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Cultivating Kindness 15 November 2021

Cultivating Kindness

HDFS prof authors a new book for Hawaiʻi’s keiki

With 1,000 copies sponsored and disseminated by the Hawaiʻi Dept. of Human Services, Office of Youth Services, of a new book by Thao Le, social service and human resource agencies throughout the state will be more equipped to help our keiki with their social-emotional learning and literacy skills. “Akahai” is a creative narrative for encouraging loving kindness among our keiki. It draws inspiration from Aloha, as espoused by the teaching of Native Hawaiian poet and philosopher Aunty Pīlahi Paki, explains Thao of the Dept. of Family and Consumer Sciences, and resonates with the kind seed in each of us.

“The book focuses on akahai, kindness, and encourages keiki to explore what it means to be kind and what is kindness,” she says. “My hope is for it to serve as a useful socio-emotional resource during this pandemic.”

Thao’s intern student, Adam Ting, is the book’s illustrator. Her graduate research assistant Mayuho Kunogi and intern Johnette Funtanilla presented Akahai at the recent Schools of the Future Conference under the socio-emotional learning sector, and are currently developing cultural- and place-based lesson plans.

Several copies are also being provided to Hawaiʻi Dept. of Education resource teachers, one of whom noted, “I enjoyed the cute story so much that I read the book again and again. Akahai is so appropriate and needed nowadays because people are heightened with anxiety and anger, resulting in more selfish and unkind behaviors.”

Pick up your copy of Akahai from Legacy Isle Publishing. Thao is currently working on a related work focusing on humility. She’s also the guest on Wednesdays on Olelo channel 53 to discuss the book.

Stress, Coping, and Aging 13 September 2021

Stress, Coping, and Aging

HDFS contributes a chapter to a widely used reference book

The 9th edition of the highly anticipated Handbook of the Psychology of Aging includes a chapter co-written by Lori Yancura of the Human Development and Family Studies program, part of the Dept. of Family and Consumer Sciences. The chapter, “Stress, Coping, and Aging,”  is an integrative topic that includes the psychological, emotional, and physical aspects of adult development. This is particularly important in Hawaiʻi because the well-being of older adults, who are disproportionately affected by COVID and economic downturns, influences the well-being of our communities here in the Islands. “The Handbook is edited by the top scholars in the field and widely used as a reference,” Lori says. “It is very influential on many aspects of aging research, and an important resource for researchers and practitioners who study older adults around the world.”

She adds, “This contribution will help establish UH as a valued source of expertise on stress and coping in older adults, especially during times such as now when they need our help the most.”

Read more here.

Miller Time 7 June 2021

Miller Time

The Home Garden Network creates a lounge area

No, you can’t crack open a cold one here. But if you’re in Miller Hall or nearby, and need a place to just hang out, then check out “The Korner.” Created by student interns of the Dept. of Family and Consumer Sciences’ Human Development and Family Studies program, The Korner is a free, open space area where students, faculty, and staff can meet new people and create networks, explains Sothy Eng. It’s available for anyone to study, have lunch, or sit and carry fun conversations with friends. “We also designed The Korner to spread the word about HDFS’ Home Garden Network (HGN), a meaningful community program, and all that it does with gardening and healthy lifestyles,” he says.

To build awareness of the lounge, students also made a brief but entertaining WELCOME VIDEO, and invite students to stop by.

“Our favorite part is all the plants that surround the lounge area,” say Emma Castro and Jamie Fujii. “It feels very welcoming and there is even a spray bottle to help water and take care of the plants, too. We hope it will help welcome students back to the UH Mānoa campus in the Fall.”

Spot On 27 May 2021

Spot On

An HDFS undergrad produces a truly great documentary

We’ve all seen it grow with each passing year. And we all know that Hawaiʻi’s houseless crisis isn’t going away anytime soon. But if you care to better understand its root causes – how close some of our friends might be to actually living on the street and how we might prevent it – then check out Bridging the Gap, A short documentary about Hawaiʻi's houseless crisis, by Brooke Fisher. “This project helped me understand the importance of Human Development and Family Studies to support our families and children as a form of preventative work,” says the HDFS undergraduate and worker in mental health and addiction services.

Society, Brooke argues, cannot function effectively and efficiently when such a large percentage of the population is either experiencing homelessness or facing multiple risk factors that lead to this status, such as inadequate wages and the high cost of living. Her hope is viewers will gain a better understanding of this problem to pave a path that will lead to more support for this population. 

“The material I learned in the classroom, combined with the hands-on experience working alongside this population, allowed me to recognize the cause and effect that occurs due to a challenging upbringing,” she says.

“I am so proud of Brooke, who worked tirelessly to create an informative and meaningful film to help us understand the potential root causes of Hawaii's houseless crisis,” adds Sothy Eng. “As she points out, if we don't spend more time investing in our families and our children, we will never be able to overcome this crisis.”       

Watch the full 9-minute Bridging the Gap. This project was funded by UHM's Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP).

Kiley O, HDFS alumni of 2019 1 May 2021

Kiley O, HDFS alumni of 2019

HDFS alumni Kiley is currently an Educational Psychology Masters graduate student. She focuses on the research concepts and statistical techniques that will assist her in program evaluation and other data-related plans. “In my first years before discovering HDFS, I didn’t know what I wanted to do…

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