close
close

Academy students unite for a Tuesday agent

The students of the academy were in force on the entire island and on campus to win over Friday for the first day of the Academy Service for Punahou for the first academy service. 9th grade students separated their time between projects on campus and the migration distance projects, while classes 10 to 12 traveled to different locations. Coordinated by the Luke Center for Public Service from Punahou, a total of 27 buses transported to their assigned locations, where they worked with various community organizations to restore, clean and preserve local areas.

Each class received a unique topic for their Tuesday. The ninth graders concentrated on Kuana'ike (persecuted) while working on the campus in Pu'u o Mānoa, the costume business, the cafeteria and more. Her projects included planting seeds, deleting invasive plants, painting benches, cleaning windows and painting a murals.

The tenth graders explored the topic of kuleana (responsibility) in Mānoa and Hawaii Kai. They took part in the environmental restoration in Kamānele Park, in the Pia Valley and in the Kuli'ou'ou Park, remove invasive species, plants trees, restored parking benches and the paths. The students also pulled invasive algae with Mālama Maunalua to support the Maunalua Bay.

The juniors traveled to the north coast to work on the Ka'ala Ranch, the Wileʻe Lako Pono and the Kōkua Learning Farm, all of which concentrated on the subject of Lawelawe (to serve). There they planted trees, restored local Loʻi (Taro Fields) and worked on Delowland Taro gardens.

Seniors contributed to maintenance efforts on the Kualoa Ranch with the topic of Mo'okū'auhau (genealogy). They took care of Loʻi, loosened overgrown paths and removed invasive plants and took part in the restored plant facilities through plants and seed preparation.

The students returned to campus after a worthwhile morning morning at 1:30 p.m. The event marked the beginning of an annual tradition to offer every academy student with significant service experiences throughout their high school years.