Oahu 4-H - Newsletters

Today I am sad because this is my last message to you as your President. This has been one of the best years of my 4-H life. How could it not be after what I got to do: I attended Ahaolelo, fly to Atlanta, Georgia to participate in National 4-H Congress, meet friends from all over the United States, play with the kids at Germ City, be on TV (I was super scared), hang out with all of my friends old and new at county camp and that is just half. I really do hope that everyone will take in all that 4-H has to offer us. This is our time to learn and grow into who we will be for the rest of our lives. Already we are almost there, because we are 4-H’ers! Awesome!

I could not have done all that I have, if not for the loving support of different people. My leaders for the Cloverkids; Aunty Lynn Hashizume and Aunty Becky Kanenaka who I have been with or over 12 years. Our 4-H agents, Aunty Rose and Uncle Steve, board members of the Hawaii 4-H Foundation, Oahu 4-H Executive Board members, Aunty Claire Nakatsuka, and all of the friends I have gotten to know through 4-H. If Ihad to write about all the things you guys have done to help me and 4-H, I would have to write a book. These people I have listed are just a few very special people who have taught me that there are people who will accept you and support you for whatever you do. They treat you like family; always reminding you to do things and teach new things to us about life lessons, but they give us our space to make mistakes on our own. They are always there for us and whenever we need help, they will always be there for us. Thank you, thank you, and thank you.

Hey before we get too serious, let’s get back to business, my term isn’t up yet. This month we will be hosting some very special guests from New Mexico. They will be attending Ahaolelo at UH Manoa, and sharing some cool stories with us about themselves. Also record books are due June 2nd to any Extension office. I found that doing a record book every year really is a lifesaver for filling out a senior portfolio. Believe me, you really do want to do this yearly because it can earn you a chance of a lifetime to attend National 4-H Congress. Well, tie is crucial now, our incoming Executive Board is looking great with full potential. I wish them all the luck and hope to see all of you at our Achievement banquet. We all have something to be proud of because all of you did great this year. Thank you for all of your support and I will see you on July 26th at the Achievement banquet.

Hi everyone please start collecting those 4H pictures that you took during this past 4H year. I would like to get started on the slideshow with all the pictures that everyone took. Please submit your pictures on a CD by June 30, 2008.

It was just like yesterday that we started the 4-H year. We had a full year with the Fashion Show, Food Show, Communication’s Fair, County Camp, 100 years UH Centennial Fair and 5 Community Service Learning projects. Not to mention 3 fundraisers. What a year!!! And we still have the Achievement Banquet. As I reflect back, it was a full schedule; sometimes I didn’t even have time to “catch my breath” and another activity was upon us. But, overall it was a good year. I believe the chairs did an excellent job. The executive board did a wonderful job in directing the calendar of events.

This year we had many seniors serving on the Exec Board and also graduating from high school. At this time I would like to recognize the graduating seniors and thank them for being involved with Oahu’s 4-H program. Congratulations to the following seniors: Brittany Chang, Devin Chun, Lauren Higuchi, Renni Fay Iwasa, Ariel Kama, Shea-Lah Kama, Stacie Nakashima, Kayla Schlaich, Ross Shibata, Kellie Takamori, Hannah Wong and Bleys Wright. Good luck to all of you as you part in your separate ways. Remember to follow your dreams.

Don’t forget it is record book time and I hope you will turn in your record books. It is good to keep track of what you have done through out the year. The stories written by the 4-H’ers really tell you how much they appreciate the leaders and those who guided them. It amazes me to see what new things they learn by being involved in 4-H.

I truly appreciate all the help and guidance the leaders provide in guiding the youth in their clubs. I look forward to another year with the new Executive Board.

The Hawaii State 4-H Livestock Show will be held as part of the State Farm Fair again this year. This year’s fair will be held on the Bishop Museum grounds on Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26. Hours of the fair will be from 9 am- 8 pm on Saturday and from 9 am – 5 pm on Sunday.

