Tech Summer Duties

It's that time of the year where I need to check every computer in the classrooms and prep it for the upcoming school year.  Although, our facility problem is our biggest challenge this summer I still need to continue my technology duties of restoring computers and preparing for the new school year.  The restoring of computers is not hard, just time consuming.  But before I start that process I normally scan the hard drives for important saved documents that may be relevant to a student or staff.  Of course, at the end of every school year I announce that each computer will be cleaned out during the summer and students & staff need to take the responsibility to back up their own files, I still run into this same problem every year.  So I decided to take the time to document & highlight some of the students project work on this blog to give the public an idea of different products that they produce here at Hakipuu Learning Center.  I believe our students produce great work and the more we educate the public in our student's ability the more support we can possibly receive to help our facility situation.  So during this summer I will be periodically.   

Another way to view some of our student project highlights is to check out our HLC Tech Website and click on the Student Project Link.  I try to add final products there when I can.   

For now, here's is a student project found on one of the computers I need to restore.  It was produced by a 9th grade student for her Polynesian Dance Project. 

EVICTION NOTICE

Just got our official EVICTION NOTICE posted today on our doors.  The director of the State of Hawaii Department of Health, Chiyomi Fukino, is insisting we vacate the premises.  We have been told of the different plans she have for the building we presently occupy.  We have been working diligently to accommodate the demands of Chiyomi Fukino, the Director of the State Department of Health (DOH), while still trying to allow our school to function and serve the larger community. We were hoping to come to a workable solution, such as allowing the school to continue to use the building while DOH seeks the funding and permits they will need to construct their new facility. This would allow the school the time necessary to relocate. Unfortunately, Ms. Fukino has refused to speak directly with us.

Fortunately, we have have been offered another location by Windward Community College and we are doing our very best to pursue that opportunity but time is definately needed, which Ms. Fukino refuse to allow.  HLC continues to believe that both of programs – DOH and HLC - provide important services to our surrounding communities and both along with WCC and the Kāne‘ohe Regional Park have significant justification for maintaining a presence on the Kea‘ahala uplands area. For more information on this issue, please read our latest newsletter editions:  June 2010 and May 2010.  I want to encourage everyone to read these newsletter editions and you will see how hard HLC have been working to continue to support our students and program.
 
This is a HUGE issue that need to be solved.  It affects our future generation.  I believe we must stand for what's right "KUPONO" and best for the majority of our community.  Not only for our benefit but the benefit of our future too.

Learning is in the doing

Had a great day today learning more at the conference.  A lot of cultural information was shared today along with other topics.  I really enjoy working in a charter school system that allow staff and students to think outside the box and achieve standard credits by creating projects on topics they like.  At Hakipuu Learning Center students have the option to choose their topic of interest and staff helps to advise and guide them to learn how to find & use many different resources to research information on their topic.  The best part to me about our project base learning system is connecting every project to Hawaii's maoli culture.  It takes creative thinking to find a connection that suits every project but that's the skill that makes this type of learning very special.  Many times we are able to physically interact in our culture activities, values and experiences.  Today, we were able to participate in the unveiling of an underground oven that we Hawaiians call “Imu”.  Nice to be able to return to our roots and perpetuate our way of life and also share the experience with our guest.  Check out this short video of our Imu experience.

EdVisions Conference

Enjoying a week of a personalized conference By EdVisions hosted by Hakipu`u Learning Center and passionate educators sharing, learning, and experiencing new innovative ideas with practical approaches to add to our educational program.  It's really cool to be able to learn lessons through other people's experiences with students and different approaches to different curriculum & ideas.  Learning is fun for not only students but adults to and I for one are enjoying the opportunity of professional developing that this conference offers.  Mahalo EdVisions for offering this opportunity to us and especially for allowing Hakipu`u Learning Center to collaborate with you in hosting this conference.

Class of 2010!!

Graduation day at Paliku Theater on Windward Community College campus in Kaneohe, Hawaii.  This class had 12 graduates.  Congratulations to each of them for their accomplishments and I wish them all the very best in everything they pursue.  Life is full of opportunities and when people set their minds and hearts to what they want to accomplish in life then the world can be theirs for the taking.  So, go out there and reach for the moon because if you miss you will still land upon the stars. CONGRATULATION, Class of 2010!

2nd Semester & End of the Year Award Ceremony

We had our Award Ceremony today.  Very proud of all our students and their accomplishments this 2nd semester and throughout the school year.  Kulia i ka nu'u, strive for the highest!  All students did an awesome job.  Check out the pics taken at the ceremony.

