Waipahu Students Making a Difference
By World Wide Ed
Happy Presidents' (Washington's Birthday) Day y'all. I have the day off and am busy poke-ing it up in Hilo, but thought that this story would be a good read for those of you who are still checkin' on in today.
My friend and classmate from high school (Roslyn Kanae) is the Tech Coordinator at Honowai Elementary School. She shared a story about some of her students, known as the Honowai Robotek Team, making a difference in their community. Check out their story and I'll meetcha at the bottom:
Honowai Elementary School is located on Honowai Street in the Ewa end of Waipahu. It services 824 students, grades preschool through 6th. Many of our students walk to school due to working parents. Six years ago, our principal and vice-principal met with the Department of Transportation to resolve the issue of speeding cars in front of the school. (Honowai Street is a busy road that leads into Fort Weaver Road before it joins with H2.) This meeting resulted in having two bright yellow pedestrian signs posted at the crosswalks fronting the school.
For the past two years, students at Honowai Elementary School have studied the traffic patterns fronting Honowai Street. Students have clocked cars going 5-10 miles over the speed limit in front of Honowai before, after, and during school hours.
Students have also interviewed faculty and community members about the speeding issue. Some nearby residents have seen many near- misses between speeding cars and students. Speeding cars injured three students during the past five years. No residents can recall ever seeing a police car ticketing cars for speeding down this busy thoroughfare. There are currently no posted signs to remind drivers that an elementary school is present; only the signs for pedestrian crossings and one 25 miles per hour speed limit sign.
To help slow the traffic fronting Honowai Street, the Honowai Robotek Team proposes that the two lane road be restriped to visually narrow the road and posting signs with flashing lights to remind drivers that children are present. They are also recommending that police cars monitor Honowai Street more frequently during school hours.
The students have presented their suggestions to Councilman Nestor Garcia, Representative Henry Aquino, Senator Clarence Nishihara, the Waipahu Community Neighborhood Board, and forty families from Honowai Elementary School. On February 12, 2010, the student members of the Honowai Robotek Team presented their findings at the 2010 S.M.A.R.T. Youth Summit held at Leeward Community College. The Honowai Robotek Team is also currently drafting a resolution for the Waipahu Neighborhood Community Board to approve at the February 25th meeting. The resolution, like their presentation, is completely student written. This is the most comprehensive traffic safety project ever undertaken by students at Honowai Elementary.
Pretty impressive yeah? Our young keiki making a difference! Congrats Honowai Elementary! Keep it up gang!
Post your words of encouragement below if you gotum! Have a great week y'all!
World Wide Ed
February 15th, 2010 at 1:52 am
Waipahu represent!
Happy day, I'm off today.
Have a great Prez's day everybody!
February 15th, 2010 at 5:54 am
Wai-pa-HUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Right on!
Eh, how come you come Hilo when I gotta work da uddah side of the Island. I thought you would treat me breakfast or sumting
Nah enjoy your "poke-ing" around Hilo. Some of US gotta work.
February 15th, 2010 at 6:58 am
have a good one c dubbs!
February 15th, 2010 at 6:59 am
hehe, sorry naks. next time!
February 15th, 2010 at 7:05 am
Honowaiians represent!
February 15th, 2010 at 7:06 am
@Ed - lemme know what's the scoops for today, I'll catch up with you guys ....
February 15th, 2010 at 8:37 am
yeah-e yeah!
February 15th, 2010 at 8:38 am
just sent you a tweet homey.
February 16th, 2010 at 9:45 am
… hey Ed … looks like I’m a day late for this blog … but no matter … it’s a good one … BEEG PROPS to the Honowai Robotek Team!!! …
… I’m always amazed … at how much is expected of today’s students … at a much younger age … and still many of them go way beyond that … and take the initiative to do such complex things!!! … WOW!!! …
… hope you had a great time POKE-ing on da BEEg Island …
… I had a POKE-less weekend myself …
… Have a Good One Errr-One!!!
February 16th, 2010 at 11:01 am
It's "fat Dews-day" ... malasadas up!
February 16th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Yup yup, was one holiday so I forgive you beej. Nah!
Good fo catch up and cruise with you da oddah night dewz!
February 17th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
I know I one day late, but....you go Waipahu! Honowaians represent!
...now where's my leftover donut?.......
February 17th, 2010 at 10:55 pm
hey was up honowai people was it fun? man whats good about dis article is that people should be careful when driving because students might get hit when the pedestrians people aren't there.
