TESTIMONIES

Below is a selection of testimonies from our growing list of schools, hospitals and non-profit organizations who use our expressive art activity books in their work with youth. Most of these testimonies are from leaders who have been using the books last year and others are from leaders who have received books and are sharing how they plan to use them in the current year.

“Thank you for your partnership in providing each of my students your Discover Series expressive art coloring activity books. These books have been a FANTASTIC resource to help facilitate and teach social emotional learning and are extremely powerful for me as a school psychologist because of the conversations it helped me have with my students. With reflective topics like exploration, growth, and kindness, we learned about ourselves, set goals for the future and set ourselves up for success. We had incredible discussions about identity, cultures, customs and what makes us unique. We talked about how to cultivate confidence and how we could lift others up. The books cultivate balance in our students’ lives by providing them an outlet to use their minds to reflect and tap into their hearts and emotions through creativity and coloring. What a lot of students appreciated about this book was it gave them a space to talk about what was on their mind, their feelings, their goals, their hopes, their fears, their dreams. As a school psychologist, this is one of my favorite tools in my work with my students.”
Adam Parker - School Psychologist
Heritage Elementary School
Denver, Colorado

“Thank you for providing your Discover Maui expressive art books for our youth and families. These books have made a big impact in helping our families heal after the fire. Our community members find light, joy, happiness and love through them. These books have healed children and have had a very big impact on the Adults as well. Thank you again, for sharing you heart, soul and mind to give our community something to remember and up lift us.”
Kapili Akita
Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement
Maui Hawaii

“When children and youth are experiencing something traumatic, they find it difficult to talk about what they are feeling. Creativity allows for a safe way for them to express their emotions and gives us a window in their heart and how to meet them where they are. We appreciate how the reflective questions in your expressive art activity books incorporate mindfulness activities, and really aids in reducing anxiety in a child. It also helps our patients reflect on their experiences, process their emotions, and positively cope during their hospitalization. Your expressive art books are valuable tool we use in helping traumatized children cope with what they are experiencing. Thank you for your support!”
Colorado Children’s Hospital
Art Therapy Team
Denver, Colorado

“These books will assist me in opening deeper conversations with our students. At our school we use HA -Na Hopena Ao as the basis of our SEL program. There are no current resources and lesson plans for Na Hopena Ao and looking over your book it seems as though it would fit in very well with this initiative. I believe the students will feel an ownership over their book and it will be something they can use to express themselves while learning about themselves. As a leader it fulfills the need for me to have a physical/tangible way to assess how each student is doing on their social/emotional journey by reviewing their work in the book. It will provide a non threatening way to discuss some personal thoughts and feelings. I believe through art one can express without judgment and without fear of failure. No one can say your art is wrong-if you want a purple ocean then you can color a purple ocean-it becomes personal to them.I like how it incorporates art and an inner quality. It is also something kinetic the students can do (color) while learning an important lesson. I feel these books would allow our students to turn their focus inward and learn to reflect upon aspects of their lives that they don’t normally think about such as peace, their hopes and dreams, and how nature plays an important role in all of our lives. I think that by giving our students the tools and directions to focus upon themselves it will give them permission to be vulnerable. Many times youth feel they cannot express themselves and this gives them a non threatening way to dip their toes in the water and through art begin to express themselves. Our program services mostly native Hawaiian students on the Waianae Coast. We have students from Nanakuli High as well as Waianae High. It is an alternative education program for students who were not successful at their high school for various reasons. Our program focuses on conservation work as well as education aboutHawaiian culture. Our students have experiences from Mauka to Makai-fish ponds, lo’i, as well as wahi pana. My hope is that they will experience a path to self discovery and artistic expression through these beautiful books.”
Lisa Yahiku-Hiromoto - School Counselor
Papahana O Kaiona-Waianae High School
Oahu Hawaii

“As a leader, I appreciate that the books offer time for students to relax, reflect, and be creative. We have large population of students at our school and it can be quite loud and overstimulating for students from time to time, so having these books as a tool to utilize to set aside time for students to have calmness in their school week will add more balance and hopefully help to decrease stress and anxiety. I also appreciate that the books connect with Colorado and everything that surrounds the students, and that they might encourage them to spend more time outdoors and in nature. Many students are also quite connected to electronics and do not get outside as much. By connecting Colorado nature with self-care and mental health, it really helps to reconnect students with all of the beauty that surrounds them. I feel these books can further assist with building rapport and healthy relationships with the students I support. The students I meet with face a variety of challenges and stresses, such as housing instability, lack of food and resources, struggles with mental health, struggles with substance use, etc. As someone in a supportive role, these books would be a wonderful resource to connect further with these students and offer them a creative outlet to express themselves, and further explore themselves. These students are in need of more positivity in their lives and these books can help assist with that while they are at school. Since COVID, the majority of our students’ classwork is online through Google Classroom. Many elements of education have gone virtual and I feel strongly that students will enjoy working with paper and writing materials more, especially in a way that promotes creativity and self-expression/self-exploration. Students have expressed an appreciation for taking breaks from their computers to work on other things (assignments, projects, group interactions), so I feel the books can also offer a sense of connection and simplicity that they do not receive as much of anymore, which can also be relaxing and healing. I feel these books will help the youth I serve in many ways, but something that means a lot to me is helping facilitate time and space for my students to feel youthful. All of my students are facing challenges that force them to have to mature rapidly and take on a lot of responsibility and stress at early ages; their youthfulness can feel robbed from them and in ways that they cannot control. I am hoping to use these books as a way for them to feel like teenagers again; to have fun coloring and pleasantly get absorbed into their own imagination, while also allowing for the students to give themselves self-care and kindness and not be so hard on themselves. I hope that the students I support will experience a journey that is theirs, something that is in their control, that they can navigate and explore, and something that empowers them. Many of my students do not have much support in their lives when it comes to talking about themselves and what is on their minds, and where they want to go and who they want to be. It would be an honor using these books to offer more of those opportunities for them, especially since they will be on their way to graduating and being young leaders in the world. I believe these books will assist these students with self-confidence, self-love, advocacy, setting healthy boundaries, and practicing skills to help with coping, self-care, and self-regulation. I hope my students will have “a-ha” moments and will be able to maybe self-discover, encouraging and motivating them to start or continue healthy lifestyles and future successes.”
Jamie Felton – School Social Worker
Loveland High School
Loveland, Colorado

