Junior Achievement of Hawaii

Holiday Greetings!

2009-12-21T23:33:00.001-08:00

McKinley High: How Do They Do It All?

2009-11-11T22:13:00.000-08:00

Take for instance, volunteer, Clayton Uza... busy financial advisor for AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL. His calendar is plotted weeks in advance. And yet, he makes the time to work with McKinley HS students in Gwen Maeda & Dee-Ann Murakami's classes teaching the JA High School Financial Planning Program. Is the secret in that planner he carries around?

Then there's Raeceen Woolford, the reigning Miss Hawaii. She has a smart phone. With a couple of taps, she was able to find a free day and volunteer to help Clayton with the JA McKinley class. Did that smart phone help her graduate with honors, play college volleyball and win the Miss Hawaii title too?

No. Must be more than just a time management tool that enables successful people to do more. Success doesn't come easily. Raeceen said it took a lot to get where she is today. Likewise with Clayton. The message from both volunteers to the students was the same and so simple. To get to where you want to be and do want you want to do, "work hard!"

Kaimuki High: PYF

2009-11-09T14:49:00.001-08:00

PYF is the new text shortcut for students in Kaimuki High School's accounting class. "Pay Yourself First" was the mantra at the first session on goal setting & budgeting and what most of the students remembered by the last.

BANK OF HAWAII branch managers, Reid Hinaga, Kapahulu; Rowena Pingol, Manoa; Keith Shiroma, Waikiki; Daniel Yokoo, Kaimuki & Estelle Awaya, Kaimuki Personal Banking Officer taught five sessions of the JA NEFE High School Financial Planning Program covering goal setting, budgeting, saving, investment choices, credit, identity theft, fraud and insurance to a crowded room of 32 students. And wrapped up with a fun, thought-provoking game that recapped the financial life lessons.

"My students felt really special having these important members of our community take time out of their busy schedules to teach them. The volunteers were great and would make fantastic teachers if they ever want to give up banking!"

Johnathon Griffith

Kaimuki HS Business Teacher

Mokapu Elementary: It Ain't Easy

2009-10-26T23:58:00.001-07:00

Mokapu Elementary is located on Kaneohe Bay MCAS. Almost all of the students come from military families living on base and surrounding areas.

It ain't easy for the students to handle a move every three years. 5th grade social studies teacher Adrianne Vincent said that some of her students at age 10 are already on their third rotation.

It ain't easy for the students to handle the deployments. Adrianne said they start acting up in class before & after the parent deploys. And again before & after their return.

It sure ain't easy to teach a JA class here but Rick Rohr, financial advisor at FIRST COMMAND FINANCIAL PLANNING and Jenna Sanders, 2nd year JA volunteer, are taking on the challenge and teaching the 5th grade program, "Our Nation" this fall.

We commend you both for your commitment to the students!

McKinley High: What Norm Wants, Norm Gets!

2009-10-21T16:45:00.000-07:00

This is Norman Takeya. Building & Construction instructor with HCC's Construction Academy. He has a full line of shop classes at McKinley High School filled with the toughest kids on campus. Norm's mentoring the construction of a sustainable house powered by photovoltaic panels with his "senior project" students. He also holds a couple of ukulele-making classes in the evening for interested HCC faculty and staff. Busy guy. You would think he would cut back his curriculum because of Furlough Fridays but instead he's saying, "Eh, don't forget about me!"

No worry, Norm! We'll get you setup with a volunteer for your JA class. If you can work it into your curriculum with 17 less days this school year, JA will certainly support you and all the other teachers who are requesting our financial literacy lessons... we promise!

----------

11/9/09 Clayton Kirio, CPA & entrepreneur, started Norm's JA program, "Be Entrepreneurial!" today.

Enchanted Lake: Parent Volunteers

2009-10-15T22:45:00.001-07:00

Kindergarten is a special time. We learn about gentle hands and quiet voices. We put up pint-size chairs on the desk when the end-of-school bell rings. And it's a time when our parents and grandparents start volunteering to teach JA classes.

