WAIMEA — For the past four years, Kanu o ka Aina New Century Public Charter School has submitted applications to the county and state to build a kitchen that would enable them to prepare meals for their students.
Currently, they are fed by Earl’s food truck that comes to their campus for lunch service.
This month, the school is stepping up their efforts by filing a grants-in-aid application for $1.25 million in CIP funds that would make a USDA certified kitchen on campus a reality. It would serve students not only at Kanu, but also those at Malamapokii preschool and Kauhale Oiwi o Puukapu that are also part of Kanu o ka Aina Learning Ohana (KALO).
To spread the word on their need quickly and widely, they have created a GoPetition site online where residents can submit testimony that will be sent to representatives and senators of the Hawaii State Legislature who will ultimately decide their fate.
“By mid-April the legislature should know how much they will allocate to GIAs, so voicing support to Senator Inouye, Representative Evans and the GIA committee lead by Island Representative Lowen is key,” Kanu’s Executive Director Taffi Wise said.
They will most likely find out in May if they receive the funds after state budget processes are completed. If awarded the GIA, kupuna, and children attending summer youth programs there, would also benefit.
“Start-up charters do not get facilities funding of any kind from the legislature other than through the GIA process. If a school does not have a USDA approved certified kitchen to serve them, the qualified students are not be able to access the USDA free and reduced lunch subsidies they are entitled to,” Wise said.
In the past, the school received food service from the DOE, but in 2012 they were cut off.
“At that time we had already prioritized our building sequence with the USDA rural community development and a kitchen was not on the list because we were receiving food service from the DOE,” Wise said. “Earl’s answered our call for help days before school was beginning in 2012.”
With a certified kitchen, KALO would be able to provide healthier lunch and breakfast options, most importantly USDA food subsidies for qualifying families, Wise said.
“We expect to serve approximately 158,000 subsidized meals in the first year, bringing in an estimated $400,000 annually in food subsidies,” she added.
If KALO receives the GIA, the certified kitchen could be completed within a year.
“We are shovel ready, the walls are in and all utilities roughed in,” Wise said. “We have been supported by Ken Melrose of Paahana Enterprises and Harry Buscher of Quality Builders throughout our past phases. There is currently a master permit open and a contract to move forward should they still be available.”
Currently, Kanu’s K-12 and Malamapokii’s preschool enrollment total more than 600 students. Three passionate parents — Ella Atoa-Simms, Stasia Nauka and Beth Mehau — are assisting with the project.
“We have been advocates, cheerleaders and willing volunteers,” Mehau said. “The greater work will come in the future once the kitchen is done. We will be able to tie in the agricultural and culinary tracks from the high school and partner with the community to reach our goals for food security.”
Her children, Iwalani and Ehukai, asked Wise for a letter of support so they could let their community know about the importance of this issue to them.
“A crucial part to learning is having the right fuel. This fuel is vital nutrition that everyone needs, especially growing kids with developing brains,” Iwalani, a Kanu seventh-grader said. “Without it, students cannot as easily grasp new concepts, or be prepared to learn. Too many times I have come to school and 10 or more students in my class have not eaten breakfast. Having this kitchen will strengthen the community built within this school.”
Other parents have shared the petition around town.
“I have been distributing it both online and by paper,” Atoa-Simms said. “Last week I attended a basketball game and took flyers with signature pages to the Waimea District Gym. I went around the gym to explain to community members that this is not just a kitchen for our students, but for kupuna in the community as well.”
Nauka has four children at Kanu and coordinates the after-school programs.
“I am also a part of a parent group at the school call Puulu Aukahi Makua. We have sent out messages to all our parents to make sure that they sign this petition and to let them know how important it is not only for our keiki, but for the whole community as well,” she said.
To submit testimony: Go to www.gopetition.com/petitions/testimony-in-strong-support-of-kalos-grants-in-aid-application.html