Kapolei school utilizes technology over text books

The American Renaissance Academy in Kapolei is a school which is getting rid of the old and utilizing the new as a way to learn.  Instead of text books and silent learning students at this Kapolei school use laptops and each-other to learn as a group.  With computers they can look up information on-line, with the click of a mouse and a few strokes of the keys.  Assignments are also posted online, no more excuses like “the dog ate my homework” allowed.  The use of computers reduces the amount of paper wasted and is clearly “green” in nature but the Kapolei school is using computers to bring its students into the future and help them learn the way technology is enabling them to.

If you are interested in learning more about Kapolei and the education options available in the second city of Oahu contact John Riggins today.  John Riggins is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to Kapolei and all of the opportunities that exist in the Oahu community.

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University campuses statewide are striving to keep up with the extremely large numbers of students enrolling at this time. Close to 51,000 students have enrolled at University of Hawaii campuses for the spring semester. This equals a 5.5 percent increase from last year’s enrollment and is the highest number ever in campus history. Leeward Community College is reporting ten percent more students than last year and at the University of Hawaii West Oahu there is an eighteen percent increase in the number of students enrolling for spring classes. At West Oahu, their classrooms are mostly portable and one marine biology class even has to meet in the staff lounge to help keep up with the needs of the additional students.  Other ways they are dealing with the crowding are they have rented five classrooms from Island Pacific Academy on Kapolei for evening classes.  All of these enrollment increases are believed to be due to the slowing of the economy and the difficulties associated with finding a job during the recession.

For more information about Kapolei Real estate please contact John Riggins.

Wonderful events are coming to promote literacy throughout Hawaii which include the upcoming show, “Into The Woods”. It is being performed by actors from The Performing Arts Center of Kapolei. Show dates will begin on Friday, March 13th at Kapolei High School.

In addition, the public is invited to attend a Book Fair on Saturday, February 28th and Sunday, March 1st from 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Barnes and Noble Store in Ala Moana. Proceeds from this book fair will cover the production costs for “Into The Woods” and for the cast’s efforts to raise literacy awareness. The book fair will have characters from “Into The Woods” in their costumes on hand to read stories aloud. Another guest, Wally Amos, who created the literacy organization “Read It Aloud!” will be present to sign his book. Coincidentally, the National Education Association has declared March 2nd as a national day to celebrate reading!

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins.

Despite the current economic atmosphere, the Department of Education has plans to forge ahead with various projects on the area’s school campuses. A total of $317 million dollars will be spent on new construction, building maintenance and repairs over the next two years.

• Ewa Makai Middle School in the Campbell Complex will begin construction in February of 2009. It is scheduled to open in July of 2010. Plans are that it will ease over-crowding at nearby schools. There will be space for a total of 1,400 sixth, seventh and eight graders on completion.
• Wailuku II Elementary has plans to open in the year 2012.
• $140 million will be spent on renovations for schools across the state. Ceiling tiles and whiteboards will be replaced, new floors will be installed, new light fixtures will be added and fresh coats of paint will be completed for the interiors and the exteriors of these schools.

Projects that are currently unfunded yet remain on the Department of Education’s short list currently include:

• Royal Kunia Elementary
• East Kapolei High School
• Schofield Area Elementary School
• East Kapolei Middle School
• Kapolei II Elementary

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins.

A workshop at the Malama Learning Center is hosting a very informative class on how to compost with earthworms. It is being held on Saturday, September 20th at Kapolei High School from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. This particular workshop will explore several methods on how to turn kitchen waste and even your junk mail, with the assistance of earthworms, into your very own rich organic fertilizer or what many gardeners refer to as "black gold". The Malama Learning Center is charging $10 or $8 in advance. For just $25, students who pay in advance will be able to take home a starter kit of worms.

On a related note the State Department of Agriculture is accepting loan applications from Agricultural and Aquacultural operations to fund renewable energy technology. This new program aids not only food-safety projects but also renewable energy technologies such as ethanol, biodiesel, methane, wind, hydroelectric and photovoltaic. These loans will cover up to 85% of the project, carry three to five percent interest rates and can be used for operating costs, land improvement, equipment and infrastructure. Now that’s progress!

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins.

The University of Hawaii’s seven community colleges have experienced a large swell in enrollment. Close to 29,000 students have enrolled this fall at all of Hawaii’s community colleges combined. A nine percent increase from last year’s enrollment has been recorded, with four of the seven reporting record enrollment. Big Island’s Hawai’i Community College and O’ahu’s Leeward Community College experienced a record 14% increases. Kapi’olani and Maui Community Colleges have recorded their highest enrollment on record thus far.