At Enchanted Lake Elementary this fall, the four kindergarten JA classes and three 1st grade JA classes are taught by parents and grandparents. We encourage our volunteers to follow their child up through the grades, teaching JA programs all the way and salute your support of your school!

Kindergarten Planning Meeting
(left to right) Lani Kohatsu & Christine DeLuca, parents; Diana Sutton & Kim Gaspar, teachers; Allyson Brown, parent; Lara Higashi, teacher. Not pictured: Nephi Tahauri, Sr., parent; Nancy Miller, teacher

Waimalu's Danny & Mo McFerrin

2009-10-09T22:04:00.000-07:00

Tight budgets. Furlough Fridays. It's tough to provide educational opportunities for our kids. But despite the challenges, it's happening at Waimalu Elementary School. A very special partnership has evolved over many years. And it grows bigger every year providing support for school activities such as the very successful Fun Run, JA programs and much more.

Behind this successful military partnership are two volunteer coordinators, Danny & Maureen (Mo) McFerrin. Together they make it all happen. Very effective and very humble, Danny & Mo simply ask, "What can we do to help?"

JA and your Waimalu Elementary School ohana sincerely thanks you both for your love & dedication. Where would we be without you?

Military Partnership Signing Ceremony

September 30, 2009

HQ Pacific Air Forces Communications Directorate

PACAF Communications Support Flight

15 Air Lift Wing

201st Combat Communications Group

293 Combat Support Squadron Hawaii Air National Guard

FPA Week: October 5 - 11

2009-10-05T14:41:00.001-07:00

"Global Marketplace" Opening for Business at Alvah Scott Elementary School

Junior Achievement of Hawaii and the Financial Planning Association® (FPA®) are teaming up to promote the importance of financial literacy to celebrate the eighth annual Financial Planning Week®, October 5 – 11, 2009.

Financial Planning Week is an effort to raise the public’s awareness about the value of financial planning and to help Americans make smart financial decisions to achieve their life goals and dreams. Junior Achievement and FPA hope to educate Hawaii’s students about money management basics through a volunteer initiative in which FPA members will teach JA’s financial literacy programs.

“The Financial Planning Association recognizes the importance of learning financial responsibility at a young age and teaching healthy financial habits to children. This education helps young people understand what type of impact their financial decisions have throughout life,” said Marvin W. Tuttle, Jr., CAE, executive director/CEO of FPA. “Joining together with Junior Achievement allows us to address specific needs of children in different communities across the nation.”

For more information about Financial Planning Week, visit http://www.financialplanningweek.org/.

PHOTO CAPTION: JA planning meeting at Alvah Scott ES

(left to right) Stacy Tanonaka, 6th grade social studies teacher; Kelly & Debra Williams, (FPA) First Command Financial Services; Cecilia Marchese, volunteer; and Andrew Pike, (FPA) First Command Financial Services. Volunteers not pictured: Jimmy Bennett, (FPA) Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and John Leong, Pono Pacific.

Kaimuki High: What's a Portuguese Horseshoe?

2009-10-03T14:35:00.001-07:00

It started with a simple box made of wood and ended with one HCC instructor (Marcus Heresa), one woodshop teacher (Paul Tokuno) and two BANK OF HAWAII Regional Managers (Kevin Sakamoto & Danny Kim) partnering to teach a classroom of students on the how-to's of entrepreneurship.

The Building & Construction class at Kaimuki High is an innovative, state funded partnership between Honolulu Community College Construction Academy and participating high schools. High school students enrolled in the class receive dual credits (high school and HCC college credits) upon successful completion of the program. The goal is to encourage students to continue with their education after graduation and provide a qualified labor force for the construction industry.

The Portuguese Horseshoe was introduced as classroom project last school year and was quickly in demand. The teachers realized it would make a great fundraiser during the craft fair season but weren't quite sure how to start marketing the product. Mike Barros, Construction Academy Director, brought the need to JA, and the newly developed JA program,"Be Entrepreneurial!" got it's start. BOH managers, Danny Kim & Kevin Sakamoto volunteered to pilot this program and are working with students to develop their business plans. If student enthusiasm is a sign of success, JA hopes to take the program to other Construction Academy high school classes needing help with entrepreneurial skills.

