Students at HMA Windward Campus in Kailua, Hawaii, are given opportunities to reach out to their community in multiple ways. When they weren’t able to attend churches this year to perform Education Sabbath, they provided virtual performances to their constituent churches instead. Students came to school dressed up in their Education Sabbath attire and presented scripture and music digitally. Their performances were shared on social media and at church. Printed: September 2021 - Page 1 of 13 Article reprint from Adventistfaith.com on September 2021 2021© Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Copyright, All Right Reserved. Students at HMA Windward Campus have also participated in providing food and clothing to some of the homeless communities on their island. After going through their closets as an early “spring cleaning,” they brought bags and boxes full of clothing to school, which was later delivered to a homeless community. Other students have spent afternoons loading food into vehicles for those in need. HMA Windward Campus strives to be a shining light in their community, whether they are making encouraging cards for emergency workers, donating to Toys 4 Tots, or lending a helping hand to classmates. To learn more about HMA Windward Campus, click here. Printed: September 2021 - Page 2 of 13 Article reprint from Adventistfaith.com on September 2021 2021© Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Copyright, All Right Reserved. Printed: September 2021 - Page 3 of 13 Article reprint from Adventistfaith.com on September 2021 2021© Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Copyright, All Right Reserved. Living in paradise is a common phrase when referring to life in Hawaii—however there are underlying difficulties with the education of young people which can make it less of a paradise. Many high schoolers in Hawaii do not pursue higher education due to financial constraints, family responsibilities, and even fear of living outside of the Hawaiian Islands. Thus, Hawaiian Mission Academy (HMA) is seeking to bring career pathways to its students to encourage and bring hope to its students. The school currently pilots a Medical Assistant (MA) program which started at the beginning of the semester using current staff and medical professionals in the community. In the past months, students have learned various Printed: September 2021 - Page 4 of 13 Article reprint from Adventistfaith.com on September 2021 2021© Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Copyright, All Right Reserved. medical terminology, how to take vitals and blood pressure, and how to give injections. HMA hopes to conduct a mock health fair with the student body—with the MA students leading the way—before the end of the year. In the coming years, the school will seek to add other career pathways to continue to build this program. To learn more about Hawaiian Mission Academy, click here. Printed: September 2021 - Page 5 of 13 Article reprint from Adventistfaith.com on September 2021 2021© Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Copyright, All Right Reserved. Printed: September 2021 - Page 6 of 13 Article reprint from Adventistfaith.com on September 2021 2021© Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Copyright, All Right Reserved. Adventist Malama Elementary School (AMES), located on the Leeward side of O’ahu, about an hour west of Honolulu, is a unique school in that 80 percent of the students are from other than Seventh-day Adventist homes. As a “missionary” school, teachers have the opportunity to introduce students and their families to the love of Jesus. “We have been blessed during the difficulties of this ongoing pandemic with the patience and loyalty of our students, families, and friends,” shared Cathie Workman, principal at AMES. While the teachers and staff frequently remind the students to “remember social distancing”, the little ones have adapted by discovering new adventures, such as catching lizards, chalk drawing, or playing six-feet-apart tag. Even during this social distancing, the students remind their teachers how happy they are to be face-to-face every day. The school’s remote learners can’t wait to rejoin when the number of COVID cases are lower. For the staff, the best part of every school day is at worship, when students ask for prayer requests for their families and give thanks to Jesus that they are safe with their friends at AMES. Even though their school day is split between academics, disinfecting and constant social distancing reminders, they feel blessed to be Christian teachers—especially now—and grateful for another day to be useful tools in God’s toolbox. Learn more about Adventist Malama Elementary School: Learn More Printed: September 2021 - Page 7 of 13 Article reprint from Adventistfaith.com on September 2021 2021© Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Copyright, All Right Reserved. Printed: September 2021 - Page 8 of 13 Article reprint from Adventistfaith.com on September 2021 