February 17th, 2010 at 10:56 pm
The traffic there is really bad. I almost died because this car almost hit me while I was walking to school. Good thing the Robotics Team is going to make a difference.
February 17th, 2010 at 10:56 pm
Honowai Robotek, Honowai Elementary thanks you for all your hard work. We really need to stop Traffic on Honowai Street because last year a kindergartener got hit while crossing the road and the car did not see the child. So we really need to make a difference.
February 17th, 2010 at 10:57 pm
Honowai I'm happy that you guys are doing this to stop speeding on Honowai street . Its not safe to see speeding cars hitting someone or something on the road. If you guys do stop speeding on Honowai street, then it would be a lot easier for us to cross the road and be safer.
February 17th, 2010 at 10:57 pm
Hey whats up it's very cool for you guys to step up and help Honowai. Hope that people will agree with us about the ways you guys come up with ways to slow down cars and finally teach them a good lesson about speeding.
February 17th, 2010 at 10:58 pm
Keep up the good work. I love Honowai. Traffic is really bad. Try to help! I hate the traffic because people might get hit by many cars. I hate the people speeding;make a difference by stopping them! Please help the kids at Honowai.
February 17th, 2010 at 10:58 pm
Good job Honowai and keep up the good work! It's good that you are trying to put a stop to speeding traffic. Also good job trying to convince Nester Garcia to put police units at Honowai street to stop the speeders.
February 17th, 2010 at 10:58 pm
hey was up Honowai people, was it fun? it's great that you guys are steping up with the traffic. Man whats good about this article is that people should be careful when driving because students might get hit when the pedestrians people aren't there.
February 17th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
Traffic and speeding is bad because you can hurt little kids. You should watch where you are going and not speed. You can get pulled over by the police.
February 17th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
hey was up Honowai people. It's great that you guys are steping up with the traffic. Whats good about this article is that people should be careful when driving because students might get hit when the pedestrians people aren't there.
February 17th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
Keep up the good work! You guys are doing a great job.honowai is the best .Speeding is getting worse. There are cars that are speeding a lot. Mostly people are getting hit. Please try to help stop the speeding that has been going on at honowai.
February 17th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
Thank goodness they are doing this project because cars keep on speeding on Honowai Street. Speeding cars injured three students. We should stop speeding cars because more and more people might get hurt.
February 17th, 2010 at 11:00 pm
Yo yo robotek homies good job on the project .We really need it on honowai
street so students don't get ran over and cars don't get into accidents . Thank you for your hard work and keep it up.
February 17th, 2010 at 11:34 pm
I would like to thank the people who cares' about kids walking to school ,and how we can make a difference in our neighborhood about being safe drivers.Stop speeding on Honowai street so we can be safe. Drive safe don't speed go the speed limit.
February 17th, 2010 at 11:34 pm
HONOWAI IS SO SMART because they have ideas on how to stop the cars from driving fast. Stop lights are good ideas because they slow the cars.
They are going to put two bright yellow pedestrian signs are good because crosswalk. Speed limit in front of Honowai Street so cars won't speed anymore.
February 18th, 2010 at 2:29 am
It is a great idea because I saw a speeding car coming down and then it crashed into another car.
February 18th, 2010 at 2:30 am
We are glad you guys and girls want to stop the speeding by Honowai.
I will be there supporting you guys on thursday the 25th.
I hope we can stop the speeding by honowai.
'' Have a good one''
February 18th, 2010 at 2:30 am
Hey the robotics team is making a difference with speeders on honowai street stop speeders. They can bang a kid or a parent......
February 18th, 2010 at 2:31 am
I think that it is a great idea that you guys are trying to help on Honowai street. I have seen that there are some police cars driving around once in a while. That means that there are less cars speeding and kids will feel safer going to school. I hope to see you guys at the Filipino community center.
February 18th, 2010 at 2:31 am
You guys are the best for supporting honowai.
''Chee Hoo''
February 18th, 2010 at 2:31 am
This is a great idea. I almost got hit by a car myself. Except I was lucky. So these Honowai students are really helpful for the safety of our school. I appreciate all their hard work for letting the word out to everybody.Keep up the good work!!
