My Mom Says That I Need to Write More

I don't know what to talk about, it is me ayla, this is what my little brother calls me. Doughnuts tomorrow, I'm going to New York in four months and doughnuts are helping me get there. I'm getting there one bite at a time, ha,ha, ha...So I think I threw away my homework which is really lolo of me. Hence I need to be more careful and aware of what I'm doing. And since I have a test on it on Monday having my homework paper just might help. Oh well, guess I better spend time pleading with my teacher to help me out...till next time mahalos for reading! Mik Ayla

Ke Kukini Me Ke Aloha Pau'ole

The Great Aloha Run took place on February 16th, early risers awoke at 4:00am,we then journeyed to the Aloha Stadium. From there we were bussed to Aloha Tower to start the race. 20,000 people registered to race and the air was buzzing with excitement. Everyone came and trained for their own reason. Mine was to prolong the memory of my father. He always taught me that exercise was important and he too had walked in the Great Aloha Run. When the race started at 7:00am I didn't know quite what to expect. I played in very safe and careful not to injure myself in any way. The first mile that I started seemed to be the most difficult. Over the next few miles I was use to the strides and actually enjoyed the scenery. I received numerous cheers and a rose as bystanders cheered us on. Although I walked alone, I felt very comforted that I was with my dad. He can enjoy a painfree life and I can keep working towards taking better care of me. So there is next year, let the training begin, and maybe you'll see me there again. Me Ke Aloha Pumehana, Chris-Chris

Happy and Healthy

I'm so thankful for good health. It seems like ever since the new year started the Kloeppels have been striving to reach toward good health. It started with Kahana and his fever episode which I don't wish to relive. Then Kaden and his asthma, me and my sprained ankle, Mikayla was able to sleep two days which saved her from getting sick, and lastly John who has been battling Laryngitis and Bronchitis. I appreciate a healthy body free from sickness, and I wish the same for all those that are battling some kind of illness. I am also thankful for the power of the priesthood. It has miraculously saved our family. I guess sometimes you need to get really sick to have worthy priesthood members exercise their priesthood for the healing of the sick on your behalf. Through faith and diligence in keeping the commandments of the Lord, we are blessed even through sickness.

Ho'olohe means to Listen

I just got finished attending a Kahua Workshop. This workshop has enlightened my mind, body, and soul to how to better help the learners in my classroom. On Friday we were able to learn and give back to the 'aina or land by doing community service. The elementary teachers broke up into groups and rotated in five stations. We learned about the Hawaiian culture, the Ahupua'a and the Hawaiian values that our ancestors practice back then. There were many ideas and aha moments that I had but one in particular that stands out is to Listen and observe. Back then in order for the Hawaiian people to live and build their villages to feed their people they had to rely on listening to others and observing what they saw. When it rained the water fell on the tops of the mountains and trickled down to the land, the flow of the water was where people decided to build their homes,their gardens and ponds to help the villagers survive. Hawaiians were master engineers back then, they worked together and relied on each other for life and sustenance. So I take this lesson with me this week. I will be a better listener, not to quick to talk and react, but to observe and listen intently to life and others around me...

A Proud Moment

Today we took our Laie Elementary 6th grade students to The Egineering Expo at the University of Hawai'i. We met the students at 6:30am in the morning and made arrangements with parents to help transport them down to UH. The students were excited and had high hopes of doing their best and maybe coming home with the experience. They were the only elementary school there the rest were intermediate schools, but they diligently worked in the different stations to show the spectators what they could do.
The Bridge Building team had a chance to take a picture with Pamela Young from KITV news. One of our students had an interview and appeared on the news. The RollerCoaster team was able to work together and come up with a design to take a marble on a ride landing in a cup. They had oak tag, chopsticks, tape, and scissors to create a roller coaster. The Solar Car team was the team that came away with a reward to take home. Who would have thought that are little Laie students would come away as 1st place winners...
Yes it was hard for us to believe at the time, but these little sixth graders were mighty mature critcal thinkers, and team players. They worked so well together to build the solar car and then held their composure as the raced their cars, ignoring the taunting and cheering from others around them. The students consisently won race after race, without a lot of pride they were mainly relieved. Finally the champioship race. there were two teams and casually our team raced and came away as the winners. They walked away in amazement, not shouting or cheering, but they were humbled they learned that doing your best and working together as a team does pay off...I am so proud of all of them. This is why teaching is the best job for me, to witness the results of hard work paying off. Congratulation Solar Car Team...you created a moment in Laie Elementary history.

Star Gazer

It was a clear night last night and Kaden was admiring the brightness of the stars. He wanted to lie down outside and just stare at the stars all night. The images of the stars were so clear, not a cloud in sight, it was as if we could just reach up and touch them. It was a surreal moment as we stopped to admire the constellations of the stars.
Imagine if we just paused and took time out of our busy schedules to look through the eyes of a child, and marvel over the beauties they see. We sure would appreciate how blessed and lucky we are to live in this world that our Heavenly Father created for us...

Little Laughing Hana!

I have joy in listening and watching little Kahana give out a hearty, loud, laugh that doesn't stop. Don't you notice that the simple things make a child laugh? Today it was the curtains, hiding in and popping out of the curtains than seeing us on the otherside. Again and again he is amusing us and himself. A little energetic monkey...says his sister. I'm glad we have little ones to help us enjoy the simple things in life...