfill usage by 52% by the end of 2005.
The bright blue carts are for "mixed recyclables," including aluminum cans, glass containers (in plastic bags), plastic bottles, newspaper and corrugated cardboard. All recyclables can be placed into the same blue bin; they will be sorted later at a recycling center.
The new program actually requires households to separate their recyclables from their regular refuse. Households with their old gray carts filled with more than 10% recyclables will be issued a warning. Multiple offenses may result in a suspension of garbage collection.
However, households are not required to use the blue carts. They may choose to use other recycling options, such as community recycling bins or buyback/redemption centers, so long as the recyclables are not disposed of in the gray refuse carts.
The City Council allotted $2.5 million in this year’s budget to pay for the first six months of curbside recycling, estimating the cost of the program to be $5 million a year. They did not set any additional charge on property tax bills to cover the expenses.
The curbside recycling program began in Mililani as a pilot project in October 2003 and has been going through trial and error implementation in anticipation of launching it island wide. For example, the pilot project was suspended in August after the state Labor Relations Board ruled the city had persisted with the project beyond the expiration of a union agreement.
In spite of the setbacks, city recycling coordinator Suzanne Jones said she’s very optimistic about the program. "There is no plan, especially of this magnitude, that you don't have to work your way through, and we are ready to work through this one," she said. "It’s OK if we get a little dirty while we're doing it."
Responses from Mililani residents indicate the benefits the program can offer if it is successful. "Congratulations on a very beneficial…pilot recycling program in Mililani Mauka," said resident Mark Sauer. "My family very much appreciates the opportunity and convenience of curbside recycling."
"I find it a hassle to take my items to the recycling centers," added Patsy, another resident. "I like the convenience of the curbside system and I am sure a lot of people feel the same way."
For more information on the curbside recycling program, visit the City and County of Honolulu’s Refuse Division website at www.opala.org, or call the City’s Recycling Office at 692-5410.
Three BYUH Hawaiian Studies faculty members — William K. "Uncle Bill" Wallace III, R. Kamoa'e Walk and Kawika Eskaran — recently sailed to Kaho'olawe to participate in a reunion of traditional navigators at Kealaikahiki, an important training site on the island in ancient times.
Walk, an assistant professor of Hawaiian Studies, explained Kealaikahiki, which means "the path to Tahiti," was used "to begin and end long voyages between Hawai'i and southern Polynesia. Kahiki is where the Hawaiians came from, and it can also refer to Tahiti.
"The purpose for the gathering was to have as many of the voyaging canoes and their respective families to get together on Kaho'olawe and sit together at Kealaikahiki, to feel of the mana or the power of that place, and to experience the completeness of the voyaging family of all the canoes."
Walk noted that the event organizers had been planning the reunion for about a year and originally invited all Hawaiian voyaging canoes to participate. The BYU-Hawai'i canoe, Iosepa, however, is in dry dock and could not make the journey.
"Three canoes were actually able to sail over — Höküle'a; Makali'i from Kawaihae on the Big Island; and Höküalaka'i from Hilo — but representatives from all of the canoes were on the island."
Walk pointed out 273 people were registered with the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission to be on the island. "That’s probably the greatest number of Hawaiians who have been on the island for many years. They told us we were part of history in the making," he said.
The group included some of the Hawaiian who started lobbying in the 1970s for the return of the island which the U.S. Navy used as a "target" for nearly 50 years of bombing practice. During that time access to the island was restricted. The Navy stopped training in 1990, and finally stopped all activities there earlier this year, after spending about $400 million to clean-up the remaining ordnance.
Walk said he and his BYU-Hawai'i colleagues joined the Makali'i crew, which helped train the Iosepa crew during its maiden voyage last summer, at Kawaihae on Oct. 20th. "We spent Thursday preparing the canoe, tightening stays and loading supplies and food, double-checking lines and ropes. We also relashed one of the steering sweeps.
"After dinner we got a couple of hours of sleep, and at 2 o’clock in the morning we sailed across Alenuihähä Channel bound for Kaho'olawe.
