Cherished Treasures

We celebrate many traditions at the preschool and elementary, but none are as beloved and endearing that convey the power of Community as Kūpuna Day (formerly Grandparents’ Day).

In Hawaiian culture, kūpuna are the elders or grandparents having ancestral knowledge. Kupu, to grow and thrive, combined with puna, life-giving waters, aptly describes the role of kūpuna in sustaining and enriching a community’s culture.

 

Our celebration of Kūpuna is unique to Mid-Pacific — a morning talk-story among kūpuna and guests and refreshments, a brief welcome by all preschool and elementary students, followed by an hour of activities with their moʻopuna (grandchildren) in the classroom. If you have the opportunity, I recommend reading some of the 10 faculty blogs on the elementary page that provide wonderful narratives and images of Kūpuna Day activities. It is the one day I wish I could be omnipresent in all classrooms to experience the conversations and activities between elder and child. Every student has an adult with whom to share learning, whether grandparent, parent, family relative, or family friend.

We learned through Covid how to make good use of Zoom virtual meetings. There is an elaborate preparation months prior to virtual and on-campus Kūpuna Day planned and organized by co-chairs Jayme Sakai and Cheryll Aldridge, and their mighty team of parent volunteers. Faculty and students also prepare a host of engaging activities — interviews, slide shows, videos, games, crafts — so that every moment is fully experienced!

Kūpuna Day is truly a community undertaking. Staff from other departments picked up guests in golf carts. Security directed traffic. Valet service parked and retrieved cars. Employees parked their cars in other parts of the campus to provide space for guests. White tents dotted the elementary campus to provide additional space for classroom activities. Parent volunteers prepared refreshments, facilitated activities, and served as photographers. Gosh, it sure takes a village!

This week, all students will be writing thank-you notes to their guests for participating in Kūpuna Day. There were hosts of Kūpuna who traveled miles and miles to celebrate their grandchildren — Australia, New York, Michigan, California, the neighbor islands, the North Shore, and many other shores! Until next year, we bid our beloved Kūpuna a hui hou!

E Kūlia Kākou! Let’s strive and aspire together!

For our children,

Edna L. Hussey, Ed.D.
Principal