PAST EVENTS

2021 TRANSITION CENTERS BEST PRACTICES CONFERENCE - A 3-day virtual conference

march 3 - 5, 2021
Via Zoom

The Hawaii Business Roundtable, in partnership with the K. Mark Takai Foundation, and the Hawaii Department of Education, held it’s fourth annual Transition Centers Best Practices Conference. The purpose of the conference is to create a community of support for schools interested in creating, enhancing, and sustaining transition centers on their campuses for newly enrolled students. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the conference was moved to a virtual platform. This year a major focus of the conference was on how our Transition Centers are continuing to operate under the pandemic’s restrictions. One of the silver linings of this pandemic is the learning and using of virtual platforms. School teams of administrators, teachers, support staff, students and community partners were encouraged to attend. Participants engaged with Hawaii DOE school teams of staff and students currently operating transition centers through social distancing.

This year the Best Practices Conference featured school presenters from Mōkapu Elementary School, Ewa Makai Middle School, Admiral Arthur W. Radford High School and Leilehua High School. Watch their presentations below.

Day 1 - Wednesday, March 3, 2021 - Mokapu Elementary school

The Transition Center at Mōkapu Elementary School was created to provide a space where our new students/`ohana can feel the "Aloha" Spirit. We care about the well-being of each of our students and their families. Our logo includes a picture of ocean waves. It represents the idea of resiliency through transition. We understand the stress of transitions and want to encourage each student to continue through each change in life, whether it be moving to a new school in a new state or moving from elementary to middle school. The center is designed and led by Aloha Ambassadors from grades 3-6. Our mission is to care for and support our students and families by providing an exciting and informative place to assist with all transitions and lessen the stress of moving to a new location.

Day 2 - Thursday, March 4, 2021 - Ewa Makai Middle School

The Ewa Makai Middle School Takai Transition Center (TTC) provides a space for students new to Hawai’i or Ewa Makai to be introduced to the school and the culture of the Aloha State. The TTC offers a gathering place for returning and new students alike to meet, get to know one another, and have a safe space in school to unwind a bit. Our TTC also provides peer-to-peer support through our student Aloha Ambassador Program. Aloha Ambassadors ensure that every new student that joins the Ewa Makai Ohana is welcomed, knows the ins and outs of their new school all while making new friends. Throughout the school year Aloha Ambassadors organize lunch bunches and become a resource for new and existing students, all while developing their leadership skills through community service projects, project management, and team building – Ambassadors truly champion leading with kindness!

day 3 - Friday, March 5, 2021 - ADMIRAL ARTHUR W. RADFORD HIGH SCHOOL & Leilehua High School

Radford High School’s student population is approximately 70% military family members and is extremely transient. To meet the unique needs of the transitory population the Transition Center was established to play an integral part in helping students adjust as smoothly as possible to a new school and culture. Students are taught about the opportunities on campus and in the community as well as provided with a Lunch Buddy to help them meet other students and get connected to the school. Our Vision of 'Malama I Na Haumana' is committed to providing a caring, challenging, culturally enriched environment that develops responsible, independent, lifelong learners.

Leilehua High School strives to help all new students transition as smoothly as possible. The Aloha Transition Center welcomes every new student on their first day and provides a New Student Orientation which consists of a campus tour, school resources, testing, bus information, school ID card, food, restaurants and things to do in Hawaii, “pidgin,” introduction to clubs, sports, and coaches, school policies and procedures, and we also provide a snack and lunch on the first day! Our mission at the Aloha Transition Center at LHS is to support and help meet the unique needs of a transitioning population, help foster peer-to-peer connections, and be an advocate for these students.

Thank you to our continuing sponsors!

2020 TRANSITION CENTERS BEST PRACTICES CONFERENCE

february 20, 2020
Pomaika’i Ballrooms at Dole Cannery - Iwilei

In a joint effort with the Department of Education, Military partners and the K. Mark Takai Foundation, the Hawaii Business Roundtable held its 3rd Annual Transition Centers Best Practices Conference on Thursday, February 20, 2020 at the Pomaikai Ballrooms.

