In Brief | Schools 6-5-13

Hawaiian culture-based learning conference slated

Kamehameha Schools, in partnership with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Native Hawaiian Education Council and other organizations that support the education of Hawaii’s students, will offer the Culture-Based Education Conference on Oahu.

The conference allows stakeholders who have a vested interest in the education of Native Hawaiian learners to gather and hear from noted local educators and practitioners who advocate for culture-based education.

The 2013 conference and Hawaiian Education Summit is the first event of this scale on Hawaiian-focused culture-based education. A three-day Moenaha — Hawaiian culture-based framework for teaching and learning — workshop will also be conducted during the conference.

The conference runs from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. July 8 to 10 at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu. For more information or to register, visit extension.ksbe.edu/CBEConference. Registration costs $50 per day or $120 for all three days. Discounts are available for kupuna, keiki and students. Registration includes meals; parking is an additional $10 daily.

Kona Pacific to graduate first class

Kona Pacific Public Charter School will hold its first eighth-grade graduation at 10 a.m. Saturday. The school opened in 2008, serving 96 students in kindergarten through fourth grade. The school has added a grade each year, growing until reaching its full capacity with 230 students between junior kindergarten and eighth grade.

Kona Pacific also completed a $1 million expansion to the school campus this year, started a healthy school lunch program, began a Compassionate Campus program and converted to 100 percent solar power.

Kona Pacific is a tuition-free public school located above Kona Community Hospital in Kealakekua. The school offers a Waldorf-inspired program rooted in the land and culture of Hawaii. The school’s mission is to cultivate in young people the skills, knowledge and values they need to reach their highest potential.

The school is accepting applications for the 2013-14 school year through Oct. 15. For more information or an application, call 322-4900, email info@kppcs.org or visit kppcs.org.

Organization awards Reagan scholarships

The Hawaii County Ronald Reagan Scholarship Fund has awarded three scholarships totaling $6,500 to seniors at Kohala, Waiakea and Kealakehe high schools. Each applicant wrote an essay dealing with provisions in the Bill of Rights. Almarine Kitchens of Kealakehe High School, who will attend California Polytechnic Institute, was awarded a $5,000 scholarship. Dillon Ku of Kohala High School received a $1,000 scholarship. Ku will attend the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Owen Sandstrom of Waiakea High School won a $500 scholarship. Sandstrom will attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

The fund, a 501(c)(3) organization, has awarded scholarships to 46 Hawaii County public high school seniors since 2004. It is not associated with any other national or local organization and has operated wholly in and for the benefit of Big Island residents for the past 10 years. It will cease operations after payment of the 2013 awards.

Rotary announces scholarship recipients

Three 2013 Kealakehe High School graduates were recently named the winners of Rotary Club of Kona Community Foundation scholarships.

Luke Van Der Spoel is the recipient of the annual $8,000 Ken and Marge Clewett Scholarship. Somer Mitchell was awarded the $4,000 Jim and Sis Bedingfield Scholarship. These scholarships are paid out in four annual installments.

Kiani Miranda received the $1,000 Ron and Kathy Hawkes Vocational Scholarship. This award is paid out in two annual installments.

Scholarship candidates were evaluated on scholastic and academic achievement; leadership and involvement on campus; community service and activities; extracurricular activities and employment experience; and financial need. Winners were chosen following an interview with a committee of Rotarians.