"It was wonderful to be on the ocean again — sailing, rocking and rolling in the waves on the channel. The rougher it is, the more fun it is.
"At Kealaikahiki there was a ceremony of sorts to dedicate it as a site for the training of future navigators. We also had on island grand master Mau Piailug from Satawal. He shared his mana'o [feelings] that canoes from Hawai'i should always leave from and return to Kealaikahiki when they make long voyages," Walk continued.
"He said when we sail there and begin our journeys, we honor our ancestors and invite them to journey with us; and when we return to Kealaikahiki, we honor them again and are able to thank them for a safe journey.
"He also encouraged all of the canoes to work together at least once a year at Kealaikahiki for training.
Walk noted this was his second trip to Kaho'olawe. "The island is beautiful and has a very powerful spirit. For me, you can also feel the kaumaha, or sadness, and the 'eha, or pain, from having been bombed for all those years.
"Since I was there two years ago the island has really come to life. There’s much more foliage. The reforestation projects are beginning to take hold. The water catchment systems are beginning to nourish the plants, and the mountains of exploded and unexploded ordnance have been removed. The ordnance that once littered the surface of the island has been removed," he said.
"It was important for Iosepa to be represented as part of the family of voyaging canoes from Hawai'i."
Walk explained that Iosepa, which is currently located behind BYUH’s Hale 5 dormitory, "doesn’t need any major repairs. There are some minor adjustments that need to be made before our spring sail in May 2005. Since our return, most of our attention has turned to our cultural garden, Kahuaola. In winter semester we'll probably begin work on the things we need to do on the canoe.
Walk said "one of the things we need to do is build a lighter, stronger, hollow mast for the canoe. Kawika Eskaran will take the lead on that."
He added, "I’ve heard Uncle Bill say in the upcoming sail this spring, the canoe will stop on Kaho'olawe."
By Susan Kunz (a Country Sister)
Okay, I’ll just come right out and say it: I can’t help it. I have to make things.
Welcome to my secret inner crafter soul and my need to create. It is a compulsion and I satisfy it in different ways from Super Citizen posters to Halloween costumes to web pages. Sometimes I’ll even go out and weed and create a clean, lovely patch of lawn; but I am most satisfied when I craft, and in order to continue crafting I have to sell my products to fund more creations.
Selling my crafts was difficult, expensive and so time-consuming that I may have given it up altogether if not for Country Sisters, a hui of talented crafters that I joined about 10 years ago.
Being a part of CS is an annual thing. Mainly we come together for our Christmas Fair. I have come away from each collaboration with my Country Sisters satisfied and glad that I was a part of the group.
We’ve held our fairs in homes, in drafty tarps in front yards, at BYU-Hawai'i — wherever we could get a toehold to sell our stuff.
There is something really satisfying about creating a little piece of art and having someone say, "Oh, I love it!" Then they buy it and take it home. What more could a crafter ask for than to have their creation loved?
The downside is when the creations you work so hard on are passed over and left to be packed up and taken home at the end of the fair. Sometimes it can be enough of a downer to think about quitting.
But then the group is there to give you confidence — to make it easy to try again. Because CS was there to provide a venue for my little trifles I could keep trying. Now I’m on my third home business.
The first was painting coconut postcards for PCC. Then I made Hawaiian-themed wooden puzzles that I sold to preschools across the state. Now I have an online business that I hope will be the very best of all!
I believe each one of the Country Sisters has found success through the group-success with our craft businesses; success in serving the community: CS offers two book scholarships a year to BYUH students, we’ve decorated BYUH Christmas trees, made aprons for Lä'ie Elementary School teachers, and more; and this success has helped us and our families.
There is something to be said for a hui like ours: Plenty brains mo’ bettah than one!
Now as we look forward to our 11th Christmas Craft Fair it is good to see some of the evidences of our success. The customer base individual Country Sisters have built, BYUH students that we’ve helped, the new groups like Peggy Hopkinson's who are just starting to build their own successful hui and the great support from the community. Without you we would not be us.