The purpose of the Transition Centers Best Practices Conference is to provide school participants with the resources and information they may need to create, enhance and sustain a successful transition center. Although the Transition Centers were created to support Military students, they have expanded their roles to support a large segment of local children.

This year, the conference hit a record number of participants from our public schools with a total of 260 attendees. The work that is being done at Transition Centers to support Hawaii’s Military Children and Families is being recognized beyond Hawaii, participants from Alaska, Japan, Okinawa and Korea attended the conference.

Conference attendees engaged with past school presenters who were invited to participate in student-led resource tables to share their resources and promising practices.

Ewa Makai Middle School (Copy)

Ewa Makai Middle School

From left: Hailey Liu, Malina Makus, Aiden Walsh, Chayreen Ancheta and Jyra Pasamonte

1SG Samuel K. Solomon Elementary School (Copy)

1SG Samuel K. Solomon Elementary School

From Left: Peyton Cryder, Harmony Sutton, Lilianna De La Garza, Zophia Cabrales and Makayla Evans

Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary School (Copy)

Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary School

From left: Alexis Stroeh, Nathaniel Chavez, Parent Community Network Coordinator Kristin Vanak, Naveah Gantt and Justin Culbertson

Admiral Arthur W. Radford High School (Copy)

Admiral Arthur W. Radford High School

From left: Nylah Hill, Chase Daack, Kaelyn Mole, Jory Daack and Trinity Gardner

From left: Principal James Sunday, Sharene Brown, Assistant Superintendent Alisa Bender, Lt. Gen. Mike Minihan, Sami Takai and Principal Jason Nakamoto

Leilehua High School (Copy)

Leilehua High School

From left: Hannah Logsdon, Alia Loder, Juan Garcia, Gianne Duquez and Jamie Okiyama

Lehua Elementary School (Copy)

Lehua Elementary School

Madison Whitehurst, Isaiah Cabinatan, Principal Alvan Fukuhara, Hailie Turner and Laila Cabanit

Mokapu Elementary School (Copy)

Mokapu Elementary School

From left: MacKenzie Hampton, Julie Rollins, Sara Roper, Emmaleigh Martin and Mallory Lyons

Gustav H. Webling Elementary School (Copy)

Gustav H. Webling Elementary School

From left: Parent Community Network Coordinator Christine Haramura, Melia Kinimaka, Jaylin Haramura and Taylor Cockett

Kalaheo High School (Copy)

Kalaheo High School

From left: Hope Carpenter, Angel Lobaton, Hailey Lugo, Alika Pocaigue and Maddix Tallis

Photos by Anthony Consillio courtesy of MidWeek

2020 Resource Tables
- Admiral Arthur W. Radford High School*
- Ewa Makai Middle School**
- Kalaheo High School**
- Leilehua High School*
- Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary School*
- Sergeant Samuel K. Solomon Elementary School**
- Hawaii 3Rs
- HIDOE Office of Student Support Services
- HIDOE Military School Liaison Officers

*Presented at the 2018 Conference
**Presented at the 2019 Conference

This year the Best Practices Conference featured school presenters from Lehua Elementary School, Lt Horace Meek Hickam Elementary School and Kailua Intermediate School. Followed by an open panel Q&A session for Students, Administrators and Transition Center Coordinators. The student mentors and faculty advisors shared their best practices to promote and improve Transition programs at primary and secondary level schools.

FUTURE FOCUS V
SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE:A FOCUS ON EFFORTS TO COMBAT SEA LEVEL RISE AND OTHER CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES THROUGH SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, CYBERSECURITY AND INNOVATION

October 15 & 16, 2019
Hawaii Convention Center

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PROGRAM

2019 TRANSITION CENTERS BEST PRACTICES CONFERENCE

march 28, 2019
Pomaika’i Ballrooms at Dole Cannery - Iwilei

Working with the Department of Education, the K. Mark Takai Foundation and our Military partners, The Hawaii Business Roundtable held the second Transition Centers Best Practices conference on March 28, 2019 at the Pomaikai Ballrooms.

