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A student-led project that teaches keiki their ABCs through Hawaiʻi-based images and text is expanding with the help of a County of Hawaiʻi partnership.
The “Aloha Alphabet,” initiated by the Hawai‘i State Department of Education (DOE) West Hawaiʻi Complex Area, features ABC posters, banners and card decks that reflect Hawaiʻi communities and culture – such as “Affectionate Aunty” for the letter “A” and “Keiki Kalo” for “K.” Created by students at Honokaʻa High and Intermediate School, the educational materials are being installed at elementary schools in the West Hawaiʻi Complex and shared with the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System.
Following a presentation to Mayor Kimo Alameda earlier this year, the County stepped forward to support the effort by agreeing to display Aloha Alphabet banners at park facilities most frequented by young keiki. The County recently installed its first set of 26 banners – one for each letter – at the Panaʻewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens in Hilo.
“Literacy is incredibly important, and the sooner we start, the better,” said Mayor Alameda. “This project was created by local students with words and images that represent who we are. When kids view these posters, they see letters that match their experience, and we are excited to be able to support this project.”
The Aloha Alphabet project involved 52 high school students enrolled in Honokaʻa’s Digital Design Pathway program. Through their project-based learning journey, the students visited elementary classrooms, collaborated with Hawaiian cultural experts and educators, and gathered feedback.
“Witnessing our high school students launch the Aloha Alphabet Project has been the honor of a lifetime,” said Doug McDowell, Honokaʻa’s Digital Design Teacher. “What began as a simple design solution to help our elementary school with early language acquisition has blossomed into a meaningful, statewide innovation – now including the ABC posters, ‘ABC Talk Story Card Decks,’ and ABC banners.”
Quincy Quijano, an 11th grade student at Honokaʻa who participated in the project, said their goal was to make the posters “resonate with the keiki of Hawaiʻi.”
Deneisha Quiamas, another 11th grade student at Honokaʻa and program participant, said: “It is really exciting to see that this poster that was just a school project is now going to become something statewide.”
The posters at the zoo were installed by student volunteers from the Hawaiʻi Academy of Arts and Science.
McDowell added that he is incredibly grateful to the students, the community, and government partnerships involved.
“We still have work to do to help our keiki,” he said. “We continue to look for additional funding sources and distribution networks for the Aloha Alphabet Project to reach its goal of making the tools available for all the communities across the state.”
Organizations interested in receiving Aloha Alphabet materials can contact Matthew King, DOE West Hawaiʻi Complex Area Literacy District Education Specialist, at matthew.king@k12.hi.us or 808-313-7809.
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Photo Captions
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Honokaʻa High School students Quincy Quijano, left, and Deneisha Quiamas, right, display the Aloha Alphabet poster during a presentation to Mayor Kimo Alameda at the County of Hawaiʻi building in Hilo.
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Mayor Kimo Alameda, middle, and County Managing Director Bill Brilhante, far left, display Aloha Alphabet banners with Honokaʻa High School students and representatives from the Department of Education and Hawaiʻi State Library System.
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Aloha Alphabet installation at the Panaʻewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens.
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An Aloha Alphabet banner is displayed at the Panaʻewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens.
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An Aloha Alphabet banner is displayed at the Panaʻewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens. |
