Interview

Kaliko Amona

Program Director, Kokua Hawai'i Foundation
Haleiwa

Kaliko Amona started out as a volunteer coordinator for the very first Kokua Festival and now leads environmental programs for kids through the Kokua Hawai'i Foundation.

What does the Kokua Hawai'i Foundation do?

The Kokua Hawai'i Foundation provides students with experiences that will enhance their appreciation for and understanding of their environment so they will be lifelong stewards of the earth.

How did it start?

Jack and Kim Johnson founded Kokua Hawai'i Foundation in 2003. They wanted to give back to Hawai'i and support a cause they really believe in. They wanted to support hands-on learning for kids and really foster in them a love for the environment, as keiki (children) are the seeds of change to preserving and protecting our beautiful islands.

How long have you been involved with them?

I've been working for Kokua Hawai'i Foundation since 2006 and a volunteer since 2004.

Why did you get involved?

I served as volunteer coordinator for the first Kokua Festival.

Have you always worked in the NGO field?

I've worked for both non-profit organizations and governmental offices. All of the positions I've held have focused on environmental conservation and education.

If there is one place or issue out there in the world you could personally explore, what would it be?

I love Hawai'i. It's where I'm from and where I plan to live forever. This island chain is complex in its history, culture, and biogeography. I could spend my life exploring this small corner of the planet.

What is your dream for Kokua?

My dream is that we develop resources and lessons and grow to a point where any school in Hawai'i can take advantage of the programs we provide.

What would you consider its greatest accomplishment?

I'm very proud of our 'AINA In Schools farm to school program. In the short time it's been around, we've been able to grow a great team of people, develop good relationships with schools and volunteers, and create a set of curricula for the program.

What are three things about Kokua that you wish people knew?

I would like more people to know that neighbor island schools are encouraged to participate in our field trip assistance, mini-grant, and KEAP programs. Many people believe we focus solely on the island of O'ahu. I think many people think we have a larger staff than we do. We have three full-time employees and don't have the capacity to participate in every initiative that gets proposed to us, regardless of how great they are.

What was your biggest surprise when explore came to visit you?

It was nice to see what a range of organizations Explore was covering on their visit to O'ahu. As we met with the other groups, I was reminded of how small our community is and what great organizations and people we have here. Not really a surprise, but a good reminder.

Is it a good idea for grantmakers to visit you? Can they?

Yes! It's always good to visit with potential grant makers. It's a great opportunity for both entities to learn about each other. Grantmakers have often met with other organizations that you may have similar interests with and can link you to them and other resources. Potential grantmakers can email us at: info@kokuahawaiifoundation.org.

How can people get involved?

People can go to our website to find out how to volunteer for the 'AINA In Schools program and also sign up to be members of Kokua. We also have an e-newsletter they can sign up for to stay up-to-date on our programs and events.

What would you do with more funds?

We are currently seeking more funds in order to develop a web community for the 'AINA In Schools program. Additionally, more funds will allow us to take significant steps in linking schools to healthier and more locally grown food options for meals and snacks on campus.

What do you believe to be the biggest challenge facing our planet today?

I think one of the biggest challenges is too many people forgetting about community values and taking care of your neighbors—local and global. I think too many of us forget where we come from and don't feel connected to the places we live. If we did, we'd take better care of these places.

Why is it important to be a selfless person?

Selfless behaviors have advanced many important causes. Many of the people doing the most important work in this world are not in powerful, prestigious, or well paying positions; they're doing the work they're doing to better their communities and the causes they believe in and are paid in love rather than a huge paycheck.

While selflessness can accomplish a lot for the greater good, we need to remember to take care of ourselves. Get enough rest, eat well, exercise, and do things that refresh and rejuvenate your body, mind, and spirit. Part of "saving the world" is taking care of yourself, too!

What is the key to living a happy life?

Treating others how you would like to be treated.

How many schools are part of your recycling pickup program?

30 schools participate in our 3R's school recycling program.

What is the 'AINA program and how many schools participate in it?

'AINA IS stands for Actively Integrating Nutrition & Agriculture In Schools. It is a farm-to-school program dedicated to connecting children to their land, waters and food in order to grow a healthier future for Hawai’i. There are now 10 schools participating in 'AINA IS.

How did you create the curriculum for gardening education?

We consulted with a program in Manhattan Beach, CA called GrowingGreat and built upon many of their lessons. We developed some lessons from scratch. Garden Educators Betty Gearen, Tia Silvasy, and Lydi Morgan developed the educational resources for the garden program.

What kinds of foods do the kids grow?

The kids grow a variety of herbs, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, corn, beans, squash, kalo (taro), lettuce, edible flowers, and other foods in the 'AINA IS gardens.

Do some kids go into the program knowing a lot about the environment already?

It really varies. Some kids know a lot coming into our programs. Still, with every garden lesson we encounter kids that don't know what carrots look like. I think environmental education still has a ways to go, in terms of integration into official school curricula and lessons taught at home by families.

What are some of the biggest obstacles to environmental education?

One of the biggest obstacles is that it's not seen as a priority in certain educational policies, such as No Child Left Behind.

What age level do you think responds best to the educational programs?

I think it's important to start young so that many of the lessons learned become second nature to kids earlier in life. It's really exciting to see what ideas and solutions middle and high schoolers have. They are so creative and give me a lot of hope for the future. I don't think one age group responds "best," but do believe it's important to tailor programs to specific age groups.

Which of the field trip opportunities are the most popular? Which one is your favorite?

The of the most popular field trip destinations are the YMCA Camp Erdman and Hawai'i Nature Center's sites on Maui and O'ahu. Hoa 'Aina O Makaha is my favorite field trip destination. It's a community farm centered on peace and sustainability and offers so many things most kids don't get to experience in everyday life.

Did you go on these kinds of field trips growing up?

Yes, Camp Erdman was one of my favorites!

What is Project Kai?

Project Kai gives field trip opportunities to students to learn about Hawaii’s ocean and natural resources, encouraging environmental stewardship by connecting children to the land and the ocean that sustains them through in-the-field educational programs and activities. The project started in 2008 and is a partnership between the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary Program and Kokua Hawai’i Foundation. About five schools have taken advantage of the funding so far. We are working with schools and field trip venues to create more ocean-oriented field trip opportunities.

Is it ever hard to rally volunteers?

It's sometimes difficult to recruit volunteers for ongoing tasks that take place during the workweek, or those requiring training. This is mainly due to people's busy schedules, not lack of interest. To keep our programs sustainable, we rely on volunteers to implement several aspects of our program and this past summer hired a Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator for our 'AINA IS program. She has made a world of difference!

How do Jack and Kim participate?

Kim and Jack are very active in Kokua programs. Kim is our executive director and involved in all of our programs. Jack is an active board member and provides a lot of input into the vision and direction of our programming. They both attend several of the educational events that we host. Both of them have a great vision for the foundation.

Jack's public involvement with Kokua has raised people's awareness and support for our programs so that people around the world know what Kokua Hawai'i Foundation is. We've had great success with the Kokua Festival, and that’s a direct result of Jack's and other musicians' participation and the support of their fans.

School performances by Jack have also been a great incentive for students and teachers participating in our programs. This spring we're planning an online auction and membership drive and Jack's involvement is bound to help make it a success.