2021© Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Copyright, All Right Reserved. One of the most unexpected outcomes of COVID in an in-person academy setting is the uncertainty and hesitancy in social interactions from students. Parents and media have taught young people to social distance, to limit conversation to less than 15 minutes, and to angle their bodies away from each other’s food. The dilemma for a young person then becomes to weigh the risks of having much-needed social interaction with others or COVID-safe isolation. Hawaiian Mission Academy’s ASHMA (Associated Students of Hawaiian Mission Academy) has combated this dilemma by hosting in-school social activities where students can compete against one another in spirit week, online games, movies in which class activities have been woven, classroom decoration competitions, and more. With the success of these activities, HMA has seen relationships grow and develop in a COVID-safe environment. It is their goal to foster the love of God in each of their students and lay the foundation of life-long friendships. Learn more about Monterey Bay Academy: Learn More Printed: September 2021 - Page 9 of 13 Article reprint from Adventistfaith.com on September 2021 2021© Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Copyright, All Right Reserved. Printed: September 2021 - Page 10 of 13 Article reprint from Adventistfaith.com on September 2021 2021© Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Copyright, All Right Reserved. In mid-October, Hawaiian Mission Academy’s spirit week included a tourist attire theme in honor of the reopening of transpacific flights. One of the most unexpected outcomes of COVID in an in-person academy setting is the uncertainty and hesitancy in social interactions from students. Parents and media have taught young people to social distance, to limit conversation to less than 15 minutes, and to angle their bodies away from each other’s food. The dilemma for a young person then becomes to weigh the risks of having much-needed social interaction with others or COVID-safe isolation. Hawaiian Mission Academy’s ASHMA (Associated Students of Hawaiian Mission Academy) has combated this dilemma by hosting in-school social activities where students can compete against one another in spirit week, online games, movies in which class activities have been woven, classroom decoration competitions, and more. With the success of these activities, HMA has seen relationships grow and develop in a COVID-safe environment. It is their goal to foster the love of God in each of their students and lay the foundation of life-long friendships. Learn more about what HMA students are up to by following them on Facebook: Stay Connected In mid-March, Oahu Youth and Young Adults were able to gather online without skipping a beat. Although it was different, the technology and practice of using Zoom and other online platforms wasn’t new. Together, they coped with the swift changes and isolation — through prayer, Bible study, and bonding online. They decided to gather online every Tuesday to check in with each other, calling it “Talk-o Tuesdays.” When the restrictions were lifted, they were so grateful to gather, both virtually and face-to-face, staying within state guidelines. They began to gather outdoors in safer spaces and were able to sing, pray, and barbecue while visiting different beaches and parks around the island. When the beaches closed again, they were able to gather in church parking lots and participate in tailgate worship. As of now, they are holding tailgate worship in the parking lot of the Honolulu Central church. Although they are members of different churches, they are still one church body, one Ohana, in Hawaii. The young people report it is exciting to be a part of a thriving ministry that is Holy Spirit-driven. Learn more about the Hawaii Conference: Learn More Printed: September 2021 - Page 11 of 13 Article reprint from Adventistfaith.com on September 2021 2021© Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Copyright, All Right Reserved. Hawaiian Mission Academy is back to in-classroom instruction. They had adjusted to online learning from March 13 to the close of the last school year, but over the summer months, it was decided that classes could resume, earlier than normal. Students and staff have transitioned beautifully to the new guidelines and school started on Aug. 3. Every morning, students are required to come into the school office and get their temperature checked by a thermal camera, nicknamed “TERK” by the students. When they arrive in the classroom, desks are spread out according to CDC guidelines. The staff sprays the desks with disinfectant, while students wipe their own desk down with the cloth they received that morning. Chapels are currently still being conducted virtually through Zoom, with each class remaining in their homeroom. Even though school events, such as vespers, socials, and sports are not yet approved by the city and county, students are happy that most of their school routine has been approved.