Big Island nonprofit hosts field day for Hōnaunau Elementary School

Project No Ke Ola Pono O Nā Keiki held a recent “Field Day” event at Hōnaunau Elementary, a small school in West Hawaiʻi, for students in kindergarten to fifth grade.

The nonprofit project was created by local teacher Joel Masunaga to help Big Island schools rebound from the pandemic with safe outdoor events called “Field Days.” They are are supervised by a combination of teachers and community volunteers.

No Ke Ola Pono O Nā Keiki is a Hawaiian phrase that translates to: “For the Righteous Health of Our Children”.

The field days feature several activity stations where students play physical games, solve puzzles, learn interesting skills and work as a team to build complicated structures.

Volunteers at the Hōnaunau Elementary event included students from nearby Konawaena High School, Megan Yarberry with Blue Zones Project, current Miss Aloha Hawaiʻi Kaili Yuen and various other Department of Education supporters. The event was sponsored by Hawaiʻi County Councilmember Maile David, who represents District 6.

“The Field Day 2023 was not just an excuse to enjoy the sunshine and have fun. It was a chance to see what physically literate children look like and sound like,“ said Hōnaunau Elementary Principal Noreen Kunimoto in a press release.

Evyn Yamaguchi, a teacher at Konawaena High School, added: “It was so awesome to see all the elementary kids having a blast. All my students really enjoyed volunteering to help with the program and are already looking forward to their next opportunity in May.”

For more information on volunteering for Field Day or organizing an event at your school please contact Joel Matsunaga at joel.matsunaga@k12.hi.us.