So, from the bottom of my secret crafter’s heart, I thank you for supporting me and my Country Sisters each year. See you at the Craft Fair!
The fair will be held at Kahuku Community Center on Friday, Nov. 19th from 6:30–9:30 p.m., and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Fundraising, by Susan Kunz
Thanks to Debbie Frampton who sent in the most fundraiser announcements for November. She wins a Kauai Kookies Saimin-O-Gram from PixieHawaii.com. Check out this month’s contest at the end of this column.
Giving back: One of the great things about fundraising is the willingness of those around us to give of their time and money to support whatever good cause a fundraiser is targeting. Some give because they want what we are selling, some out of the goodness of their hearts, some because they are our aunties and they just like buy from us. Whatever the reason, a fundraiser is only as good as the number of sales it makes, and sales are defined as people giving to the cause.
But what about us intrepid, hard working fundraisers? What are we giving back? Oh, my goodness! you may say. Do you know how much I gave of my time and money to help that ABC fundraiser succeed?!! I know, believe me, I know!
Still, as fundraisers we need to show our gratitude toward the community that supports us. Sincere thank yous — both verbal and written — are so important to all that donated their time and resources. After each sale a heartfelt "thank you!" is always appreciated by the customer.
I would like to suggest that as fundraisers we go one step further and find ways to support our community outside of our fundraising efforts. As an individual, with your family and even with your group, find ways to give back. Donate to a needy family at Foodland. Clean out your closets and give to Goodwill. Adopt a child to give Christmas gifts to through the North Shore News Christmas Gift program. Donate to the following Kahuku High School projects:
Activity: Domino’s Pizza Day, Thursday, Nov. 18th; $2 of every order purchased with our flyer goes to Lä'ie Elementary.
Activity: Box Tops for Education: Send your box tops to Lä'ie Elementary or shop online through the box-top marketplace on our website, www.laieptco.com. We are trying to earn money to give every student a free book at our spring book fair. Check our website for other ways to help us raise money.
For this month’s contest, send me your ideas on what you would buy for a fundraiser. Do you want car wash tickets? Krispy Kreme doughnuts? Plate lunch? Sweet bread? What will you buy every time? One winner will be chosen from a random drawing of all entries. The prize is a Crack Seed Saimin-O-Gram from PixieHawaii.com. Send your favorite fundraiser to saiminpixie@pixiehawaii.com by the end of November.
Remember, the more you give the more you will receive. You could even think of it as an investment in your next fundraiser. Happy selling!
[To publicize your fundraiser for your group, family or organization, contact Susan Kunz at 293-2629 or by email at saiminpixie@pixiehawaii.com.]
By Amanda Baize ~ Kahuku High correspondent
Have you ever wondered where heroes come from? We the people of the United States of America owe are freedom to the heroes of the armed forces — the men and women who define valor, integrity, and courage as they devote their lives to defending America. Heroes are made every day, and in the Kahuku High and Intermediate School JROTC program we can see where the makings of heroes begin.
The JROTC program at Kahuku High is a way for high school students to gain leadership qualities, self-confidence, and numerous other skills that are important for life-long success. There is no pressure in the JROTC program to join the military after high school, but some cadets have found their passion in life through this program.
Their inspiration can be credited to the JROTC program which instills in its cadets values such as honor, integrity, leadership, service, respect, hard work, and dedication. For those who are considering a career in the military after high school, JROTC teaches them crucial skills they will need. For those cadets who become involved in JROTC, there are numerous scholarships awarded each year, and being involved offers a great advantage in acceptance to prestigious military academies such as West Point.
Cadet First Lt. Monica Su'a, Alpha Company Commander, stated in an interview, "I have decided to join the military because I believe that it is my responsibility to defend my country... While in the Army I would like to work in Military Intelligence."
The JROTC program has inspired many other cadets, besides Su'a, to realize the possibilities available to them. For example, Capt. Ebet Feliciano, public relations, a senior at Kahuku school this year, stated, "I plan to join the Army in the middle of my senior year and become a military police officer (MP). I want to join the military because it will help me to start my career and I want to defend my country."
