Tag Archives: early childhood development

Young Writer Publishes His 5th Book

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Mom Zjane, Shafer Santiago-Militao, Carl Okuyama at Wiki-Wiki Mart.
One day while working at Wiki-Wiki Mart, Naalehu I couldn’t help overhearing a proud mom sharing a story of her son who just  completed writing and publishing a book for a school project. She was very proud of her son. This really peaked my curiosity so I asked the young writer Shafer about his book.

Shafer quickly went to get his book from the car parked outside.  Smiling, he showed me his glossy soft cover book entitled Mr. Whale Shark Makes Friends.  His writing was excellent for a nine year old who is originally from Brazil, he says he has two dogs and two cats. The illustrations in this book are his own drawings.

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I purchase a copy of Shafer’s book from http://www.Studentreasures.com/OrderCopies, using the book’s pin # 7481214. His teacher’s name will pop up, it’s Carlin’s.

The writing program is a curriculum at Volcano School of Arts and Sciences, a public Charter School, on the Island of Hawaii; Ms. Kalima Kinney, Principal, and Mr. Chris King-Gates, Assistant Vice Principal, are supporting the program.

StartsAtHome.org supports early parental involvement with their children, they have teamed up with Wiki-Wiki Mart who loves children and encourages them to do their best.  Each semester the store rewards perfect attendance at Naalehu Elementary School. Students with three days or less are rewarded with an escorted excursion to the store, where they get $3.00 to spend as they please or save the money, the kids like the break.

IMG_3344[1]The goal of the Perfect Attendance Program is to have the school’s attendance rate pass the Big Island’s School District’s average of 94%.  When the program started two years ago, the Naalehu school’s rate was 88%.  They have gotten up to 91% and is wavering trending upward, we are praying they pass the district’s average of 94%. Since then another program was started “Challenge Five” that recognizes students with less the five absences in a semester. With good faith by students, parents, school faculty, and the community this goal will come to pass, yes #KidsKan.

To get more parental participation, Wiki-Wiki Mart has announced that parents with children attaining “Perfect Attendance” will receive a 25% discount coupon good at the store.  Starts of Home is trying to build community partnerships that promotes improved student attendance, if you’re interested call (808) 937-4292, we would love to partner with the community in improving school attendance.

For our children and our community’s future, train a child in the way to go.

Written By Carl Okuyama

 

Building a Work Ethic with Five Cents per Bag of Trash

Naalehu, HI. – A senior lady would come every other day to pick up the cardboard trash at the local grocery store Island Market. What was unusual, she used a brand new shinny red Ford F-150 Ford truck; my curiosity was awakened.

My wife Amy and I opened a grocery and convenience store, called Wiki-Wiki Mart – Union 76, two blocks away from Island Market.  When our trash and recycling service provider stopped I asked the lady to take over the service, so Sue Barnett, started taking care of our trash and recycling service; she was punctual and did a very good job for us.  I had to remind her to cash her monthly checks; there were four months of checks outstanding.  She was donating her checks to Naalehu Main Street a local non-profit group. The group told Sue it was “not worth the hassle to them” as they were phasing out of their group.  Sue finally cashed her checks.  This intriguing women worked very hard, then gave her money away.

After couple of years, Sue comes to the store with another new red Ford F-150 truck, wow,  how does this lady survive; giving away her income and buying another new truck.  So my curiosity peaked.  Finally, I ask her about her prior occupation; she said she was a retired veterinarian; wow, now it made sense.  She was taking the cardboard and making mulch for resale. Sue was always busy and very resourceful.  She donated her time once a month to neuter cats and dogs in the community; a very caring and giving person who shared her skills freely and with much compassion and aloha. One day she came to the store with a large “Black and Blue” mark on her thigh, she said a donkey bit her, then remarking how painful that was… yikes, I guess after a life long career she was used to those kind of rare experiences.

