March 2010

Welcome

We are excited to provide our valued employees a forum to keep up-to-date with the latest highlights within Kama'aina Kids. Whether it's achievements, new endeavors, photos, informative articles, or Kama'aina Kids out in the community, our goal is to communicate Kama'aina Kids milestones in an enjoyable, educational and convenient platform.

Come Grow...and Play...With Us

Once a year, our preschool's playgrounds, classrooms and doors close to provide a unique professional development opportunity for staff geared towards expanding on their teaching skills. On February 12th more than 200 preschool staff members descended on the peaceful Kaneohe Yacht Club grounds to embrace the Power of Play while on February 15th, Presidents Day, Maui staff also had their own unique training at Piilani Children's Center. This year directors, teachers and aides learned how the Power of Play can be used to motivate through play experiences and incorporate them into their daily classroom experiences.

Get Involved within your Community

On March 5th a very special leadership seminar took place at the Ewa Community Center Hall at CFS. With an emphasis on community involvement to further endorse and promote our various programs, the seminar highlights included guest speaker Glen Furuya's presentation on Island Style Teamwork & Service, a panel of staff speakers relating effective stories of involvement in their communities and how the Production department can be of service in your community efforts. This gathering marks a rare occason in having both Site Coordinators and Center Directors in attendance.

And the Award Goes To

Kama'aina Kids has received numerous awards and recognitions, national, local and in-house, in its 20+ years of service to children. This quarter we look at:

Site Coordinator of the Year (SCOTY) Award

Caroline Yoshimoto, Wheeler A+ - 1st place

Cristina Siminski, Kamalii A+ - 2nd place

Congratulations to both! Due to schedule conflicts, Caroline is unable to attend the NAA conference held in DC. Instead, Cristina will be attending.

Ko Olina Keikie Club Recognition

Michele Abe, Site Coordinator

"I watched when she was not aware while she focused her time with a disabled child in a wheelchair. She positioned him in front of the window and put herself to the side in front of him. She was engaging him one on one and having him laughing hysterically. I could imagine the temptation to put him in front of a movie and warehouse him until his parents were finished with their tour. But, at that moment in time she was oblivious to me observing her and totally in the moment with this child. It was a wonderful thing to see." -Sales Executive comment as relayed by Ko Olina's Customer Relations Manager

Preschool Longevity Awards

Charlotte Cabral

Enchanted Lake Preschool

35 years

Jacklyn Kunimura

Enchanted Lake Preschool

25 years

American Camp Association 66th Annual Meeting

Kama'aina Kids - Camp Program Award

The Camp Program Excellence Award is given by the ACA, Southern California/Hawaii to honor programs that develop effective, creative responses to the needs of a community using the camp environment, presenting examples to the public of positive contributions camp can make to the well-being of individuals and society.

Ray Sanborn - Southern California/Hawaii Service Award

The Service is given to recognize an individual for exceptional service to the camping field and significant contributions to the section.

Randy Miyashiro - Rising Star Award

The Rising Star Award is given to recognize individuals who are new to service in organized camping and who have shown great potential for leadership in and contribution to the section.

First Hawaiian Bank

Pending blurb from Buffy

Operation Purple Project Team

Camp Timberline has been selected to provide a teen camp experience for children ages 13-17 in support of Operation Purple. The mission of the Operation Purple program is to empower military children and their families to develop and maintain healthy and connected relationships, in spite of the current military environment. Camp Timberline plans to do just that by engaging teens through their unique curriculum designed just for them with two sessions starting June 7th and ending on June 18th. Project Team members include:

Jolie Moniz - Camp Director and Project Team Leader

Greg Terhune - Camp Program Director and Assistant Project Team Leader

Shannel Smith - Registration Support

Leroy Nicolas - Web Site and IT support

Jeff Subee - Contractual, Administrative and Promotional Support

Jolie and Greg have already attended training at Sandy Cove's Chesapeake in Baltimore, MD for the National Military Family Association Director's Training.

If you know of any military families, please forward one of our flyers to them. Enrollment is FREE!

A+ Proposal Update

Waiting for March 9th when NOA released.

Summer Plus

Kama'aina Kids has submitted a proposal to operate 28 C&C Parks Summer Plus programs. We will be notified sometime in May on which parks we have been awarded with programming starting in June lasting approximately 4 months. For a list of the potential sites, click here.

NMA Update

Congratulations once again to our Hotel & Convention division for being awarded the National Medical Association conference contract to provide child care and related programming. This year, the conference will be hosted in Orlando Florida August 1-4.

He'eia State Park Status

On January 9, 2009 Kama'aina Kids submitted a proposal to lease and operate He'eia State Park. After more than a year, we are finally in the process of negotiating the terms of the lease. With the introduction of Ecotourism, the continuation of water front activities and other educational, environmental and community support activities, we anticipate many benefits to both residents and visitors during our tenure.

The facilitation of the Banquet Hall rentals, staffing and the waterfront programs scheduled for Summer are just some of the most immediate transitions planned this year. Reservation information for the Banquet Hall will be made via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by contacting the main office at (808) 262-4538.

DHS Status

Check with Buffy

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Anything else?