If you're interested in purchasing a Portuguese Horseshoe game, contact Kaimuki High School at 733-4900. The class will also be making koa bookmarks, getta slipper pen holders and hot plates.

Why Waiahole?

2009-10-03T14:25:00.001-07:00

True. It's a small school... total enrollment around 71. It's way out in the country... Waiahole Valley. Is it cost effective to hold JA programs for so few and so far? You need only to look around and see the ocean between the ironwoods, the playground shaded by the palms, or the hula skirt ready ti leaf plants to realize why Waiahole Elementary can't be forgotten.

It's not just the easy-to-reach town schools or the bursting-at-the-seams leeward schools that benefit from JA programs. Teachers from all locations can request JA programs for their students from all backgrounds. The only limiting factor is volunteer availability. And it would have been a big problem if it weren't for BANK OF HAWAII windward branch managers, Kyle Brockett, Kaneohe, Amy Miller, Aikahi and Catherine Sato, Kailua. They are partnering with teachers pictured below (right to left): Jacqueline Yanagi, K + 1st grade, Nikki Morishige, 2nd grade, Lorraine Pelekai, 4th grade, Amber Swedenborg, 3rd grade. Because of the small class sizes, students will grouped into two bigger JA classes which will be underway in the 2nd quarter.

Congratulations BOH volunteers! No other trio of volunteers can make the claim that they will be reaching more than half the school's population!

From Kapolei to KPMG to . . .

2009-10-03T00:05:00.000-07:00

Fourteen lucky accounting students from the Kapolei High School Business Academy were hosted by Nancy Rose, managing partner at KMPG, and her staff on September 29, 2009. What exactly is public accounting? What does it take to become a successful auditor? Or a tax specialist? What services do you provide to your clients? All these questions and more were explored and answered during the morning visit. After the KPMG informational session, the field trip moved across the street to CENTRAL PACIFIC BANK (KPMG's client) to learn about client relationships. And were sent off back to Kapolei, energized with a great exposure to the accounting field... and a pizza lunch.

Mahalo to Nancy Rose, Jay Ana, Kim Miyoshi, Aileen Utterdyke, Kerri Yamamoto and CENTRAL PACIFIC BANK.

"When business and education connect, students realize there are many opportunities that await them after graduation. You made a difference today because you planted the seed of opportunity. Now it is up to them to own their future and go as far as they can."

Merry Ifuku

Business Academy Teacher

Kapolei High School

Pauoa Elementary: Abbey's Road

2009-10-03T00:03:00.000-07:00

Maybe it comes from being a mom but I worry about how our volunteers will get to the school. Is the school close enough? Is there parking? With Abbey Schroeder, UH Manoa College of Education student, I had a new worry. Abbey scoots around on a moped. Saves gas. Easy to park. But can the South Dakota native find her way from the dorms to Pauoa Valley?

Abbey readily volunteered to work with the two 1st grade classes at Pauoa Elementary teaching JA's "Our Families" program. (Junior Achievement is a resource for the UH COE academic advisors to refer applicants seeking to fill the 40 hour field experience requirement.) But there was an initial scheduling problem. Determined not to let this opportunity pass, teachers Ceri Aoyama & Jennifer Ota requested and were allowed to shift their curriculum around Abbey's college class schedule and the 1st graders are now participating in the financial literacy lessons. Abbey's one step closer to becoming a teacher.

Okay, okay, sometimes you just gotta let them find their own way... where ever the road leads. But wait! Shouldn't she be wearing a helmet!?

2009 Finance Factors Junior Achievement Golf Classic

2009-10-01T20:12:00.001-07:00

Title sponsor & tournament organizer, FINANCE FACTORS, did it again! Over $40,000 was raised at the Kapolei Golf Course on September 24, 2009. In the past eight years, the Finance Factors Junior Achievement Golf Classic has brought in a total of $350,000 to support JA programs. Thank you to the 160 golfers, generous donors and all the hard-working volunteers. We sincerely appreciate your continuing support!

