Ka Leo Alakaʻi O Waikīkī
Under the Protection of Diamond Head
Recapping Our Hawaii-Japan Friendship Exchange
Aloha, Waikiki School 'Ohana,
Our student exchange with our friends from Gifu, Japan, was a tremendous success! For nearly a week, our campus buzzed with activity as our students welcomed their Japanese counterparts, providing a heartfelt taste of island life and showcasing the very best of our school and community.
We want to extend a huge mahalo to Nannette Ganotisi for her incredible work in coordinating this year's exchange. Her dedication and tireless efforts were instrumental in making this program a reality.
The program was a testament to the power of friendship and mutual respect. Our Gifu friends were treated to local culture with kalo and ulu harvesting, poi pounding, lei making, hula dancing, and ukulele playing. They attended our school's classes, participated in philosophy 4 children (p4c) and even got to visit many popular locales that were within walking distance to the school. These small moments, alongside the more structured activities, truly helped build strong bonds.
A special note of thanks goes to all of our students who visited Gifu, Japan, last November. You repaid the hospitality you received by serving as thoughtful and engaging guides for our visitors. Your role in this exchange was invaluable. Thank you to the Tecson ohana for allowing the school to use their family heirloom, a beautiful pohaku to make the poi and to other students who came to help with memorializing the events through video.
This couldn't have happened without our wonderful community. Thank you to all the faculty, staff, and volunteers who helped coordinate the activities, provided breakfasts and lunches, and created a warm and welcoming environment. You truly exemplified the spirit of aloha and showed our guests what it means to be a mindful ohana.
We hope that this Hawaii-Japan Friendship Exchange can continue for many years to come, helping to build mutual understanding and strong bonds between our two cultures.
Sincerely,
Mr. Kusuda
Read to Me Kindergarten Event
Mahalo to all our kindergarten families for joining us at our recent "Read to Me" event! It was truly wonderful to see so many of you come together to celebrate the power of reading aloud.
The "Read to Me" organization gave us so much wonderful information on why reading aloud is one of the most valuable gifts we can give our keiki. In the simple act of reading to our children, we lay the foundation for their educational success, while also creating a special bond and sense of security.
Reading aloud helps to grow vocabulary, oral language skills, and a positive attitude toward learning.
It's amazing to think that by age three, children who are read to daily will have heard millions more words than those who aren't. This simple act exposes children to new and interesting words while nurturing their emotional and intellectual growth.
Thank you to our amazing PCNC Aunty Dolly Bahn for putting on this event!
Tips for Reading at Home
Inspired by the event, here are a few simple tips to help you make reading a special and fun part of your daily routine:
Make it a routine. Try to set aside just 10 minutes each day to read together.
Let your keiki choose the book. This gives them ownership and gets them excited to read.
Be expressive! Use different voices, change your pace, and act out the characters. Don't be afraid to have fun and be silly.
Ask questions. Engage your child by asking, "What do you think will happen next?" or "How would you feel if you were that person?"
We hope you'll continue to read to your keiki every day. We'd love to hear about some of your favorite books to read together!
Waikiki School Fall 2025 After-School Ceramics Classes
Sign-up your child up for a fun-filled experience exploring the creative process of handbuilding with clay taught by Ms. Carpenter, Waikiki Schoolʻs Partnership and Place-Based Education Coordinator.
Mondays: K-3rd, 2:15-3:15, 10 classes: Sold Out
September 15, 22, 29, October 13, 20, November 10, 17, 24, December 1, 8.
(No classes during fall break, October 6-10, and during parent-teacher conferences, October 27-November 7)
Cost: $200 + $20 for supplies, total cost: $220
Click HERE to Register for Mondays.
Tuesdays: 3rd-5th, 2:15-3:15, 10 classes:
September 16, 23, 30, October 14, 21, November 18, 25, December 2, 9, 16
Cost per session: $200 + $20 for supplies, total $220
(No classes during fall break, October 6-10, and during parent-teacher conferences, October 27-November 7)
Click HERE to Register for Tuesdays.
Thursdays: K-3rd, 2:15-3:15, 10 classes:
September 18, 25, October 2, 16, 23, November 13, 20, December 4, 11, 18
Cost per session: $200 + $20 for supplies, total $220
(No classes during fall break, October 6-10, and during parent-teacher conferences, October 27-November 7)
Click HERE to Register for Thursdays
(If the form is not accepting responses, it means the class is full.
For more information email: courtneycarpenter@waikikischool.org)
Please take the time to read our 2025-26 Parent Handbook located at our Parent Handbook Link
About Us
Email: ryan@waikikischool.org
Website: waikikischool.org
Location: 3710 Leahi Avenue, Honolulu, HI, USA
Phone: (808) 305-6900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaikikiSchool
Twitter: @WaikikiSchool