Major General Michael Minihan, Chief of Staff at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command kicked off the conference with welcome remarks. (Copy)

Major General Michael Minihan, Chief of Staff at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command kicked off the conference with welcome remarks.

More than 220 participants from our public schools and military partners attended the conference. (Copy)

More than 220 participants from our public schools and military partners attended the conference.

Solomon Elementary students shared why they choose to become Aloha Ambassadors. (Copy)

Solomon Elementary students shared why they choose to become Aloha Ambassadors.

Leilehua Aloha Ambassadors returned to the conference this year to answer participant questions at their resource tables. (Copy)

Leilehua Aloha Ambassadors returned to the conference this year to answer participant questions at their resource tables.

Kalaheo High School talks about the redesign of their transition services - a hub for all students with unique features and a curriculum to help new students! (Copy)

Kalaheo High School talks about the redesign of their transition services - a hub for all students with unique features and a curriculum to help new students!

Superintendent Dr. Christina Kishimoto with students from Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary School. This year, they had a resource table! (Copy)

Superintendent Dr. Christina Kishimoto with students from Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary School. This year, they had a resource table!

Radford High School returned to the conference this year with lots of resources at their resource table. (Copy)

Radford High School returned to the conference this year with lots of resources at their resource table.

Last year's presenters from Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary School, Leilehua High School, and Radford High School participate in a Panel. (Copy)

Last year's presenters from Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary School, Leilehua High School, and Radford High School participate in a Panel.

Administrators and Students Panel: Leilehua High School, Radford High School, and Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary School. (Copy)

Administrators and Students Panel: Leilehua High School, Radford High School, and Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary School.

Transition Centers in our public schools were designed to support our newly arrived military-dependent students. These Transition Centers are making a difference in the lives of our military children and families. Over time, the Transition Centers have expanded their role and are providing the same safety net for all school children who have transient living circumstances. This expanded role has resulted in more schools developing Transition Centers to help their students.

This year the Best Practices Conference featured presenters from Solomon Elementary School, Ewa Makai Middle School, and Kalaheo High School. The student mentors and faculty advisors shared their best practices to promote and improve Transition programs at primary and secondary level schools.

FUTURE FOCUS IV
Hawai‘i Innovation Initiative’s Forum on Sustainable Agriculture, Food Security, Cybersecurity & More

October 10 & 11, 2018
Hawai’i convention Center

A conference on emerging technologies, federal resources and opportunities available in Hawai‘i’s growing innovation ecosystem.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PROGRAM

Mission

To provide Hawai‘i entrepreneurs, businesses, educators, innovators, researchers and students:
1. with an introduction to federal, national and international resources available to support their innovation activities
2. with a venue to showcase their innovation activities and research to an audience from Hawai‘i and beyond
To develop an awareness and interest in the innovation start-up community in Hawai‘i as a viable investment opportunity
To create a level of awareness in the community of the innovation economy in Hawai‘i and its potential to become a major economic sector

Attendees

Entrepreneurs, researchers, UH students, startup business owners
Government, community leaders and educators
Out of state leaders and investors

Potential Speakers/Participants

Federal Agencies
National Companies
Funders/Investors
International Companies

Goal

The goal of this two-day conference is to invite government leaders to share their expertise and resources, and to engage researchers, scientists, private sector innovators and technology accelerators - to foster greater collaboration in research and in technology transfer and commercialization efforts in Hawai‘i.

2018 TRANSITION CENTERS BEST PRACTICES CONFERENCE

MARCH 29, 2018
Hawai’i okinawa center

“Transition Center prepare and provide a “safety net” for all transitioning students by offering resources, information, and support to ensure academic achievement in a safe and nurturing environment.”

The Hawaii Business Roundtable and the State of Hawaii's Department of Education held its first annual Transition Centers Best Practices Conference in March 2018. Take a look at the video below for highlights from the conference.

About 14,000 children enrolled in Hawaii’s public school system are military-dependent children - the highest per capita in the nation. Joint Venture Education Forum (JVEF), a partnership between the United States Pacific Command (PACOM) and the Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE), work together to ensure relocation for military-dependent children receive the support they need during their school transition.