Yvette's Student Project

Here's an exciting and fund student project on Tahitian Dancing.  Staff assisted this student with her primary source who was invited to Hakipuu Learning Center for an interview.  Julie and Kaniala shared a short lesson on Tahitian dancing with the staff and students.  Everyone participated and had so much fun learning a little part of the Tahitian culture.  Here's a short video of Yvette's interview with Julie and everyone's participation in a Tahitian dance lesson.


"Maruru" thank you Julie and Kaniala for sharing with us.

Senior Student Hoike Night

Last night, Tuesday 5/5/10, was the first of three Hoike nights. Four of our senior students presented their year long project to the community. I was very impress with each of them. Of course all of them were very nervous, but very poise, confident and knowledgable of their topic.

Lauren started the night of with his project on "Heavy Equipment Certification and Effects on `Iwi Kupuna".

Kamalu did his project on "Physical Fitness: The Physical Aspect of Staying Fit"

Kendra's project was on "Film & Digital Photography"

Cameron ended the night on "Boat Building"

These senior students worked long and hard all year long on their projects and should be proud of their outcomes.  Kudos to last nights presenters and best wishes to the other senior students expected to present this wednesday and thursday. 

Tech Choice of the Day

Been checking out tech items from Amazon and comparing them with other companies and found the following items as great deals.

Future of the World

Children ask many questions about many things. We adults need to take on the kuleana "responsibility" to not only tell them what is right from wrong, but teach them by example. We adults must do the right thing to set our children up for success in the future. Ma ka hana ka ike "learning is in the doing. Let's do the right thing and have our children do it too. THIS VIDEO TOUCH MY HEART. The famous saying of "Our children is the future of the world" is very close at hand.

Tsunami Warning

Hey everyone, it's about 9:30am here in Hawaii and a lot of excitement statewide due to the tsunami warning. I live on the coast line in Kaaawa on O'ahu and had to evacuate. Mike, myself and our girls (puppies) all left home and hanging out with family in Kaneohe awaiting more information from Tsunami Center. I do believe we are now in a safe area for now, only time will tell.

There has been many reports of craziness on our roads, in our stores, and at our gas stations. Thankfully, we filled our cars recently with gas because when we passed the 7-11 gas station in Kahaluu this morning that line was over 20 cars long and wrapping around the both corners of the property. I did not want to stop at all. On the leeward side of O'ahu from Nanakuli to Makaha there have been reports of gas stations closing due to them running out of gas. Fortunately, there has been no reports of violence which is good. Hopefully, everyone can just support eachother and share the ALOHA spirit during this dangerous time. I wish the best to everyone in Hawaii and other areas of the pacific. Be safe out there. Aloha.

Hello Again

Aloha mai kakou (greetings to all), it has been almost a year since my last posting and much has happen within that time. Many changes in staff and student enrollment. Some have moved on to other adventures and challenges in their lives and some just needed a change. Regardless what it was Hakipuu Learning Center (HLC) is still here working toward our mission of, "Grounding traditions and wisdom of the Hawaiian culture, striving to develop in each child the ability to engage in critical thinking, applying creative problem solving approaches, and demonstrate a mastery of the academic tools by demonstrating a mastery of the academic tools and positive values necessary to fully engage in life-long learning and make informed life choices for a successful future."

Working at HLC can be very fulfilling, beneficial, and challenging. Overall, I enjoy it. It's nice to be appreciated for what I do and look forward to coming to work most of the times. :) My goal for this blog is to post at least 2 entries a week and share more about our operation here at HLC.

Senior Project

We finally got to the point of Senior Project completion. Our senior students completed their 300+ hours project. They all did awesome jobs. These seniors worked extra hard to complete their final products and polish up their presentations. I am very proud of every one of them and super elated that it is all over. It has been a busy and stressful time for me due to supporting them with their final details and making sure they are ready for that final presentation, so when I say I am super elated that it is all over I really mean it. Here is one of the videos produced by a senior student with the assistance of HLC Tech Support and many other staff. Kainoa Charles' senior project entitle, "Football - A Vehicle for a Positive Change" He created a blog to help him journal important information about his project and collect data from a survey he added to it. Click Here to view his blog. His video is awesome and I wanted to share it with this audiance. Check it out and enjoy.

