Charter school receives surprise visit from U.S. senator

From The Garden Island, April 24, 2009

U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye of Hawai’i paid a visit to Kanuikapono Public Charter School at Anahola Village Park earlier this month.

Senator Inouye was greeted with oli and chanting from the students and later reminisced with students and staff about how Hawaiian language was once more prevalent and how he appreciated efforts to perpetuate Hawaiian language and culture at the school. He was in Anahola to observe the Boys and Girls Club Rural Youth Crime Prevention Mobile Outreach Program, which partners with Kanuikapono’s after-school Ola Kino program.

The occasion was well-attended by Anahola youth and parents, students and staff of Kanuikapono PCS, kupuna and the Boys and Girls Club of Kapa‘a. Inouye delivered a brief message on the dangers of smoking and was attentive to everyone present, particularly the keiki.

One young student, Maluhia Ka‘uhane proudly presented the Senator with a freshly harvested sweet potato harvested from the Waipa Foundation garden. Inouye was delighted by his gift and enthusiastic about the students’ cultivation of self-sustaining produce in the effort to refine their knowledge of horticulture.