What makes the area stretching from the Hamakua Coast to Hilo so unique is the strong sense of community that binds it together.  This dedication to the community has also taken root in its youth, who are increasingly concerned with the well-being of their peers. Some of these students have found an outlet to help their classmates in the Student Leadership Program.  This is a program that assists youth who want to give back to their community in a meaningful way, while also developing their skills as future leaders.

This legislative session, student leaders demonstrated their concern for fellow classmates by coming to the State Capitol and testifying on resolutions to help students with anger issues.  The student leaders had observed troubling increases in violence on their campuses and saw these resolutions as an opportunity to do something about it.  House Resolution, HCR 126, and its Senate companion, SCR 110, request that students who commit acts of violence be placed in programs to help them manage their anger.   

It was upon the recommendation of the Vice Principal from Honokaa High, Chucky Viernes, that the resolution was patterned after the existing system of helping students with drug and alcohol addictions face their problems with the help of counselors.  With the same premise in mind, students who have committed acts of violence and have issues with anger would be placed in programs to help them manage their anger.

Kalanianaole Elementary and Intermediate School, Honokaa High School, and Hilo High School all came to the Capitol on March 17^th to testify on SCR 110 before the Senate Committee on Education.  Jordan Ishizu and Melissa McDonald came from Honokaa High with their advisor, Angella Brandt.  Jeremy Valdez, Lexus Ujano-DeMotta, Angela Pung, Shaina Ramos, Krizha Tumaneng and Joyce Odasco came from Kalanianaole School with advisor, Mari Nakamura.  Kelley Foo, Kristin Hughes, and Kristy Hamamoto came from Hilo High with advisors Nathan Morita and Travis Ferreira.

On March 24^th, students from Paauilo Elementary & Intermediate School and Kohala High School testified on HCR 126 before the House Committee on Education.  From Paauilo School, Leimana Ebreo, Justin Kwee, Daisha Acorda, Jasmine Maequiamas, and Elle Carvalho came with their advisor, Dean Alip.  Kohala High students, Royce Bumbard, Kiana Kometani, Caithlin Moiha, and Nathan Trump came with advisors Billie Brown and Melody Nietfeld.

With poise and confidence, the students testified before the House and Senate Education Committees, and were then questioned by committee members.  In the House Committee on Education, the students were asked specifically why they thought students were acting out on school campuses.  Student leaders from Paauilo replied that they thought some of the problems started at home.  Not being able to direct their anger at their family members, the students carry it with them to school and unleash it on their peers and teachers. 

A student from Kohala High bravely stepped forward to answer another difficult question posed by the House Committee on Education.  When he was asked if anyone had participated in a preventative program to keep students from committing acts of violence, Nathan Trump stated that he had been on an excursion to the jail.  He stood inside a cell, enclosed by the bars and thought to himself, "I don't ever want to be here."  He stated that it "scared him straight."

If students are experiencing problems at home, have low self confidence, or are themselves bullied, it's not surprising that they develop anger problems.  The common solution that exists now of simply suspending the student without helping them, has not proven successful.  Students from Honokaa High testified that, "If they (students) are suspended, many times they return to school angry and frustrated and unable to behave appropriately." 

The student leaders have observed that this method of suspension alone does not make the problem go away.  Kalanianaole School students testified that, "Students who need more help than schools currently have are not always getting the help they need.  Instead they are often suspended as a consequence of punishment without opportunities for rehabilitation."

Students from Hilo High expressed the need for the resolution by stating that, "Two years ago we were faced with large numbers of students that were committing or were victims of an epidemic of violence and drugs on and off campus... Fortunately our statistics have decreased a little...But, we cannot accomplish this mission without your help."

It is because these determined students need the help of the legislature that they came to Oahu to testify.  Their hard work paid off as the legislators unanimously passed both resolutions with amendments.  The amendments make the resolutions stronger and require that the Department of Education to do more than just a study.

Students who came to testify not only experienced the legislative process over the past couple of weeks; they took an active role in it.  With experiences like these, they are developing leadership skills they can take with them, and we can feel proud knowing that they are trying to secure a better future for us all.

Other student leaders can be found in the Honokaa High School's Robotics Team, which recently qualified for the national robotics competition in Atlanta, Georgia after participating in the state competition on Oahu from March 27^th to the 29^th.  This group of young scientists and engineers will be heading to the nationals from April 17th to the 19th if they can raise the $21,000 needed to get all of the team members and chaperons to Atlanta.  Congratulations to everyone on the team and to their advisor, Michael Yoshida, who has been very involved in this competition from the beginning!  If you would like to donate some money to help this team get to the national competition, please contact Michael Yoshida 775-8800 ext 291.

(Hamakua Times  3-28-08)