First Annual Lokahi Day
September 4, 2023 marked the inaugural Lokahi Day, an annual event aimed at uniting students from different grade levels and promoting mentorship within the school community.
Kamoku Ulu and the Lanai High & Elementary School (LHES) Foundation organized Lokahi Day as part of its efforts to connect the LHES with the broader Lanai community. This event served as a platform for high school students to take on the role of mentors for their younger peers, providing guidance and sharing their experiences.
Lokahi Day featured various activities and stations, with one of the highlights being a painting station. Volunteers worked to refresh the school's infrastructure by repainting yellow caution lines along sidewalks and red door indicators on the ground. The event also involved the restoration of playground markings like hopscotch grids.
Dennis O'Leary, the environmental safety manager at Four Seasons, contributed by creating stenciled art for Kula Kaiapuni o Lanai, enhancing the aesthetics of their classrooms with Hawaiian Islands and text.
In collaboration with Four Seasons, the event focused on improving the school's surroundings. The landscaping engineer from Four Seasons led a team in transforming the area in front of the LHES Administration building. They added native Hawaiian plants, irrigated the area, and placed new lava rocks, enhancing the campus' appearance.
Practical aspects were not overlooked, as volunteers collected discarded items from the LHES auto shop, including tires and metal, contributing to a cleaner and more organized workspace.
Lokahi Day also provided a unique opportunity for high school students to serve as mentors during the carnival portion of the event. They manned the booths, engaging with and providing valuable insights and encouragement to the younger students as they navigated various carnival-style activities. This mentorship component emphasized the importance of older students guiding and inspiring their younger peers, promoting a strong sense of community and personal growth.
This inaugural event marked the beginning of a tradition that will continue to promote mentorship and unity throughout the school year and in the years to come, thanks to the efforts of the LHES Foundation and Kamoku Ulu.