February 18th, 2010 at 2:32 am
Thank you guys for trying to stop this traffic. You guys are the best
I will be there on thursday the 25th
February 18th, 2010 at 2:32 am
It is a great idea because I saw a speeding car coming down Honowai street and then it crashed into another car. Also a 1st grader got hit by a car in 2007. I think good job Honowai Robotek team I think it is a great idea.
February 18th, 2010 at 2:32 am
I think it is a good idea because their is people getting hurt. Keep up the good work.
I think this is a good website because so kids don't get hurt and go to the hospital. Keep doing good.
February 18th, 2010 at 2:33 am
Its a good idea to stop cars because this school can lose another student In 2008 my friend was hit from a speeding car on honowai street.So the honowai student Went to the hospital.
February 18th, 2010 at 2:33 am
I think that this project is fantastic!!!! I almost got hit by a car and now that they done this project i have not almost got hit by a car now.
February 18th, 2010 at 2:33 am
The Honowai Robotek is a smart group of students that help our community slow down cars that are speeding and almost hitting people. It is because of the Honowai Robotek team that we are safe in this community from getting hit by speeding cars.
February 18th, 2010 at 2:33 am
I think the idea of police watching the road is a good idea because not much police watch the street for speeding drivers. The robotek team is doing a great job coming up with ideas to make the roads safer for kids.
I think we need more police men and a sign to help the students cross the road and not get banged from speed drivers. The past 5th graders are trying to help. Like making signs.
February 18th, 2010 at 2:34 am
I think it's a really great idea that the Honowai robotek is trying to stop the speeding cars. This is a good idea because if it wasn't for the robotek team more kids will get hit. One time I saw a little boy get hit by a speeding car.
February 18th, 2010 at 2:43 am
Good job Honowai Robotek students!!! It would be very bad if another student got injured by a car accident near Honowai. Now that there will be more signs on Honowai street, the students will feel and be more safe while walking to and from school.
February 18th, 2010 at 2:43 am
Good job to help the community its like some hero's trying to help, and a bit of help can help anyone.Also this is a good example of helping is that everyone needs to be safe .Also you let some people know whats happening to help .Good job Honowai robotics you did a good job.Remember never stop helping.
February 18th, 2010 at 2:43 am
I like this article because it talks about students speaking up for their own safety. Nice job Honowai Robotek team! Students are getting more safe every day because of you. Keep up the good work!
February 18th, 2010 at 2:44 am
What I thought of this artical Is that It's cool for you guys to step up to the table and try your best ! At all times I really hope that I will stop the cars from speeding on Honowai Street,and I really hope that that you guys can really do a great job to teach these speeders not to speed.
February 18th, 2010 at 2:44 am
I thought this article was so awesome because to see my best friends up there supporting our schools robotics team doesn't just make me happy but others around. I am really proud of are schools robotics team because they have been through so much and I just want to tell them that it was all worth It. so keep It up robotics team and stay strong. okay peace out you guys.
February 18th, 2010 at 2:47 am
Good job Honowai I wish they stop the speeding cars because I don't like when children get hurt and people go to school early and that's when a lot of cars are speeding.
February 18th, 2010 at 2:48 am
I think this is a great idea because a few kids from Honowai Elementary got hurt from people who speeds in Honowai street. This should be required at Honowai , so that kids from honowai wont get hurt from people that speed.
Good job:) robotics, keep on helping Honowai :DD
February 18th, 2010 at 2:48 am
It is really great that students at Honowai Elementary School went to Community College and tell over 200 students from High School that they want to have flashing lights to stop speeding. I think that they should have flashing lights to keep the children safe and healthy.
February 18th, 2010 at 2:48 am
This is the best article because they are helping to help stop speeding. Kids at Honowai is getting banged. They are not supposed to go more than the speed limit. The speed limit is 25 mph. The Robotek team is trying to help tell the people at Honowai to stop speeding. There are more than 2 people that got hit by a car. There was no residents seeing cops stop the speeding. The speeders can just speed easily.
February 18th, 2010 at 2:48 am
Go honowai robotek team ! Keep doing your best on stopping speeding cars at honowai . All students want to be safe. Honowai robotek can make a difference with this problem. They know what they are doing and they're doing their best ! GO GO GO !
February 18th, 2010 at 2:48 am
I think Honowai Robotek is right because I have almost been ran over by a car at the pedistrian crossing because of a speeding car. I also think that they can put the two signs that says "School ahead" or "Children Crossing". Our community should be safe for schools and people.