Hoike Night @ HLC

This block's Hoike Night was on Wed, Feb 4, 2009. Normally we have our events at WCC in Akoakoa building but this hoike we had only 2 students sign up to present so we decided to host this hoike at our school, Hakipuu Learning Center. It was a cozy small crowd that consist of more adults then students but still a good size audiance. Both presentors did a wonderful job presenting their projects and we video recorded both presentations to archive the event. Each HLC student is required to present 3 public presentations each year and I want to congradulate both presentors on a job well done.

Jr Tech Mini Project

2nd semester is now here and the Jr Tech students is now starting their mini projects. Students participating in this program have a possibility to earn 2.0 credit by the end of this year. There is 4 parts to this program and each part consist of 0.5 credit. Those parts are: 1) Summer course - Intro to Tech Support, 2) 1st Semester - Continue Tech Support Training, 3) 2nd Semester - implimenting training by supporting Tech Department, 4) Complete mini tech project. This week jr tech students started their project and divided into 2 group.

Group 1 will be doing a hardware project. They meet after school every tuesdays to build a regular personal computer (PC) from scratch. They need to plan the type of pc, the specs, and the operating system (OS), then find the parts according to their plan, lable & document parts, then build the system, analysis its operations, and test, test, test. Today, this group rummage though our equipment room to see what parts they could use for this project. It will be really interesting to see their process.

Group 2 will be doing a software project. They meet after school every thursdays and will work on maintaining our junior tech website at hakipuulearningcenter.com . I built and maintained the website up to this point and need to train the student and hand it over to them. I am really looking forward to doing this project and handing over the reigns.

Overall, I am enjoying this class because the tech duties can be overwhelming and its great to have other support. No matter have big or small that support may be, I am greatful for them all.

Are you glad to be an American?

Wow, what a day. The presidential inauguration celebration was awesome and it is now official, we have a new President of the United State! The ceremony was historical, enlightening, inspiring and moving. I felt proud to be an American. The coolest part is that he is from Hawaii. What a way to promote the 50th state of America. Hawaii No Ka Oi, Hawaii is the best! Go LOCAL BOY! To me, President Barack Obama doesn't represent only Hawaii, but a new beginning for all Americans. No matter what ethnicity, religion and color people are they are all equal. The possibilities are available for all who is determine and willing to pursue their dreams. I believe he is the right man for the job and I am very happy to see so much support for him. I know at times it is the hardest job in the nations, but many americans have faith in him and so do I. We must pray for our president and his family. All things are possible through the Lord!


For your enjoyment. Here is our 44th president and the first lady of the United State.

Is this the end of another year?

Yes, we are at the end of 2008 and what an awesome year it was. It was a busy year full of great growth for staff and students at HLC. I have seen many improvements throughout the years I been employed at HLC that's been both beneficial to our operation and challenging. Many staff and students came, stayed, and left for different reasons, but through it all HLC still stand strong and continues to make a positive difference in peoples lives. I really appreciate the commitment each staff have with their position along with the many hats and responsibilities everyone wear that supports our school. One of the many special things I like about our staff is that they make it a point to show how much they are appreciated and continue to celebrate successes for both students and staff. That type of action is very encouraging to the receiving person and gives them a grateful feeling. As for me, I love being part of this wonder operation and vision at HLC. Working in the education industry allows me to not only share my skills with students and staff, but also gives me the opportunity to learn life long lessons each and everyday. I have found that you can never be too old or too young to learn and at HLC it happens everyday. Therefore, I am thankful and grateful for a successful and fulfilling year and look forward to more awesome years with HLC.

When a child is born

This is the reason for the season. This little girl is amazing, she touched my heart and hope she touches your too on this special day. The birthday of our Christ the king.

Merry Christmas - Mele Kalikimaka

Just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Although, the weather in Hawaii have been a little wet with occasional showers and sun shine Hawaii is still a great place to be during this winter season. The surf is good, the people is great, and the ALOHA spirit is awesome.

Therefore from our 'ohana to yours, may this holiday season bring you all lots of LOVE, HAPPINESS and PEACE. Aloha no kakou!

Winterball '08

Winterball was at Kualoa Ranch Banquet Hall. Kualoa Ranch is located in the town of Kaaawa Valley and has acres of beautiful valley and mountain peaks on the windward side of the island. The event was a blast. Students dressed up in their best attire and their best attitudes. The evening was full of great ocean & mountain view, great food, great music, great dancing, great fun, and much much more. The Winterball committee and support staff did an awesome job planning, decorating and hosting the event. They did a lot of work and it all paid off. Mahalo nui to the committee and staff for all your hard work. We all appreciated your time and really enjoyed the event.

An invitation is needed to view our photo gallery. Please email you request to maulelava_hlc@yahoo.com .