A few of the Transition Center Conference speakers. (Copy)

A few of the Transition Center Conference speakers.

(Left to right) Principal of Radford High School James Sunday, President of the Mark Takai Foundation Sami Takai, HIDOE Assistant Superintendent Dann Carlson, and Executive Director of the Hawaii Business Roundtable Gary Kai.

Student ambassadors from Radford High School present their transition center program (Copy)

Student ambassadors from Radford High School present their transition center program

Radford High School student ambassadors kickoff their breakout session with an icebreaker. (Copy)

Radford High School student ambassadors kickoff their breakout session with an icebreaker.

Leilehua High School student ambassadors share their transition center’s program with intrigued listeners. (Copy)

Leilehua High School student ambassadors share their transition center’s program with intrigued listeners.

Students from Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary School talked about the Anchored4Life program. (Copy)

Students from Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary School talked about the Anchored4Life program.

Anchored4Life is a Transition and Resiliency Club designed to help both military and civilian youth at Pearl Harbor Kai. It is student-led and encourages leadership within team leaders who support their fellow peers.

Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary School student ambassador shares her experience about the Anchored4Life program. (Copy)

Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary School student ambassador shares her experience about the Anchored4Life program.

Student ambassadors from Pearl Harbor Kai. (Copy)

Student ambassadors from Pearl Harbor Kai.

Kapolei Middle School student ambassadors. (Copy)

Kapolei Middle School student ambassadors.

Kapolei Middle School students talked about their transition experience and being part of the Wingman Program. (Copy)

Kapolei Middle School students talked about their transition experience and being part of the Wingman Program.

Kapolei’s Wingmen Program is a team of students that work together just like a flight of military aircraft, looking out for each other, supporting each other, striving for excellence together and having a blast doing it!

The conference kicked off with opening remarks from United States Senator Mazie Hirono. (Copy)

The conference kicked off with opening remarks from United States Senator Mazie Hirono.

LTG Bryan P. Fenton, Deputy Commander of USPACOM speaks from personal experiences working with Transition Centers in Hawaii. (Copy)

LTG Bryan P. Fenton, Deputy Commander of USPACOM speaks from personal experiences working with Transition Centers in Hawaii.

Educators from across the island engage in the history, overview, and reasons why transition centers were started. (Copy)

Educators from across the island engage in the history, overview, and reasons why transition centers were started.

Newly arrived military-dependent students are introduced to School Transition Centers to help them acclimate into their school community. The Centers conduct student orientation and campus tours for the students and their families; allowing the students to express their concerns, ask questions, familiarize themselves with school policies, services, and get to know the staff.

Transitioning to a new school can be a challenge for many children. Leaving everything they are accustomed to and the uncertainty of making new friends can take a toll, emotionally and socially. These centers provide a safe and stable foundation for all students. As a way to make students feel comfortable, they are able to have their lunch in the center until they are well adjusted to their routine. In addition, some centers offer peer-to-peer mentoring, where the student is introduced to a peer partner who will help them get acquainted with other students and make new friends.

In 2017, partnerships between Hawaii 3R’s, the Military Affairs Council, the Hawaii Business Roundtable and the Hawaii State Department of Education announced their transition center initiatives will be in honor of late Congressman K. Mark Takai, who was a staunch advocate for Hawaii's students and supporter of military-dependent students throughout his career.

Future transition centers that benefit from this effort will be known as a “Takai Transition Center” and will feature the following pledge.

As a member of the K. Mark Takai Transition Center Network, we:

Understand the challenges that are an inherent part of matriculating into a new and unfamiliar school environment;
Welcome all students transitioning into our school, including military-connected students, and will support and sustain them throughout their time in our school community;
Recognize and honor our military personnel for the contributions and sacrifices they make for our defense and the preservation of our rights, and the sacrifices of our military families to support them;
Value the added richness and experience that students from varied cultural and social backgrounds bring our school community; and
Commit to providing high-quality supports though dedicated resources via the establishment and sustained operation of a transition center on our school campus.