Brookfield Homes Hawai’i made the wishes of seven Kalaheo Elementary School teachers come true through its new Holomua (succeed) education program. Teachers were gifted equipment, supplies, and other resources to enhance their students’ learning experiences in the classroom. Brookfield Homes Hawai’i President Jeffery Prostor made a personal visit to each well-deserving teacher’s classroom to grant his or her wish on Friday, October 13, 2006.

“In addition to our core home building business, Brookfield Homes Hawaii believes that being good stewards of the land and actively making a positive difference in communities is part of our business and we hope to achieve some of these goals through Holomua,” said Prostor. “Teachers are making a real difference in the lives of our keiki (children). Holomua literally means to succeed, and through this program Brookfield Homes Hawai’i is helping to provide our teachers with much-needed resources that will allow our children to continue to succeed.”

Brookfield Homes Hawai‘i invited Kalaheo Elementary School teachers to submit their wishes for resources they were unable to purchase with their discretionary funds. The following wishes were granted:

Kindergarten teachers Sulyn Hashimoto and Sharlyn Kanna each wished for a digital camera. They wrote that having a camera would make hands-on projects fun for their students since they would be able to take, view, and print pictures immediately. Brookfield Homes Hawai’i purchased a digital camera, photo printer and a supply of photo paper to be shared between their classrooms.

Terry Sakuda received a printer and ink for her kindergarten class. She wanted her students to be able to print projects with the use of today’s technology, and the gift also completed the computer station that the kindergarten class purchased with proceeds from a past fundraiser.

First grade teacher Bonnie Kakinami wished for and received a collator and electric stapler for her class. In her wish, Kakinami noted that since new workbooks or textbooks are expensive to purchase for each student many teachers purchase just one and make copies of the necessary material and create their own booklets. This gift will allow her and other teachers to make booklets more quickly and efficiently.

Clyde Hashimoto received six Safe-T Wind Up measuring tools for his third grade class. Hashimoto takes his class to the school’s cornfield and also to his family’s taro farm to apply the knowledge and skills they’re learning in math and science. Using these measuring tools, students will be able to measure the perimeter and area of these fields.

Diane Agee asked for an Alpha Smart Word Processor and accessories for her writing enrichment class for third-, fourth- and fifth-graders. Agee lost all of her word processing equipment when her classroom burned down in a fire last year. In her wish, she wrote that students who do not have a computer or word processor at home to complete their assignments are at a huge disadvantage. This gift will allow those students to take the word processor home to complete their homework on time and make learning enjoyable again.

Special education teacher Melody Ramsay also received a digital camera, photo printer, and photo paper. Ramsay said the digital camera would allow her students to take photos, make photo books, and practice their writing skills. She especially wanted to have the camera to take photos of the keiki on holidays when they dress up, which is especially timely with Halloween right around the corner.

Brookfield Homes Hawai’i will continue to grant wishes to Kalaheo Elementary School teachers on a regular basis. “We look forward to growing the Holomua program to other schools across the islands,” added Prostor.

Brookfield Homes Hawai’i has two neighborhoods under development on Kaua’i, including Nihilani at Princeville Resort and PiliMai at Poipu.
About Brookfield Homes Hawai’i

Award-winning Brookfield Homes Hawai’i is a venture between local Hawai’i ownership and one of North America’s larger home-building companies, Brookfield Homes. The company is renowned for its experience, innovation and deep commitment to the communities in which it builds. Brookfield Homes operates in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, greater Los Angeles and Washington, DC area.