How has the JROTC program made such an impact on so many students' lives? Through its values and high standards that every cadet works hard to achieve.
Every aspect of the JROTC program is inspected on a routine basis, and the cadets must prepare themselves on uniforms, knowledge, ceremonies, briefings, and all administrative procedures. The last inspection was Nov. 1st and the next inspection will be in February. Every third year there is a formal inspection in which the JROTC program works hard to maintain their official honor unit status. Routine inspections are based on a 1,000-point scale. Of the 1000 points 96% and above are needed to earn the highest rating of honor unit with distinction.
The Kahuku JROTC program has proudly maintained the status of honor unit with distinction for five consecutive years. Inspectors hale from Fort Lewis Washington, the University of Hawai'i Senior ROTC program, and Fort Shafter. In an interview about the November 1st inspections First Sergeant Brandt, Senior Army Instructor of Kahuku JROTC, said, "This years' inspections went extremely well. Of course there is always room for improvement. Kahuku was the first school to be inspected under the new inspection format. It was very challenging, but a positive learning experience for the cadets."
Kahuku's JROTC distinction is also maintained through the Ranger Team, Color Guard Team, and summer camps. Currently the Ranger Team is preparing for a three-day competition in December at Schofield Barracks. The competition tests a wide range of physical and technical skills that that are assigned in the three months prior to the event. Past physical activities have included a 9.5-mile run, rope bridging, repelling, first aid tests, casualty carries, and various survival skills.
The Ranger Team and Color Guard Team are the most elite groups in the JROTC program. The Color guard Team presents the colors, which consist of the Hawai'i state flag, the U.S. flag, and the battalion flag. They also participate in various ceremonies and drill team competitions against other JROTC programs across the island.
During the summer there is a leadership course for all JROTC cadets across Hawai'i who want to excel in the upcoming year. The Advanced Leadership Training Core (ALTC) is a six-day course held at Barbers Point Naval Air Station. This past summer Kahuku JROTC cadets received numerous honors: Cadet Major Jason Tafuga, a senior, earned honor cadet and ranked 2nd out of 175 JROTC cadets from all over Hawai'i.
On Oct. 9, 2004, the Kahuku JROTC attended the Hickam Drill meet where they won 2nd place in Armed Regulation Drills, and 3rd place in Unarmed Regulation Drills.
The JROTC program of Kahuku High and Intermediate stands above other JROTC programs across Hawaii in its distinctions and maintained honor ranking. Our 60 cadets are learning values every day that not only prepare them for life, but also inspire many of them to become heroes.
A hard-hitting, football-loving group of boys suit up faithfully three afternoons a week to learn the basics of the game and improve their skills at Lä'ie Park.
"There’s a big group of kids who are too big to play Pop Warner football," volunteer organizers and coaches Kalani Soren and Doc Taula explained to Kaleo.
They added that some of the other boys in the Lä'ie Park league are not able to participate in Pop Warner football because of the expense, location, or for other reasons.
Soren and Taula said they have also recruited many willing assistants, who each have years of experience, to coach and mentor these boys; and the mother of one of the boys does all the paper work.
None of the volunteers wanted their names mentioned, including Soren and Taula, but they agreed in hopes other volunteers might contact them with additional help.
"All of them do what they do for love of the boys and to give them a chance they would otherwise not have," the mother said.
"My son and Doc’s son fall into the category of being too big for Pop Warner, so without this they would not have had any previous experience when they get to Kahuku," Soren said.
"All the coaches, especially Doc, are always on the boys to exercise their minds as well as their bodies. We teach them talent in sports will take them nowhere if they cannot get good grades: So, grades plus talent equals success."
Soren and Taula have worked to buy and borrowed whatever they could to gather the pads, helmets and other equipment for these boys.
"I think there must be in the community, near or far, a lot of football gear in closets and garages," Soren said. "We would really appreciate any equipment folks might donate. Instead of collecting dust, it could give a boy a chance to be part of these future Red Raiders.
