Ho`ala School is committed to improving the social well being of its community by being an active member within it. This small, nonsectarian school views the larger community as its true classroom. As such, in 2003, Ho`ala received a grant from the Hawaii Community Foundation to support the development of a service learning program throughout the school, grades K-12.

Last year's service-learning projects included:

* TUTU'S DANCE was a seven-part project in which students in grades 3-4 interviewed elders in their community, turned their notes into poetry, set the poems to song, professionally recorded the song on a CD, and then choreographed a dance to match. Academically the class explored history through biographical interviewing, writing, speaking and performing skills. The students performed their song "Seniors Give Us Great Advice" in several different venues, including Aged to Perfection, a local senior day program.

* PUPPY DOG TALES was a five-week project designed to promote literacy while improving the reading skills of our students in grades 5-6 by incorporating the use of service dogs as active "listeners." Students worked with Read to Me International to discuss literacy and then practiced the art of reading aloud. Students then met for several weeks with volunteers from the Hawaii Fi-Do Service Dogs to get comfortable reading aloud to dogs trained to "listen" patiently. Finally, students read aloud to different groups of young students in Wahiawa and Mililani, reflecting upon the various experiences.

Ho`ala School, in partnership with the Honolulu Police Department
participated in a sign waving campaign to promote safe driving on our
roadways at the corner of Wilikina Drive and Kamehameha Hwy recently.

Managing Director of the City and County of Honolulu, Kirk Caldwell
joined students since Mayor Mufi Hanneman was unable to attend. Support from
area businesses included Central Pacific Bank, and Ho`ala School board
member Susie Peterson, owner of Peterson Egg Farm.

Ho`ala School students have been involved with many
community service projects that support the town of Wahiawa and our
state. From graffiti wipe-outs, beach clean ups, forest preservation
and more, Ho`ala School faculty & students are committed to making a
positive difference and serving our community.

The 7th and 8th grade Service Learning class spent two days in the forest preserve within the Kahanahaiki management area assisting the Army with their Natural Resource Program. Ho`ala middle school students participated in the Volunteer Service Project: “Black Wattle Control” removing invasive black wattle (Acacia mearnsii) trees in order to protect the native forest ecosystem.

Students hand-pulled black wattle seedlings and counted seedlings that have been pulled for record keeping, as well as pulled molasses grass (Melinis minutiflora) from out-planted native palapalai fern in the area. The methods the students used for invasive plant removal and recording were similar to techniques used by Army field scientists. This not only provides students with an opportunity to practice real-world field methods, but also helps the Army with their efforts to protect the abundant native and endangered species found at Kahanahaiki.

In a letter to students after the project, Kim Welch the Environmental Outreach Specialist who accompanied the students wrote, “We feel confident that with the help of the 7th & 8th grade students, we have managed to control the spread of the invasive Black Wattle …, and have also given the native palapalai fern a greater chance of success with our aggressive grass removal efforts.”