Now wanting to find out how she became so diligent I asked her if I could meet her for breakfast and listen to how she was raised by the parents; her story would be shared with http://www.Startsathome.org. She said yes and I waited with baited breath to hear her story.

She explained she did not come from a rich family and her parents had to work hard to put food on the table. Sue said “if you want something you have to work”  Her mom said if you want a comic you have to work. So the mom would send them into the neighborhood to pick up trash and she’d pay them five (5) cents for a bag of trash or pull weeds around the house. “So when you got what you wanted you’d appreciate it a lot more.”  She’s concerned about “today’s kids who feels that they are entitled to what they want and not investing the time to get it or stealing instead of working.”

An interesting comment she mentioned is “the’re kids that are born poor and die poor and there are kids that are born rich and die poor” She believes and a strong work ethics keeps people out of poverty. She appreciated her mom keeping her goals realistic and can remember wanting a pony and her mom said that’s too much money. “Having realistic goals can help and will encourage success”. She also sees that when people are not successful and give up could commit suicide. Sue says “we should learn from our failures, it’s the best teacher.  So get up and get going.”

Sue went to a local college with the scholarships she earned, then worked her way through graduate school.  She doesn’t like to be called doctor or use her professional designation as VMD.  She said those titles a not important as they cause to much “one up-man-ship”.  The community has come to know her as Aunty Sue.  Thank you Aunty Sue.

Written by Carl Okuyama

Yay! We Found Honest Aliyah – “Honesty Pays”

where-is-aliyah-foundNaalehu, Hi. – Last year elementary school student Aliyah found a $10.00 bill in Union 76 Wiki-Wiki Mart; it was on the floor in front of the sales counter. Knowing somebody lost money she shared her story with Peter, her bus driver, who turned it over to the store’s lost and found. Since nobody claimed it we had to find Aliyah during school break.

A Facebook post looking for Aliyah was initiated. YAY, we found Aliyah! “Liking” the story other people donated to Aliyah to reward her for her integrity and honesty, including a California Judge who has been on the bench for 27 years. Aliyah was presented with the $10 bill plus $161.00.”Honesty Pays”.

In today’s society it seems people are losing their honesty and integrity; our children are seeing horrific news on TV and portable social media devices.  Children are seeing too much about presidential candidates accused of lying or cheating. What kinds of impression are we leaving for our children who will lead our communities and country’s future.  We all can help by encouraging and promoting honesty and integrity… let’s make a country of honest children.

Thank you to Aliyah’s parents Pastor Troy and Heather Gacayan; we were pleasantly surprised that Aliyah’s parents are the senior pastor at River of Life Church in Pahala. Peter Serfin, Bus Driver, works for the Volcano School of Arts and Science; Peter is the former Editor of Orchid Isle Magazine, he enjoys helping children.

Together we can train children in the way to go.

by Carl Okuyama

 

“Where is Aliyah” Rewarding and Building Honesty

Where is Aliyah $10 Lost and FoundLast year elementary school student Aliyah found a $10.00 bill at Union 76 Wiki-Wiki Mart in front of the candy counter in Na’alehu, Hawaii. Knowing somebody lost money she gave it to Peter her bus driver who turned it over to the store’s lost and found. Since nobody claimed it we had to find Aliyah. A Facebook post looking for a Aliyah was initiated. We found her and we’ll be returning the $10 bill to Aliyah.  A couple other people have donated to Aliyah to reward her for her integrity and honesty, including a California Judge whose been on the bench for 27 years. Honesty pays. All monies raised will be given to Aliyah.

In today’s society many times it seems we are losing our honesty and integrity.  When our children watch the news, what kinds of impression are we leaving for our children who will lead our community’s future.  With your help we can encourage more Aliyahs.  Hopefully with a successful fundraising campaign and a news story can all help shape our future.  #startsathome.
Where is Aliyah 2015

Please help and donate $5, $10, $25, or more; it’s very much appreciated. Help build honesty in our community.

Aloha and thank you very much for your help!

Carl Okuyama