3/13/13 Hui Alaka`i Reflection of the WEO in their professional experience

1. WEO Reflections
Hui Alaka„i Retreat
March 13, 2013

2. WEO Reflection Activity
Hui Alaka‘i members were tasked
with selecting a random object
and completing a reflection
write-up, connecting the object
to a WEO element and individual
practice

3. Ke Ao Lani, Ke Ao Honua/Global
C. The knowledge of the parent is [unconsciously] absorbed by the child.
Nurture and value my identity as a source of
understanding, purpose, meaning, and connection to others.
Object: Hawaiian photo frame with word “hina” on
it
Hawaiian frame reminds me of who I am
A mother, wife, daughter and friend
Pictures capture the moments pure
Joy, sorrow, uncertainty and sure
Never forget where I‟m from
My journey helps mold who I will become

4. Ke Ao Ho „oūlu: Growth
B. Grow by identifying strengths and needs and pursuing
appropriate actions
Object: Water bottle
This water bottle can symbolize strength for what it has the
ability to hold. You could drink water for life, supplements for
growth, medicine for health, anything that you would want or
need to fill your bottle with. Whatever you choose to fill your
“bottle” with could help you in a positive (water) or negative
(sugary drinks) manner.
You can put in the bottle not only what could make you
strong, but what your body needs. What you fill your body and
mind with, will encourage you to pursue what you need in your
life, both present and in the future.

5. Ke Ao Pilina: Relationships
A. Trust in God. Live a life reflective of Christian values.
Object: Charger
God is my source of power. I need to stay plugged
into him. I don‟t‟ necessarily highlight this WEO on
it‟s own, but it is the underlying foundation of all
that I do. It is more prevalent in my Advisory than
in my class since we pray together to start the
day, bless the food, etc. For example, just this
morning, one of my advisees came to me with a
problem and I prayed with that person right there
in class.

6. Ke Ao Pilina: Relationships
A. Trust in God. Live a life reflective of Christian values.
Object:
Pōhaku (rock)
Haiku:
All igneous rocks,
they form from hardened magma.
Mine is on a cross.

7. Ke Ao Pilina: Relationships
B. Know in the day of knowing; mana in the day of mana.
Adapt successfully to various kulana.
Object: Jenga block
I chose this WEO because as with a jenga each time you play a
specific piece plays a different role. Some times it is on the
top, sometimes it is on the bottom, sometimes it is the
middle, sometimes it is on the right or left. No matter the
position, it is important for the piece to take on its role to support
the other pieces. It has to know its place.
In my position I feel that my kulana changes several times within
a day. Yesterday alone, was a busy day, which included me
wearing several hats. Different skills are needed in each kulana
and it is important for me to adapt quickly to achieve
them. Sometimes I am a leader, sometimes I am an
assistant, sometimes I am a follower. My doing what is needed
is essential for the overall success at KMS and our campus as a
whole.

8. Ke Ao Pilina: Relationships
B. Know in the day of knowing; mana in the day of mana. Adapt
successfully to various kulana.
Object: Battery
As a Christian I chose Hilinaʻii Ke Akua, Trust in God, Live a life
reflective of Christian values.
The battery provides power and often is found in light sources, I
am guided by God‟s light, His Word, and trust in Him to guide my
Words when speaking to my peers and students as well as my
actions when working with them. “Trust in the Lord with all your
heart, lean not on your own understanding, acknowledge Him
and He will guide your paths” Proverbs 3:5-6 is a verse that
inspires me and encourages me to recognize that as we educate
our students helping them to seek knowledge and be more well
rounded, we cannot forget that we should always trust the Lord
first and do what‟s right in Him…

9. Ke Ao „Imi Na„auao: Knowledge and Wisdom
C. Take wisdom and make it deep.
Object: Spoon
Most think of the spoon in a traditional sense - a common
household utensil - used to feed oneself or others. Upon closer
observation, It can be used to move soil and dig a hole. It can
be used to carry an object. It can be used for healing. It be
used to alone or in concert with other utensils/devices to
accomplish a task. In the nursery rhyme, the spoon ran
away…todo other things. He was multi-tasking. The uses of a
spoon are as endless as one‟s imagination and creativity. The
spoon, to me, would be like Lawe i ka ma`alea a kū‘ono‘ono –
Take wisdom and make it deep. Transform my knowledge
through the blending of imagination, intuition and intellect.
Take what the students know and help them to apply it in a
different fashion.

10. Ke Ao „Imi Na„auao: Knowledge and Wisdom
C. Take wisdom and make it deep.
Object: Ice cream scoop
I selected the ice cream scoop because like ice cream, we
choose how much knowledge we want. Sometimes we
take a lot (go deep into the container) and sometimes we
take just a little (to satisfy our craving quickly). I hope that
kids value knowledge and see it as something in which
they are in control. I hope, like ice cream, kids always have
that desire for more. Imagination, intuition, and intellect
seem to go well with ice cream because it should be fun,
exciting, and natural. Kids come to school everyday with
their unique ice cream scoop - some old, some new, some
non-traditional – and we are tasked with making sure that
we are recognizing and accommodating that scoop as well
as helping to get all the knowledge that we deem
necessary for them to move forward.

11. Ke Ao „Imi Na„auao: Knowledge and Wisdom
D. Mine is the kingdom of education the righteous man is my
man. Seek and apply knowledge ethically.
Object: Thumbdrive
He aupuni palapala ko„u - Mine is a kingdom of education
All my research and work
past and present
stored for future use… future generations
Access to knowledge
Access to the palapala
„O ke kanaka pono „o ia ko„u kanaka – The righteous man is my man
Use it wisely
Treat it with respect
Lest you… your kūpuna be criticized
Access then denied

12. Ke Ao „Imi Na„auao: Knowledge and Wisdom
B. Engage in critical thinking to apply traditional knowledge to my
contemporary context.
Object: Pencil sharpener
To A Yellow Sharpener
My pencil is flat
I need a sharpener now
Wait, I have a knife

13. Ke Ao „Imi Na„auao: Knowledge and
Wisdom (general)
Object: Pocket resource knife
I chose this object because it represents being
resourceful as well as having many tools in one
object. As a middle school teacher being specialized in
only one area may limit the growth of our young
adolescent students. Having many tools to help shape
students will further foster maximum growth while
students are in our middle school. The WEO connection
that I feel fits best is Ke Ao `Imi Na`auao. Various
sources give students the opportunity to explore their
interest as well as have a wealth of resources to learn
from.

14. WEO General
Object: Spool of thread
I chose the thread because to me it symbolizes
connections because all the WEOs are about
connections. We must thread together our global
community on all levels, we must weave our
relationships with others and God, we grow as
individuals by adding on things to the fabric of our
lives, and we must gain our knowledge and
wisdom by linking /sewing our past, present and
future.

15. WEO General
Object: Gumby
I think when we began with the development of WEO in
2008, we didn‟t know it would evolve (bend) to be the
document it is today. Being at that inception session I
can attest that the document and its concepts have
flexed and bent in order to make the content
pertinent, meaningful, and pono for our school, for our
mission. Since, 2008, truly, the document has been
formed, caressed, lomi-ed, to continue to bring relevance
to our indigenous learners. Those learners include all of
us who flex, mold, and shape the WEO into our daily
work. Ultimately, the WEO will be pa„a, but still have
pliable-ness (like Gumby) so that we can continue to
make all learners applicable and adaptive to the children
we serve.

16. WEO Reflections
We encourage you to complete your own reflections regarding the WEO elements.