Thanks to Farin Fukunaga for sharing the following photos from the 2008 Communications Fair:

Students in Ms. Stephanie Nishihama’s class provided over 100 hours of community service hours by reading and working with young children in their community. As a result, they were able to request Weinberg “Educating The Heart” funds to go to a non-profit organization of their choice. Luckily, they selected the Hawaii 4-H Alumni Association as the recipients of these funds. The Farrington students presented the $5,000 check to Alumni Association members Helene Zeug and Susan Saka on May 28.

Also on the same day, Read to Me Design team volunteers Annette Wong and Janice Motoshige helped recognize the students for their participation in the 4-H Read to Me project. 120 Farrington High Schools took part in the 4-H Read to Me project this past year.

The Hawaii 4-H military programs were treated to a very special visit by Dr. Dan Kugler, Deputy Administrator for USDA . Dr. Kugler’s visit coincided with our end of the year military 4-H club training on May 15th on the USS Missouri. 40 Army and Air Force staff and Oahu 4-H volunteers participated in either the GPS or service-learning training sessions which were led by Army CYS Functional Tech specialist Sharon Delaney and USDA/Army Specialist DeAnn Acosta. Both workshops included practical applications aboard the ship.

After the workshop sessions, Dr. Kugler, along with Dr. Wayne Nishijima, Associate Director of the Hawaii Cooperative Extension Service, Ms. Kathy Rocho, Installation Management Command Pacific Region, Children and Youth Services Program Manager for the Army and Mr. Gordon Takeshita, Director of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation for Army Hawaii helped recognize the military 4-H club leaders in Hawaii, Kwajalein and in Camp Zama, Japan as well as individuals who have greatly contributed to the 4-H/military partnership. Kathy Rocho also acknowledged the USDA/military partnership and presented Dr. Kugler with a token partnership canoe.

On day 2 (May 16) of Dr. Kugler’s visit, Claire Nakatsuka, Hawaii 4-H Military Liaison shared an update of the Operation Military Kids initiatives and efforts. This was followed by a visit to Bennett Youth Center where the Drama 4-H club, under the leadership of Max Siaumanu performed a song and dance from the Lion King.

Maria Tobin, Aliamanu Teen Center staff also shared with Dr. Kugler some of the exciting 4-H projects that the AMR teens have been involved with.

Besides a tour of the youth center, Dr. Kugler also had a ‘hands-on’ experience creating silly putty with Lupe Scanlon and her 4-H cloverbud clubs. The cloverbuds also presented Dr. Kugler with a Bennett Youth Center 4-H t-shirt.

After the visit and on his way home, Dr. Kugler mentioned to Carol Ikeda, State 4-H Program Leader that this was his first visit to a 4-H military program and that it was “refreshing” to have a direct experience with the 4-H participants….it made reading the endless reports, “real.”

Our thanks to all who helped make Dr. Kugler’s visit to Hawaii’s military 4-H program a success!

Don’t you think teachers are great?!!! Well, we think so! (They promised to give us A’s if we said that). On May 7, 2008 the students and parents of Moanalua Elementary School showed how much we love our teachers and staff. At our Teacher/Staff Appreciation Day we treated our teachers to a huge buffet lunch, massages, healing touch therapy, carnival games, shave ice, gift bags, and door prizes. It was a big success and the teachers had a lot of fun.

The Warriors got together before the big day and assembled lanyards as gifts to the teachers. Several Warrior families came up with some great carnival games. The morning of the event, the Warriors helped receive food and beverage donations. At the carnival games booth we cheered on the teachers as they tried their luck at mini golf, bean bag toss, and many other games. When it was all over, we helped clean up.

Thanks to Aunty Wanda (Staci) for chairing the event, to Aunty Lisa (Sean and Joelle) for doing a million errands, and to all the other parents, students, and friends that helped make this event a success.

4-H Clover Corner News
For additional articles on 4-H youth development nationwide, check out the National 4-H Clover Corner News at http://www.4hblogs.org/ccn/

If you have a disability and require special assistance during any of our planned 4-H activities, please call the applicable County Extension 4-H Youth Development Agent two weeks prior to the event.

We welcome your story ideas and 4-H job listings.
Please e-mail them to nakatsuk@hawaii.edu

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