Science Educators “Holoholo” To Hilo And Kona

Honolulu – After bringing science and culture to thousands of students, Bishop Museum Science Educators will wrap up their neighbor island tour on Hawai‘i Island next week.  The Holoholo Science team brings hands-on science activities and sessions to schools and will also be giving a free Science and Culture of Art Teacher Workshop.

The workshop provides neighbor island teachers the training and materials to implement interdisciplinary standards-based lessons on science, culture, and art into their classroom.  A Title 1 school from each island, including Hawai‘i Island, are contributing kites to the Kapa Kite Exhibit in Science Adventure Center as a result of these workshops.

Since the beginning of the school year, Holoholo Science has served over 7600 students and family members on the islands of Kaua‘i, Maui, Lana‘i, Moloka‘i and Oahu.   The team has presented 98 programs at 28 schools, with over 60% of the programming brought to Title I schools. 

“If not for projects like this and others alike we would not have access to the Science and technology made available to our community through them,” says Stan Kaahanui, a youth leader in the community that attended the Moloka‘i teacher workshop.

Holoholo Science will be in Hilo and Kona on the following dates and locations and is projected to serve over 2500 students and family members:

March 2                       Waiakeawaena Elementary School
March 3 – 4                 Keaukaha Elementary School
March 6                       Keaukaha Elementary School (teacher workshop)
March 9 – 10               Innovations PCS, Kailua-Kona
March 10 – 11             Waimea Elementary

Holoholo Science brings rare learning opportunities to the classroom that include the handling of scientific specimens, artifacts, and state-of-the-art science equipment.  Programs are being made possible through the funding support of G.N. Wilcox Trust, Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation, Lanai Community Benefit Fund, Kahuku Community Fund, Richard Smart Fund, Ka Papa O Kakuhihewa Fund, Ewa Beach Community Fund, and the HMSA Foundation.

This project is an initiative under the Office of Innovation and Improvement of the U.S. Department of Education. 

The Holoholo Science team visits neighbor island schools each year.  The team builds its sessions to support student achievement in national and state content and performance standards to help improve test scores.  Programs vary in cost with discounted prices for Title 1 schools.  There are a wide-range of programs offered including ecology, geology, biology, space science and astronomy, anthropology, health, and medicine.  For information on specific programs, please visit http://www.bishopmuseum.org/holoholo or email holoholo@bishopmuseum.org; or call (808) 847-8227.

-pau-