Other ‘Aina Pono Projects
In addition to our ‘Aina Pono programs, School Food Services Branch (SFSB) is involved in a variety of other projects, both locally and nationally. These projects help to provide the Hawaii State Department of Education’s employees and its students with opportunities for critical thinking, networking and personal/professional development.
From creating new employee engagement activities, facilitating student voice discussions, and developing vegetarian and vegan options for Hawaii’s public school students, these projects are rooted and connected to the ‘Aina Pono culture.
We live, breathe and embrace ‘Aina Pono.
Photos courtesy of School Food Services Branch
Rooted in ‘Aina Pono
The Hawaii State Department of Education’s School Food Services Branch (SFSB) held statewide professional development days for its school foodservice employees during the week of February 10, 2020.
Attendees increased their knowledge about the different ‘Aina Pono programs, including Jump Start Breakfast and Farm to School. They also had a chance to learn more about the vision of school food in Hawaii and how school foodservice employees play an important role in feeding our keiki (children). Some conference participants also had an opportunity to learn how ‘ulu (breadfruit) could be prepared as a poke-style dish, chocolate mousse and in a stew.
In addition to the special guest speakers, educational breakout sessions were held throughout the afternoon.
Click on the images below to access the photo gallery.
Congrats to Our 2020 Chinese New Year Contest School Winners
School Food Services Branch received 23 entries for its inaugural Chinese New Year Serving Line Decorating Contest.
Choosing the winners wasn’t an easy task. Judges reviewed several photos showcasing an assortment of decorations, including dragons, rats and even a handmade ice sculpture! Each photo was judged on the following criteria and could receive a total of 50 points:
- Creativity (10 points)
- Design (10 points)
- Attention to Chinese New Year celebration theme (10 points)
- Staff dressed in costume (10 points)
- Overall presentation (10 points)
Congratulations to our top 3 winners:
1st Place – Waianae Intermediate
2nd Place – Kalanianaole Elementary and Intermediate
3rd Place (tie) – Waikele Elementary
3rd Place (tie) – Central Middle
The following prizes were awarded accordingly:
- First place: 15,000 points for the team + $25 movie pass gift cards for each cafeteria staff member.
- Second place: 10,000 points for the team + $25 movie pass gift cards for each cafeteria staff member.
- Third place: 5,000 points for the team + $25 movie pass gift cards for each cafeteria staff member.
Winning schools could spend up to their awarded points by mixing and matching prizes of various kitchen equipment.
A big mahalo to all of our schools that participated in the employee engagement activity!
Photos courtesy of School Food Services Branch
Celebrating Chinese New Year With Special Student Lunch and Employee Contest
To help welcome and celebrate the Year of the Rat in January 2020, participating Hawaii public schools offered a Chinese New Year-inspired student lunch, featuring sweet and sour chicken, rice, egg rolls, dipping sauce, fruits, vegetables and milk.
In addition to the special lunch for students, cafeteria staff were encouraged to enter School Food Services Branch’s Chinese New Year Serving Line Decorating Contest by posting pictures of their schools’ decorated serving line to social media and using the hashtag: #ainapono.
Several schools went above and beyond by engaging its students in special assemblies, lion and dragon dances, cultural presentations and educational displays during the week (Jan. 21-24) leading up to the New Year. (The Year of the Rat officially started on Saturday, Jan. 25.)
Thanks to everyone’s hard work and participation, welcoming the Year of the Rat was fun and educational for students, teachers, school staff and administrators.
Providing Vegetarian and Vegan Options for Hawaii’s Public School Students
The following article discusses how the Hawaii State Department of Education’s School Food Service Branch provides vegetarian and vegan options for students who choose to forgo meat.
The article and the Kalo Bowl Yogurt recipe originally appeared in The Island Vegetarian, the Vegetarian Society of Hawaii newsletter (Vol. 30, Issue 5, May 2019).
Click here to view the entire newsletter.
Illustrations courtesy of Cool Tropics
Hawaii’s Student Voice Shapes National Slushie Flavor
National fruit slush company, Cool Tropics, enlisted the help of Roosevelt High School students to serve as taste testers who will shape the product’s formula.
“We are always looking at ways to improve and expand our offerings in the cafeteria through our ‘Aina Pono programs, where we focus on product testing and menu development,” said ‘Aina Pono program coordinator Dexter Kishida, of the Hawaii State Department of Education’s School Food Services Branch. “Our students’ feedback played a significant impact on the final slush product that other students will be consuming nationwide.”
Kishida said that Roosevelt’s students wanted a flavor that was reflected of the Hawaiian Islands. “A lot of our students grew up drinking POG. Being that passion fruit, orange and guava are familiar Hawaii flavors, it was an instant hit with our high school students.”
“Hula Cooler” will only be available in school food distribution. The juice slush will be served in schools locally and across the nation, beginning in the 2019-2020 school year. The product debut this past summer at the 2019 School Nutrition Association (SNA) conference in St. Louis, Missouri. This new flavor pays tribute to Hawaii through its packaging, which features its island-inspired “Hula Cooler” name, fun facts and tropical designs. Each package contains one serving of fruit, has no sugar added and is gluten free.
The “Hula Cooler” also has a special connection to the Hawaiian Islands, as it was named by Hawaii public school student Paul “PJ”Tavares, of Enchanted Lake Elementary. PJ received a $1,000 scholarship when his contest entry won first place.
Pictured above (from left): Jon Tavares, first place winner Paul “PJ” Tavares, Michele Tavares, Cool Tropics President and CEO Frank Massabni, Hawaii State Department of Education’s School Food Services Administrator Albert Scales III and Enchanted Lake Elementary Principal Pua McElhaney.
Photos courtesy of School Food Services Branch
Enchanted Lake Elementary Student Wins $1,000 Scholarship in Cool Tropics Contest
Congratulations to Paul Tavares of Enchanted Lake Elementary School. The sixth grader suggested the name, “Hula Cooler,” for Welch’s new Passion Fruit, Orange and Guava 100% Juice Slush from Cool Tropics. As the grand prize winner, he received a $1,000 scholarship at a special school presentation on April 15, 2019.
His entry was among nearly 200 submissions that were sent in by Hawaii’s public and private school students. A panel of seven judges from Cool Tropics and Welch’s corporate company were impressed by the submissions.
Tied for second place was Wynete Agustin, of Farrington High School, for “SurfNSlush,” and Island Pacific Academy’s Colt Dixon, who came up with “A Surfin’ Slush.” Each received a laptop computer. Third place winner Max Atuatasi, of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, won a mountain bike for his name entry, “Smashin’ Passion.”
Pictured right: Farrington High Vice Principal Hartwell Lee Loy Jr., Marita Agustin, second place Hawaii public schools winner Wynete Agustin, Cool Tropics President and CEO Frank Massabni, Antonio Agustin and Farrington High School teacher Kristin Mullin.