Learning on Maui, Outside of the Classroom June 8, 2011

During the month of March, the Kihei and Lahaina sites together with the Kahului and Upcountry sites visited the Maui Tropical Plantation. After a fun month of learning about plants and the environment, the keiki and caregivers were able to put their “classroom learning” into real-life practice by observing the many plants, both non-native and native. This field trip also had an additional purpose of visiting the trees planted by our keiki in the 2009-2010 school year.

On the tram ride, keiki and caregivers were able to socialize with the other families as well as observe the plants such as sugar cane, coconut, mango, avocados, and papayas just to name a few. A coconut husking demonstration was given in the middle of the tour and the keiki were able to observe the process of utilizing the inside and the outside of a coconut!

At the end of the tour, everyone came together to eat snacks, talk story and most important to the keiki—feed the ducks and fish in the pond! Many eyes were wide with amazement at seeing the different plants and animals. Conversation and laughter were shared not just within the Kihei and Lahaina ‘Ohana, but amongst all the Maui Tūtū and Me ‘Ohana together!