Page 2 - MidWeek - Oct 5, 2022

2 MIDWEEK OCTOBER 5, 2022
Locally, aided by Department of Education information, the data on Hawai‘i’s public schools is enlightening. Ab- senteeism was up (not surprisingly) during the pandemic, more teachers are eligible for and considering retirement, and more teachers and students are leaving Hawai‘i. There are many other interesting statistics in the report — some obviously COVID-related, some not.
I stood, not moving, for two hours, immersed in mu- sic, with nothing between me and its lilting beauty.
ments, more to music than to words. I was deeply touched, though, by the melody of the Hawaiian language, as well as the virtuosity of the play- ers. The breezes and ocean murmurs blended perfectly with their voices. I felt I had discovered an authentic voice of Hawai‘i, a sound, a song, two legends whose music soared above the sky on wings of aloha.
heavy-hearted to think I wouldn’t hear or see that ʻukulele player again. Lat- er that night, however, who should walk into the restau- rant but Eddie and his cous- in Harold Kaniho. After we closed, Eddie asked if I’ d like to go into Lahaina. We dropped off his cousin, then watched the full Maui moon slip into the sea.
The real question now is what do we as a state do with the data? How can we make informed decisions and provide opportunities going forward for kids and teachers? On a national level, “1 out of every 2 school leaders say their stress level is so high they are considering a career change or retirement,” according to the report. Forty-nine percent of principals say that a better work-life balance or a higher salary would alleviate their concerns. And what are the odds of those requests actually being met via financially stressed, short-staffed school systems?
“Do you know who they are?” my boss asked.
Locally, the recent trend of fewer kids attending public schools annually shows no signs of abating. The latest re- port revealed that attendance was down by 3,000 students this past year, with 80% of those leaving identifying these reasons: moving to another state, attending private school or being home-schooled. Fewer attendees invariably mean fewer resources available for public schools. And lower birth rates portend that the enrollment decline will contin- ue. Other public school systems are experiencing similar downward attendance trends. We cannot allow a diminish- ing quantity of students to affect the quality of education.
“The musician on the left playing the small Martin ʻukulele is Eddie Kamae, and the one on the right is Raymond Kane playing slack key guitar.”
The Music That Never Stopped
“Music expresses what cannot be put into words and what cannot remain Isilent.” — Victor Hugo
The author and her husband, Eddie, in 1966 (left) and at their 50th wedding anniversary 2016. PHOTOS COURTESY MYRNA KAMAE AND HONOLULU STAR ADVERTISER/JOHN BERGER
TNo Kidding
with friends and co-workers on Christmas Day 1965 changed my life. Before moving from Utah to Ha- wai‘i to help friends manage a restaurant, I had been ex- posed to Polynesian music, but nothing had prepared me for what I heard now.
here is some fascinating information in the 104- page report released a few weeks ago by the Na- tional Association of State Boards of Education.
my love was not far behind. Even though we lost Eddie in 2017, his music lives on. I hear it still.
Myrna Kamae is the pro- ducer of all 10 documenta- ries on Hawaiian culture, directed by her husband, Eddie, for the Hawaiian Legacy Foundation. Togeth- er, they produced 14 albums of traditional Hawaiian mu- sic, Eddie’s book “Hawaiian Son,” and co-wrote seven Hawaiian songs. Myrna re- cently launched the Eddie Kamae Songbook: A Musi- cal Journey, a free online site at eddiekamaesongbook. org.
Chasing The Light is pro- duced by Lynne Johnson and Robin Stephens Rohr.
’ve never been much for parties, but gather- ing at a beachside home
I shook my head, still held by the expanse resounding in my heart.
They had come to Lahaina to visit Eddie’s mom.
The miracle of knowing this was the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with started with a song, and
New Century Schoolbook bold (scaled H 73.6)
Then back to Earth: My boss asked if I would go open the restaurant. I was
For some reason, I’ ve al- ways listened more to instru-
SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly
with Myrna Kamae
Our Board of Education will be engaging the public as it develops its new strategic plan. That’s good. If you’re interested, read the report, attend meetings, provide input. We always hear that the “keiki are our future.” Of course they are — that’s simple logic. But what we do to give those keiki a reasonable shot at success beyond high school (how- ever one defines “success”) is vital to this state’s future.
With 42,000 employees, our DOE is the state’s largest employer and Hawai‘i is home to the 10th largest school district in America, according to the NASBE/DOE report. Unwieldy and unyielding at times? Sure. But we must make strong efforts now to promote quality teaching and inno- vative strategies in the quest to keep educators, as well as students, engaged in the decades ahead.
Think about it.
john@thinkaboutithawaii.com