Po‘e Ka‘ahele's Kapa Making Assembly

Kapa Assembly Blog

By Ashlyn ’20

Today we had assembly! Our walk in song was taught to us by Mrs. Abbe, and it was called I Am Thankful For. After that, we sang Aia i ka poli o makiki, while Cary, Riley, Noah and Aiden played the ipu. Next was announcements. Ms. Gabby shared a lot of birthday books. Happy birthday to the Kulā‘iwi teacher, Mrs. Lee! For thought of the day, we said, “Makahana ka ike. In working one sees.” 

Then, we turned the assembly over to the entering Po’e Ka’ahele  students. They taught us all about their kapa experience. Did you know that in the olden days, the Hawaiians carved their ohe kapalas in bamboo? That was something I learned. The Po’e students had the privilege to make kapa with the wauke plant! Mrs. Varney taught the kids how to scrape off the bark and pound the wauke into a cloth-like fabric. Then, once it dries, it will be kapa! After they told us about that, each student talked a bit about their own process. The kapa print represents something about nature or navigation, like mountains or oceans. Some people put handprints of their peer’s on their cloth. It was inspiring to see everybody’s work because I saw many different ideas in each kapa. It was a very eye-opening experience and I can’t wait until Makahiki to see everyone wearing theirs!

Students Sharing Science!

Collaborative Studio and Science Project Sharing

by: Davan ’20

During today's assembly, we sang the song “Make New Friends” and “Hawaii Pono`i”. We had some really cool projects from the collaborative studio, like homemade zip bags and laser-cut wood designs. Then we got to see all of the Po‘e Ka‘ahele’s science projects. It was so hard to decide which one was my favorite because they were all very cool. I really liked the one about the “twister” because it is very mesmerizing to watch the bubbles go around and around. A few more of the projects were: Salt melting ice cubes and how the different amounts of salt affects how fast the ice cubes melted, and how different kinds of eggs react to white vinegar. We also learned the scientific method which is Idea, Hypothesis, Gather materials, Test, Results, and Conclusion.

2019 Children's Fair Mahalo

We Had Fun, Fun, Fun in the Sun, Sun, Sun at this Year’s Children’s Fair!

by Savita ’20

Aloha, today we’ll be talking about the assembly we had this week. During assembly we talked about the Children's Fair. Did you know they have been doing the fair for 95 years? This year’s fair was about coming together as a community. We also thanked all of the parents and faculty and students that helped with setting up this year’s fair, but also appreciated those who helped make our school logo. In total, the amount to lei that were made was around 80.  All of the lei were hand made and drawn by the children at our school. The lei were for all of the parents and faculty that helped our fair “come to life.” 

This year some of the kids were asked to share one of their favorite things they had/did at the fair, and why that was their favorite part. At the end of the assembly there was a slideshow that was presented about the highlights of the fair.          


Halloween Play Assembly

Po‘e Ka‘ahele Writes, Produces, and Performs Our 2019 Halloween Play…“The Darkest Alley”

By Kanalu ’20

This Friday for assembly, Po‘e 4th and 5th graders did a Halloween play. The Halloween play was about Laura, Lexi and Louis who all go trick or treating when something happens. A scarecrow kidnapped Laura and Lexi. The brother, Louis is trying to find help to get his sisters back. Louis has to defeat a Gobbler and a Queen. Some of the things they did in the Halloween play was a riff off, “surfing,” throwing bones, and hula. My favorite part was when the scarecrow kidnapped the sisters.




Music with Mrs. Abbe Assembly

Musical Traditions at Hanahau‘oli School

by Kainoa ’20

This week’s assembly was run by none other than Mrs. Abby (Mrs. Abby is our music teacher). So therefore the assembly was all about music and tradition! Classes from Kukunaokalā to Po‘e Ka‘ahele chose a song per home group that they thought was important enough to be passed on as a tradition.

First the Triangles from Kukunaokalā led us in singing “I Am What I Am.” A song that tells a story of journey. Next the Circles sang “Hanahau‘oli, You Are My Sunshine”. It’s a retake on the song you are my sunshine and it tells of how Hanahau‘oli is one big caring family. Next Kulā‘iwi shared the song Ho’omau Hanahau‘oli made by the children here at this school and our old music teacher Mr. Hirokawa. Next Po’e Ka’ahele led us in Ghost of John, a school favorite. Not last and not least Po’e Ka’ahele enters the ring once more with another amazing song, “The Button Factory.” (That one really made me move.) We sang a few more songs which were “On Top of Spaghetti,” “Singing in the Rain” and lastly, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” And that’s all for today folks.   


Kukunaokalā | Kulā'iwi | Po'e Ka'ahele

Our Multiage Classroom Names

by Alyssa ’20

Today at assembly, Uncle Blair taught all the new parents and students about our classroom names. He started off with “Kukuna O Ka Lā”. Kukuna means the beams, O Ka Lā means of the sun. Next, he talked about Kulā‘iwi. Kulā‘iwi means Our island home because “‘Iwi” means bones and "Kula" means large flat piece of land. Bones were buried at home in ancient Hawaiian times. So everywhere you go their are bones of our ancestors. In a way, we “stand” on our ancestors’ knowledge. Ali'i bones were hidden. Finally, Uncle Blair ended with Po’e Ka’a Hele. Po’e Ka’a Hele means the people who travel and that’s why Po‘e “travels” a lot. After Po’e Ka‘ahele, we closed with our school song. 

Our Hawaiian classroom names were graciously gifted to us by past parent, Auntie Lilinoe Ka‘ahanui (Nakoa ’03 and Nainoa ’07) when we became a multiage school in 1997. Kukunaokalā is grades K-1 and means “rays of the sun,” Kulā’iwi is grades 2-3 and means “our island home,” (KU- to stand, LA- light, day, sun, ʻIWI- bones of our ancestors - Standing in the light of those who came before; spiritual enlightenment, familial connection as to the reason you exist in any particular space) and Po‘e Ka‘ahele is grades 4-5 and means “the travelers.” JK and 6th Grade retain their grade level names. Mahalo, Auntie Lilinoe!