Gardening Program
Hualalai Academy began its garden program over 10 years ago when it moved to the Kealakaa campus. The garden originally began as a "club" for interested students with Dan Sabo, 3rd grade teacher. Since that time the garden program has grown and changed. There are multiple gardens on the campus of Hualalai Academy that have different purposes and plants. Each grade has had the opportunity to experience the wonders of growing and caring for plants and the environment. The overall mission for our garden program is to involve students in experiential learning that integrates different curriculum, such as science, math, humanities, art, physical activity, and ultimately put students back in touch with nature. Along with these core studies, students also learned about human health, cultural awareness, and environmental sustainability in our outdoor classrooms. Approaching learning in the garden with hands-on activities helps to give immediate value through practical application.
The garden program's purpose has remained consistent over time. The actual pathway used to reach that purpose changes depending on the interest and expertise of the faculty, parents and students as well as available funding. Last year's funding, a grant for the Kohala Center, allowed the program to make a significant impact on both the landscape of the school and the acceptance of school gardens as an integral part of the school. The gardens are even being used to promote the school and attract students. It also allowed us to hire a Garden Resource Teacher, Steve Velonza. He works with all K-5 students and their teachers at least once a week.
Discovery Gardens
The Discovery Gardens have been in development over the past 10 years. In areas with enough soil (most of it trucked in), students have created a Hawaiian Cultural Garden flush with gourds that they will later dry and craft into traditional Hawaiian drums. Other gardens create a maze, celebrate the pueo (our school mascot), provide fruit and vegetables, and beautify the campus. Students want to extend the gardens and create more specialized gardens (i.e., a sunflower garden, a worm farm, a cross-breed garden, etc.). Whether these or other ideas will be created depends upon the students, parents, teachers and funding for these projects during the next school year.
Nature Trails and Endangered Species
There are currently four nature trails on campus land that provide a safe, yet untamed environment for students to explore. Here students study the geography, the flora and fauna, Hawaiian culture among many other studies. Plans include extending two of these trails, Rock Ridge Trail and North Ridge Trail and planting indigenous and endangered trees along their routes; and enhancing the Mango Tree Trail with benches and flowers to create peaceful, shady areas where students can read and/or do art and other class projects.