Onizuka Science Day announced
Astronaut Ellison Onizuka Science Day for students is scheduled for Jan. 24 at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.
Students in fourth through 12th grades, parents and teachers are invited to the free program.
The event features astronaut Koichi Wakata and a selection of 18 science workshops where attendees may interact with 18 displays and view the TMT VEX IQ robotics tournament finals. A free lunch for all registered student participants and free bus transportation from Kona to Hilo are provided by American Savings Bank.
For more information and enrollment materials, contact Future Flight Hawaii at 934-7261 or art@higp.hawaii.edu. Those interested may also register online at spacegrant.hawaii.edu/OnizukaDay.
Kalaniopio joins HPA staff
TJ Kalaniopio has been named director of facilities at Hawaii Preparatory Academy.
Kalaniopio returned to his alma mater in November, replacing Edgar Spencer, also an alumnus, who retired after 27 years of service. Kalaniopio most recently was carpenter/project engineer at Quality Builders, where he worked for 16 years. During that time, he was involved in a number of construction projects at HPA, including the Castle Lecture Hall and the technology center, the Energy Lab, Isaacs Art Center, the student union, teacher cottages and residence hall renovations. Kalaniopio, who attended Fort Lewis College in Colorado, also is founder of Hinahina Design.
Taniguchi to deliver commencement keynote
Barry Taniguchi, chairman and chief executive officer of KTA Super Stores and K. Taniguchi Ltd., will be the keynote speaker at the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s fall commencement at 9 a.m. Saturday in Vulcan Gym.
Students have petitioned for 290 degrees and certificates from the colleges of Arts and Sciences (204), Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management (28), Business and Economics (30) and Ka Haka Ula O Keelik Olani College of Hawaiian Language (12), while 16 others are candidates for various post-graduate honors.
Taniguchi assumed his present position in February after serving as president and chief executive officer since 1989. He has been a director since 1973 for the chain of Big Island family grocery stores established in 1916 by his grandparents.
Big Island teachers achieve board certification
Forty-six state Department of Education teachers are among 59 Hawaii teachers to receive national board certification this year from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Board certification is considered the highest mark of accomplishment in the profession. It includes a rigorous, performance-based, peer-review process similar to board certification in fields such as medicine.
Big Island teachers who earned this certification are Shari Jumalon of Konawaena Middle; Megan Oberg of Mountain View Elementary; Victoria Couture of Kealakehe Intermediate; Whitney Aragaki and Layne Takahashi of Waiakea High; Lacey Cabral and Gabrielle Chong of Keaau High; Joel Behr, Shannon Harbaugh, Nancy Iaukea and William Keith Blackburn of Pahoa High and Intermediate; Elizabeth Laliberte of Hilo High; Daniel Lewer of Honokaa Highand Intermediate; Michelle Obregon of Konawaena High; and Rochelle Tamiya of Hilo Intermediate.
To obtain certification, teachers must demonstrate mastery of knowledge and skills necessary to prepare students for 21st century success. Over the past three years, Hawaii has experienced the fastest growth in the number of national board certified teachers in the nation and now has more than 500 national board certified teachers.
Honaunau receives grant for garden
Honaunau Elementary School recently received a $2,500 grant from the Hawaii Island School Garden Network to support a part-time coordinator for its learning garden program. Started by garden educator Melissa Chivers in 2008, Honaunau Elementary’s school garden is currently staffed by FoodCorps Hawaii service member Jessica Sobocinski and part-time garden educator Malani Souza.
In its sixth year of operation, the learning garden successfully serves the students, teachers and families of Honaunau Elementary School. Teachers use the garden as a resource, bringing core curriculum to life for all of the school’s 165 students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grades. The garden serves as a hands-on outdoor classroom in which students learn and apply knowledge in health and nutrition, science, mathematics and language arts.