"Then when the JV coach says to them, 'Who has any experience?’ they will be able to raise their hands. We put them in all positions to give them a taste of offense, defense, running back, even QB."
One of the other volunteers said, "Watching these boys fit into not only the sport and the team, but the acceptance and friendship of a group where sportsmanship, brotherhood, academics, and healthy lifestyles are encouraged gives me a warm feeling. To hear the boys complain because practice is almost over has to be music to a coach’s ears. Then they are told, no hanging out. Get home and do your homework."
Soren and Taula said several Kahuku High coaches also stop by from time to time, and express their pleasure in seeing these boys learning blocking, tackling, running, and the basics — knowing a pinch block from a crab block, and so on.
Yup, football’s future in Ko'olauloa looks solid for more years to come.
The five bus-loads of very supportive Kahuku athletes — including the varsity and JV football teams, the soccer team and cheerleaders — undoubtedly helped spur the Kahuku High girls volleyball team to claim its third OIA championship in the last four years on Nov. 4th when they decisively trounced Moanalua, 25-19 and 25-17.
This latest victory in a 13–1 season gives the girls top seed and a first-round bye in the state volleyball championship tournament which is underway on Maui.
Meanwhile, the defending OIA championship boys volleyball team lost their crown later that same evening to the Kaläheo Mustangs, but they still earned a berth in the boys state volleyball tournament.
"Both the girls and boys varsity volleyball teams qualified for the state tournament," said Kahuku athletic director Joe Whitford. He explained the girls will play at King Kekaulike High School in Pukalani, Maui, while the boys will go to Hilo and play at Kamehameha Schools’ Keoua campus.
"It looks like the girls are peaking at the right time. They’re really focused and are playing well," said Whitford, who singled out consistent performances the whole year by Sachi Mamizuka, Lilly Lätü and Camilla Ah Hoy.
"Earlier in the regular season, they were down 11–2 in their first set against 'Aiea, but they came back to win, 25–21. That’s a real credit to their skills and heart."
Whitford also recognizes the experience the girls gain in summer leagues. "They certainly enjoy what they do. I really need to credit head coaches Mona and Irwin Ah Hoy for all the additional work they do with these kids. Their success has been tremendous." Mona coaches the girls varsity, and Irwin the girls JV team.
The girls JV team captured their third OIA title in a row by defeating Pearl City on Oct. 19th. The team was led by Alayna Galea'i, Lenora Nauahi and McZeen Ale.
"For an OIA championship game, it wasn’t even close," Whitford continued. "The future of girls volleyball at Kahuku is in good hands. We only graduate three seniors on this year’s team, and we've got some strong players coming up."
For the boys, Whitford said Junior Ale and Charles Bell have been turning in great performances this season, as well as Michael Tanuvasa, who replaced Josh Yeager in the starting lineup when he broke his finger in warm-ups.
"The boys have come alive and turned up their play a notch for the end of the season," Whitford said, adding that both the boys and girls teams will be facing some of the same competitors in their respective state tournaments.
Air riflery
Jonathan Glover, one of the team members, made first-team all East OIA. "That really good, considering we ended up eighth in the league."
Girls cross country
The Kahuku girls cross country team, coached by Jeff Parker, came in third in the OIA. Whitford said the top runners this season were Ke'ilani Wasson, Shannon Ching and Vailima Walker.
Basketball
Basketball preseason action starts in December.
Academics
Whitford reminds everybody that student athletes are required to have a weekly grade check. "Kids cannot have consecutive Fs. If they do, they need to sit out the next contest," he explained. "In all fall sports, student athletes have missed a total of about 20 games because they have not met the academic requirements.
"I encourage parents to be aware of their kids' academic progress. Ask them how they’re doing in school, and if you don’t get clear answers, contact their teachers. It hurts when they miss games, but in the long run, I know they’ll learn the right lessons. Academic skills are just as important as athletics."
Kaleo lists a limited number of activities and encourages readers to re-verify details. To submit items, call 754-4304, or e-mail foleym002@hawaii.rr.com by the Kaleo deadline listed below.
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