Five New Schools in the Campbell-Kapolei Complex Area Became Blue Zones PRoject Approved Schools and Worksites

Prior to this Spring challenge, two Kapolei-‘Ewa schools achieved dual-approval. Ewa Makai Middle School was the first school in ‘Ewa Beach to become approved and have since implemented many best practices and innovations to create a culture of wellness on campus. Island Pacific Academy (IPA) was the first school in Kapolei to become approved and the last approval before school closures. The remarkable thing about IPA's approval was that some of their then-5th graders helped lead the process, which is an excellent way to gain valuable insight from the student perspective and cultivate student leadership.

In a few short months, five new schools in the complex area became dual approved!

Mauka Lani Elementary School

• Some of the ways staff are supported include opportunities to try out acupuncture, yoga and crossfit training, virtual social gatherings on the regular, and treats and check-ins by admin, including a ‘stress relief’ prescription.
• Mauka Lani Elementary issued a Wellness and Safety statement that helps to inform and educate parents about the importance of healthy snacks. Even the PTO-coordinated Trunk or Treat event encouraged and provided examples of healthier snacks that could be donated.

• Mauka Lani Elementary also has a student ‘Ohana Council that coordinates various campus initiatives. Just this year they’ve led a food drive for the Hawai’i Food Bank, a virtual book fair including a book drive benefiting Onemalu transitional housing, and the 2021 Kindness Challenge that resulted in the school being designated a Kindness Certified School.

• If you want to find out more about some of the great things happening at Mauka Lani, you can check out their YouTube channel, which shares videos of Mr. Wong’s workouts, tips for health and safety, read alouds, student videos of how they’re staying well at home, and even social-emotional lessons on such topics as relaxation, perseverance, and anger management.

Iroquois Point Elementary School

• Prior to the pandemic, Iroquois Point Elementary had annual staff excursions to promote team building at the beginning of the school year. During the year, staff also had opportunities to take field trips to gain a better understanding of local culture and environment through a variety of experiential opportunities.
• Demonstrating their adaptability to changing circumstances, when distanced learning began, Iroquois Point counselors created a Choice Board for staff, with a variety of online and offline ways to pursue interests, stay well, and keep connected.
• They held a Wellness Day during which staff could choose among 16 activities/presentations during four sessions.
• For students, the school has a number of ways they promote social emotional learning, from their Aloha and Mindfulness Centers, to programs like Roots of Empathy and GoNoodle Mindfulness Track.
• Staff really stepped up to keep students' spirits up during closures with online messaging, keeping the grab n go meals rolling out, and coordinating a car caravan that rolled through student neighborhoods.

• Barbers Point Elementary promotes wellness by posting walking maps around campus, offering acupuncture and yoga, and faculty members cohosting off-campus social gatherings to support local businesses.
• Both staff and students benefit from the produce grown on campus. Barbers Point Elementary has several garden boxes monitored by different grade levels, as well as traditional Hawaiian garden cared for by the school's maintenance staff.
• Prior to the pandemic, students experienced great place-based learning through field trips to sites such as Lyon Arboretum, Hawai‘i Nature Center, Hawai‘i's Plantation Village and Honouliuli Wetlands to learn about local history, culture, and the environment.

• ‘Ilima Intermediate implemented incredibly vibrant and thought-provoking murals around campus that celebrate local history and culture. Created by local artists, school staff, and students, the murals pay tribute to the abundance of knowledge and tradition that makes this community so special.
• ‘Ilima Intermediate offers unique programming so students can learn about and commit to a lifetime of healthy choices. These include lessons on health choices, a Power 9® workshop for girls, and the crowd-favorite smoothie bike as a fun way to combine natural movement with plant-based treats.
• Each faculty member received a flyer with local farmers' market information and a listing of Blue Zones Project Approved restaurants and grocery stores in Kapolei and ‘Ewa Beach.
• There are several clubs and groups on campus that develop strong student leadership skills and address real-life issues in real-life ways. Their Activist Club has written legislation and testified at the state senate, and they regularly coordinate campus events to generate positivity and cohesion among their peers. The schools’ Gender Sexuality Alliance was honored as the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network student club of the year out of 8,000 participating clubs!
• Next school year's theme is inspired by an effort to re-establish unity, togetherness, and belonging amongst all faculty and staff members. Efforts will take on a meticulous approach to rebuilding the social-emotional well-being of the entire faculty and staff because students are counting on them to be the best versions of themselves, so that they may succeed academically and as mindful members of society.

• Campbell High has a phenomenal agriculture program that connects students with the ‘āina, offers agricultural opportunities to students from other schools through its Learning Center, and has been a source of fresh, local produce and plant starts across the community.

• Campbell High provides lots of opportunities to serve the community through social and community responsibility campaigns, from Pause for Paws, to toy and food drives.

• In the 2020-21 school year, Campbell High ramped up it’s promotion of remaining mindful, staying centered and being resilient. Part of school culture now includes the Nā Hopena A'o ("HĀ") framework, Choose Love program which has a dedicated student club, and the student-led Mindful Moments Team.

• This Spring, Campbell High’s Voice of Campbell Ohana (VOCO) coordinated an impressive virtual health and wellness fair. #Ohana4Ewa was a week long event, offering virtual workshops around themes such as #Chill4Ewa, #Fit4Ewa, #Healing4Ewa, #Appreciation4Ewa, and #LocalSupport4Ewa.

• Staff and students alike always seem willing to go above and beyond, to think outside the box, and to aim for the stars. This year’s formation of the HĀ Team will inform, guide and lead school wellness efforts into the future.

Join the Well-Being Movement!

Email our team to learn more about partnering with us to make healthy choices easier at your worksite, school, grocery store, restaurant, or faith-based organization.
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