Banking on Barbers Point

2009-08-13T20:53:00.000-07:00

They may be surrounded by kiawe trees and dry sandy roads but the 4th grade at Barbers Point Elementary on the former military base will soon become a financial oasis.

BANK OF HAWAII managers from central and leeward branches under Regional Managers Ishmael Eustaquio, West Oahu & Brenda Searcy, In-Store Branches, are teaming with teachers, Adam Gelbard, Michelle Ichioka & Vicki Liu to bring JA's "Our Region" program to the students. Lessons will be underway starting in the 2nd quarter of school.

Top left to right - Cody Kim, Aiea; Aaron Kanemaru, Waipahu; Denise Smith, Waikele; Adam Gelbard, BP 4th Grade Level Chair; Charleen Deuprey, Mililani Safeway; Rovena Olinger, Pearlridge; Odest Wallace, Kapolei Safeway; Wayne Takahashi, Mililani

Congratulations Scholarship Winners!

2009-08-10T19:43:00.001-07:00

We are proud to announce the recipients of the

2009 Junior Achievement of Hawaii General Scholarship.

Po'okela Cafe

"Junior Achievement opened my eyes to commerce, business and money. Our class created 'Po'okela Cafe'. We sold ice cream sundaes at our school cafeteria. I was the Vice President of Human Resources and had to motivate the students. Junior Achievement's Company Program taught me the importance of having good people skills in order to involve colleagues in running a successful business. "
Carolyn Pondelicek
McKinley High School Graduate

"The Junior Achievement Success Skills program provided lessons on skills such as listening and speaking techniques, how to work together as a team, problem solving and most importantly employment interviews. These lessons not only helped me prepare but will give me a competitive advantage over others who haven't taken the class... I am confident in myself and what I want to achieve and Success Skills has provided the foundation to help get me started."
McKalie Day
Radford High School Graduate

We wish you both success in your continuing education & careers!

Radford High: Success Skills for All

2009-08-10T19:42:00.000-07:00

Radford High School is a reflection of Hawaii's multicultural melting pot. From local kids down the street to military kids from the bases next door, the school strives to provide relevant experiences for all of their student population.

When Radford's Discovery Center announced the JA "Success Skills" class, over 30 juniors and seniors signed up to participate on their own time. Coordinator Cindy Mochida wanted to start a program that would help the students with work-readiness skills. The class was taught by Navy volunteer, Commander Anthony Fortescue who was looking to fine-tune his teaching skills in preparation of a possible move to post-graduate teaching. The JA class offered him the right opportunity to connect with students.

After hearing about the Discovery Center's "Success Skills" program, Radford teacher, Kenneth Patton, was motivated to provide the same experience for his special education students. Meanwhile, Gordon Dela Cerna was looking for field work to fulfill the requirements for the University of Hawaii's College of Education with the goal of teaching at the high school level... and another partnership came together.

Through the implementation of programs like these, Junior Achievement hopes to encourage success for all students and while doing so, success for our volunteers.

Volunteer Gordon Dela Cerna

Jefferson Elementary: Partners for Life

2009-08-07T20:32:00.000-07:00

Last year was my first year as the JA program manager so I was allowed to make mistakes. I thought it would be easier to pair the Jefferson Elementary School 2nd graders with another visiting group instead of their long-time partner, KRAFT FOODS. Teacher Joyce Felipe hinted that she and the other grade level teachers, Jodi Chun & Kelly Sutcliffe, really enjoyed working with Gerald Shintaku and his staff, Carrie L'Esperance, Lisa Nakagawa & Ken Hirota. I finally got the message and connected the two back together again. And now I know why! The KRAFT FOODS staff are natural teachers and the easy coordination between teacher and volunteer reflects their many years together. They even brought their own teaching aids for the 2nd grade "Our Community" program. The lessons on unit production versus assembly line were taught with KRAFT FOODS doughnuts and eagerly "digested" by the students!

Yes, lasting relationships develop between teachers and volunteers. My job is to get it in motion ... then sit back and let it happen.

PHOTO CAPTION: Principal Vivian Hee with a big welcome for Junior Achievement.

