Aloha mai kakou to the good people in the Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School learning community, and I hope this message finds you all in good health and happiness as we pass the midpoint of September.

The great English author A.A. Milne once wrote “The things that make me different are the things that make me.” This clever quote may properly describe our unique charter school which is significantly different than other schools on Kaua’i, in Hawai’i, in the USA, and the world.

The beautiful remote setting that we embrace on campus daily sets a perfect backdrop for both project-based learning and socio-emotional learning. Our students are outside for one hour per day which is scheduled with great purpose to empower them all to learn and practice the socio-emotional curriculum which they are taught. Many of our project-based learning activities are outdoors and connected to the ‘aina through such examples as gardening, beekeeping, and worm farming. We will also find ourselves outside, rain or shine, this Thursday, September 19th for our annual Jog-A-Thon.

Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School is also unique in that we openly encourage and expect that the world off campus is a great teacher. Each classroom attends field trips each year to ensure that our learners have a broad-based education. Recently, our grade six students took a field trip to Hokule’a here on Kaua’i and perpetuated Hawai’ian cultural traditions and values. Mahalo nui kakou for your support of these adventures off our beautiful campus as they tend to be extremely impactful days for our learners.

Best wishes to you all for a wonderful week ahead. Malama pono.

DJ Adams
Po’okumu (Director)
Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School
Koloa, Hawai’i

*Please note the following photography credit for the image of our learners in this week’s Wala’au Weekly: © 2024 Polynesian Voyaging Society, photographer Michael Wilson.