 University of Hawaii’s Vice-President John Morton, claims the increase is due partly to the schools efforts to add more classes and a very concerted effort to heighten their marketing of the schools. In the past Hawai’i community colleges had financial issues with adding classes, as they were losing money even if those classes were filled. But ever since the legislature started to provide extra funding for the community colleges to add classes so that they could meet the demand, they went ahead and stepped up their marketing campaign. Last year they were given $1.3 million dollars and an additional $2.4 million dollars was allotted for this year. According to the American Association of Community Colleges, nationally, two-year schools enroll practically half of the nation’s undergraduates.

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins.

Kapolei Property Development, LLC, an affilliate of James Campbell Company, LLC, is by far the biggest developer in the city of Kapolei, Hawaii. They are responsible for so much of the growth in the area that has resulted in massive job creation and positive economic activity for the region. Now they have decided to give back to the community by donating a total of $190,000 to nine public schools in West O’Ahu and on the Leeward Coast.

 The breakdown is as follows: Kapolei’s High School’s Ho’Ola Leadership Academy received $40,000.They are Hawaii’s first academy using traditional Hawaiian cultural practices to assist students reach all of their academic goals. The balance was awarded to these schools to sustain their technology needs:

• Kapolei High School $30,000
• Kapolei Middle School $30,000
• Kapolei Elementary School $15,000
• Barbers Point Elementary School $15,000
• Makakilo Elementary School $15,000
• Mauka Lani Elementary School $15,000
• Campbell High School $10,000
• Nanakuli High School and Intermediate School $10,000
•  Wai’anae High School $10,000

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins.

University of Hawaii is gladly accepting the $60 million dollars that Governer Linda Lingle released  to them yesterday, and already has repair and upgrade plans in place. Most of the work across all of the campuses consists of electrical repairs, mechanical repairs and other restoration projects, such as re-roofing.

The work on all of these campus projects will begin no later than June 2009. UH-Hilo will receive $4.1 million dollars for renovations and the U.H. Community Colleges along with the UH-West O’ahu campus will receive a combined total of $12.2 million dollars for various maintenance projects and renovations. $1.5 million dollars is going towards health and safety designs for all of these sites. The University of Hawaii-Manoa Campus will be home to the largest projects, due to the fire that occurred in October 2007 which caused so much damage to the school. It will receive $41.7 million for their plans, designs and improvements. About $3.6 million of these dollars will go to eight re-roofing projects, which is probably their biggest priority. Happily, the campus will also be spending $9.2 million dollars to replace and upgrade six air-conditioning systems, which will be responsible for huge energy savings.

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate contact John Riggins.

The Malama Learning Center WOW (’Without Walls’) is hosting an "Edible Gardening" workshop on Saturday, August 9th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Kapolei High School. It is being held for both residents of West O’Ahu and K-12 teachers. This class has been crafted for weekend gardeners as well as K-12 teachers to teach people how to select edible plants for your garden and how to start growing them. Also being taught are ways to create healthy soil, as well as hands-on training transplanting seedlings. The teacher will also expand on his knowledge of how to control garden pests the safe, non-toxic way.

 The workshop is being taught by Anthony M. Ortiz. Mr. Ortiz has earned a B.S. in Agronomy and Soil Sciences, a M.S. in Plant Pathology, and is a U.H. CTAHR Board of Alumni Member. He is also a Resource Management Teacher and even has experience with his own family and their farm. All of your gardening questions will be answered here, and you will also receive an information booklet as well as an edible plant to take home for your very own backyard. The Malama Learning Center’s mission is to provide people with a knowledge of how to grow their own food and to help them make the connection that this has to their health, the environment and the history and culture of food and the land. Wow!

For more information about Kapolei Area Real Estate please contact John Riggins.

Members of  Kapolei Public Library, located at 1020 Manawai Street, are anticipating two  exciting upcoming programs that are available for all, free of charge. Library planners only require that you call them at 693-7050 two weeks in advance if you are in need of a sign language interpreter, or other type of special accomodation is needed for you to attend.

"Dance Explorers," which is a cooperative and participatory Children’s Program is scheduled for Thursday, August 7th at 10:00 a.m. in the Children’s Room. It is a one-hour long artistic and imaginative movement program that will allow children to learn while they participate. Teachers will focus on teaching the fundamentals of stretching and using large motor skills. Participating children will also be introduced to the concepts of rhythm, musical expression and several dance movements. All participating children must be accompanied by an adult.

 "Doing Your Homework," is a seminar that will discuss and explore solutions for college education planning. It will be held on Saturday, August 2nd at 10:30 a.m. in the Adult Fiction Area on the library’s second floor. Financial Advisor Paul Berardo will help equip participants with information on educational savings plans and will provide useful tips on how to turn your dreams of attending college into a reality. This program will last one hour and is encouraged  for all parents and adults interested in attending university.

For more information about Kapolei Area Real Estate please contact John Riggins.