February 18th, 2010 at 2:49 am
I like this article because speeding cars is a big problem. I think Honowai needs more traffic lights/flashing lights because the road leads to the freeway,and you will need a lot of speed to get in the freeway.Kids will get hurt this way, by speeding cars.
February 18th, 2010 at 2:50 am
I think this article is really awesome and it was really interesting. And our school is really proud because they had came up with the best idea for our school. And they share there idea for 200 kids.
February 18th, 2010 at 2:56 am
This a good idea because younger keiki from Honowai Robotek are trying to make a difference on Honowai Street. The principal and vice-principal of Honowai Elementary met with the Department of Transportation to resolve the issue of the speeding cars in front of the school, but the Department of Transportation didn't do anything. The Honowai Robotek met with Councilman Nestor Garcia, Representative Henry Aquino, Senator Clarence Nishihara, the Waipahu Community Neighborhood Board, and forty families from Honowai Elementary School, and now they are making a difference=D
February 18th, 2010 at 5:10 am
#
I think this is a great idea because a few kids from Honowai Elementary got hurt from people who speeds in Honowai street. This should be required at Honowai , so that kids from honowai wont get hurt from people that speed.
GOOD JOB ROBOTICS U GUYS ROCK =P!!!!!!!!!!
February 18th, 2010 at 5:11 am
#
I think this is a great idea because a few kids from Honowai Elementary got hurt from people who speeds in Honowai street. This should be required at Honowai , so that kids from honowai wont get hurt from people that speed.
GOOD JOB ROBOTICS,U GUYS ROCK =)!!!!!!!!!!
February 18th, 2010 at 5:11 am
Keep up the good work you guys ! Although it's not getting safe out on the street.All nine of you guys can do it because many people can get really hurt.
February 18th, 2010 at 5:11 am
I think it is good they are trying to make a difference in our Waipahu community.
I am proud of them for trying to keep the students safe by bringing up the issue of speeding cars on Honowai street. Keep up the good work Honowai Robotek team!
February 18th, 2010 at 5:11 am
This is an awesome idea because Honowai students are going to be safe from speeding cars.
Those students are really going to make a difference in the future for Honowai.
I hope in the future that the solutions will come true.
We appreciate what you guys are doing for us, Honowai.
February 18th, 2010 at 5:11 am
I think this is good thing. One reason why is that many people get hurt and I want them to make a good difference so many kids can be safe.There is a lot of innocent people that cross the road and sometimes get hit by a car. It also helps the people who drive in the car slow down for the other people to cross.
February 18th, 2010 at 5:11 am
February 18th, 2010 at 5:12 am
Honowai ROCKS!
.....The Robotek team is great! Keep it up robotek, Help keep our school safe.
February 18th, 2010 at 5:12 am
I think these Honowai students set an example for all the elementary schools in Oahu because all of the students made a presentation. The presentation was about what goes on Honowai street and how to make it safe. All the elementary schools should follow the same advice Honowai used.
February 18th, 2010 at 5:12 am
Good job Honowai robotek team because we don't want another kid to get injured in a car accident.
February 18th, 2010 at 5:12 am
Hey Honowai, the robotek are doing a good job. we really need these kids to help people to be safe in honowai st. A lot of people could get hurt without the robotek. Kids could get hurt because most of the kids walk to school. So, thanks for your help.
February 18th, 2010 at 5:13 am
Waipahu robotek is awesome for some little kids. Smart too so I think people would actually listen to what you guys have to say. I also think that finding a way to stop all the speeding on Honowaii Street is good because I remember that someone got hurt last year, I think. Hope it works :]
February 18th, 2010 at 5:13 am
Keep up the good work! I really hope that you could put a stop to the speeding.
Also I congratulate you for your struggles in trying to keep us safe.
February 18th, 2010 at 8:42 am
Hey whats up people. It's cool for you guys to step up to the plate and trying your best.Hope that people will agree with the way you guys will stop the cars from speeding on Honowai, and hope that we'll teach speeders a lesson.
February 18th, 2010 at 8:43 am
Hey whats up people. It's cool for you guys to step up to the plate and trying your best.Hope that people will agree with the way you guys will stop the cars from speeding on Honowai Street, and hope that we'll teach speeders a lesson.
February 18th, 2010 at 9:42 am
I think this is a good idea because from the last five year children got hurt.
Now one of the three children could be very young.
Now our school made a good idea.
February 19th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
Holy Cripes! Thanks for all the feedback gang!