Ka‘ū News Briefs, Saturday, February 29, 2020

     It establishes an Early Learning Coordinator position within the Office of the Governor. It also establishes the goal of providing all children who are three to four years old, or will not be at least five years old on or before July 31 of the current school year, with enrollment in a preschool program by the year 2030 and assigns that responsibility to the Early Learning Coordinator. The bill appropriates funds to the ʻImiloa Astronomy Center for building classrooms for Hawaiian language immersion pre-kindergarten programs and appropriates funds for building early learning services classrooms on public library property.
     This early education bill is part of the joint economic package introduced by the House and Senate, and supported by Gov. David Ige's  Administration to address Hawaiʻi's cost of living obstacles. The joint working class economic package is designed to tackle the issues highlighted in the Aloha United Way sponsored report,  ALICE: A Study of Financial Hardship in Hawai'i.
     Rep. Sylvia Luke noted that among more than 100 pages of testimony only two testifiers did not support the bills. Luke said this shows the great need and support for expanding early learning opportunities for our children.
     "This bill provides an overlay of our vision that within ten years to provide all children with access to early learning," Luke told legislators. "It's not as easy as people think it is. It's about providing full access and the ability of working families to have their child ready to learn when they enter kindergarten. This is a huge task and we have relied on you folks for your thoughtful advice and support to get this bill where it is today."
     Business, community and nonprofit educational groups are adamant in their support for this measure. "As a network of partners that support the health, safety and learning of our youngest keiki, we are excited about the potential expansion of child care and early learning programs for three and four-year olds," said Kerrie Urosevich, Lead for Network Design and Innovation at Hawai`i Early Childhood Action Strategy. "Over several decades, early childhood partners have worked diligently to elevate the importance of access to affordable and high-quality child care and early learning opportunities, which strengthen family income and support early cognitive, physical and social development. We are deeply grateful for the proposed financial commitments by the legislature, philanthropy and business sectors to make it happen. The implementation of this 10-year vision will only be successful if we leverage the early childhood eco-system together, with leaders from programs, philanthropy, business, the legislature, state departments and families themselves. There is no more important job than the one that builds the brains and hearts of our youngest in our society. Creating viable plans that will ensure early childhood providers are able to make a living wage in Hawai`i is imperative for the success of the expansion and should be prioritized. The economic stimulus package, of which HB2543 is a part, would begin to put families on the path toward economic stability and begin to create the needed foundations for young keiki and families to thrive."

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Hunnay DeMello, of Ocean View, awaiting her first national television appearance on Little Big Shots on NBC at 7 p.m. Sunday.

HUNNAY DEMELLO,  of Ocean View, brought her hula to family and friends today at Nani Mau Gardens as she looked forward to Sunday's broadcast of her appearance on the NBC production that showcases talented keiki from around the world. Little Big Shots airs at 7 p.m. Sunday.   

     Hunnay started dancing Tahitian when she was two years of age, and Hawaiian at age five. She studies with Kumu Chrissy Kama-Henriques of Hula Halau E Hulali Mai I Ka. Hunnay performed with halau members and Bulla and Gene Akamu last year at the Ka`u Coffee Festival.
      Hunnay is an ambassador for raising funding for senior housing in Na`alehu, a mission of the O Ka`u Kakou community group.
     Hunnay is the daughter of Monica Akamu and Rocky DeMello and sister to Anthony Demello. She is homeschooled. Her mother served as a preschool teacher at Na`alehu, beginning in 2002 and  transferred to Kealakehe where she taught kindergarten until 2015, when she decided to stay home and school her two children. Hunnay danced today at Nani Mau Gardens for the birthday celebration of retired Pahala elementary teacher and Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative President Gloria Camba. Hunnay's mother carried out her student teaching in Camba's classroom.
        Hunnay has won dance contests in Hawai`i and beyond and is fundraising to compete in the Hura Tahiti Contest  in Cerritos, California June 26 and 27 and in the Ori Fest. Polynesian Dance Competition in Las Vegas July 4 and 5. She will also perform with her halau on Easter Sunday at the Afook -Chinen Civic Auditorium during the kick off of the Merrie Monarch Festival.
     See her YouTube Channel, Facebook, Instagram
for more.

Hunnay celebrates the birthday of  one of her mother's education mentors, retired Pahala teacher Gloria Camba. Photo by Julia Neal