Makalapa Elementary: The Power of the Military

2009-08-06T11:47:00.000-07:00

JA has many, many ways to work the classes. Elementary programs are usually once a week for 5 weeks, 30 minutes per visit. Sometimes however, when volunteers are short on time or when the school has teacher training pullouts, we'll go in and do a JA Day... when all five sessions are scheduled in the morning or afternoon. Our teachers and volunteers have come up with very creative visit schedules in order to have JA's financial literacy classes part of the curriculum. One very unique set-up happened this past spring semester.

Makalapa Elementary was built with the open classroom concept. The three classes of 3rd grade teachers Christine Dung, Kris Fukushima & Mickie Yagi are all housed in one big room in "I" Building. Navy volunteers, Jenna Saunders & Ensign Ray Miller, USN decided to take 'em all on and teach 63 students en masse. We salute you both and the rest of our military volunteers. Now, that took real courage!

Jenna Saunders & Ensign Ray Miller, USN

Kalihi-Waena Elementary: Needs & Wants

2009-08-05T17:20:00.000-07:00

I really, really want to go on a trip this fall. But with the rainy season coming, I know I need to fix my roof. Over the years, I've learned the hard lessons of saving. But what does a 1st grader know about needs & wants?

This past April, volunteers Karen DeJesus & Colleen Hironaka from AIG HAWAII, Naomi Masuno from FIRST HAWAII BANK and Lincoln Koike & Homer Smith from AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL taught 1st graders at Kalihi-Waena Elementary that very important lesson.

Homer Smith & Lincoln Koike, AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL

Thank you to AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL for the $5000 grant.

Yes, we need your support!

Thank you, Bank of Hawaii!

2009-08-04T15:13:00.000-07:00

left to right: Rodney Wong, BANK OF HAWAII VP

Carol Higa, BANK OF HAWAII VP & JA Board Member

M. Steven Grant, JA President

We are very fortunate to have just received a $5,000 contribution from the BANK OF HAWAII Charitable Foundation to support our economic and financial programs.

In addition to the monetary help, Bankoh managers will heading back to school this fall to teach JA programs. Check back with us to see how they do at Kaimuki High, Barbers Point & Waiahole Elementary Schools...

Reflections of a Non-Golfer

2009-07-30T13:32:00.000-07:00

JA GOLF TOURNAMENT

Kapolei Golf Course - September 24, 2009

I'm totally ready for this year's golf tournament. Got my SPF 50 sunscreen. Got my friend lined up to sit with me for 5 hours at whatever hole I'm assigned, to measure the "closest to the hole". He knows that his primary job is to position me so that I'm safe from the wild balls that come crashing through the treetops. And I have learned that I do not ask the golfer who's hoping to get closest to the hole, to hold one end of the tape measure.

For many, many years, FINANCE FACTORS, a well-oiled volunteer machine, has run this tournament bringing in a large chunk of our fundraising budget. So I guess, I can do my part and learn some course protocol... I promise to hold back on saying, "Haven't played for a while, eh?"

Arlene Kihara

Tournament Volunteer

SIGN UP TO PLAY!

Contact M. Steven Grant

president@jahawaii.com

Alvah Scott Elementary: Volunteer Lori Nakayama

2009-07-30T13:25:00.001-07:00

How Does She Do It All?

JA is so lucky to have great volunteers. Both the businesses and military are very strong supporters. The retiree community members are an invaluable source. But there's one group of volunteers that has a special stake in financial education... parents.

Lori Nakayama works full-time for HAWAII PACIFIC UNIVERSITY in the Office of Institutional Research and Academic Support. She first started teaching JA classes when her daughter entered Alvah Scott Elementary in Aiea. As her daughter progressed through the grades, former teachers would ask Lori to return. Then her son entered kindergarten and Lori wound up teaching four classes (Kindergarten - Lori Hirohata, 1st grade - Jill Kosaki, 3rd grade - Fay Nishimura and 4th grade - Joy Kumagai) all in this past spring semester.

Lori is very reluctant to be recognized and says she's doing all this for the children. Perhaps it's fitting that the best thank you should come from the ones who benefit the most from her efforts.

Fay Nishimura's 3rd Grade Class

Alvah Scott Elementary School