“We are so grateful for your donation of Discovery Art for Youth expressive art coloring activity books! These coloring books supported our students after the traumatic Marshall Fires that blazed through our community destroying over 1,000 homes. Students came back to school all needing something different to begin their healing process. These books provided a safe way for students to use creativity to process their turbulent emotions and discover how to regulate their hearts. We are looking forward to using these books each year for social emotional wellness, building confidence and self-esteem, goal setting and helping children reach their full-potential.”
Molly Kobus - School Counselor
Fireside Elementary
Boulder, Colorado

“The Maui Youth and Family Services School-Based Counselors who work in the schools are all invested in the well-being of our Maui keiki and how we can help them with their journey of hope, healing, and growth. Mahalo for creating such a helpful and beautiful counseling tool that we can use with our students for social emotional wellness, trauma care and prosocial skills development. We love the layout of the workbook, the writing prompts, space for self-expression and the amazing cultural and nature artwork for the coloring pages. These books have enriched our program participants' journey of healing in this difficult time. Mahalo Christina, for creating these valuable and helpful resources.”
Heather Long - School-Based Counselor
Baldwin High School
Maui Hawaii

“Children see the world around them with a different lens than we do as adults. Art, when used as therapy, is part of nonverbal communication for children who may not be able to articulate their emotions and feelings. Art in healing spaces has been proven to reduce stress, anxiety, pain and length of stays. We don’t underestimate its lasting positive effects in a hospital, particularly on young patients. It’s a powerful tool we have in our toolbox.”
St John’s Health
Art for Healing Team
Jackson Hole, WY

“I plan to use the books with the faculty during meetings (whole faculty and grade levels) for the teachers to experience the contents of the book. In faculty meetings, staff will discuss the contents and spend time reflecting on the questions to develop their personal connections.  In smaller grade level articulations, we would discuss the topics in more details to see how they relate and could be incorporated into the grade level’s units. I believe in providing the teachers time to discuss and personally reflect on the questions will set a solid foundation for our school to share the information and values with our students and families.  The goal would be for our staff to learn and grow so that they can make connections to integrate the concepts into the grade level curriculum and classroom instruction. I also advise a group of 15 students after school in a group called the ‘Ike Impactors.  I see this book as a valuable resource to teach the students the identified values and important concepts.  This book would be used at the start of the session to have a discussion on the topics.  It will allow the students to learn the important values while hearing what it means to others.  This will also reinforce the importance of reflection and allow students individual think time.  The coloring pages help students to be mindful and calm their mind. This is important for them to be aware of their feelings, thoughts, and to regroup prior to having a discussion or moving on to another task. The values and concepts that are introduced are important in creating positive contributing citizens to our community.  They reinforce the vision and mission of Mililani ‘Ike in that we are committed to developing life-long learners who will pursue their interests in a caring way so that they can be contributing citizens. I feel the students will gain a better understanding of who they are and what values they find important.  They will also be able to see how their actions impact a bigger situation.  I feel that as they learn these concepts, they will also gain skills in reflecting and calming their mind.  They will be able to better understand how they are feeling and how their emotions might influence their thoughts and actions.  The students will develop their understanding of their personal values and how to better regulate their thoughts and actions, through participating in peer discussions, to make a positive impact on society.  They will consistently discuss the concepts in the book and practice reflecting to clarify their thoughts.  They will also practice mindfulness coloring to gain awareness of their thoughts and emotions.”
Lynne Ajifu - School Principal
Mililani ‘Ike Elementary School
Oahu Hawaii

“Our school has a high trauma population and we are committed to developing the Social Emotional Learning and resiliency skills with all of our students. Your expressive art activity books provide our students a tool for learning that honors a culture of creativity, inclusion and personal enrichment. As a counselor, I love to use creativity as a regulating strategy for our students. The reflective questions in your expressive art coloring activity books ask important questions in fostering hope and healing in the lives of children and youth. They also cultivate personal growth to help them discover that their life matters. The questions provide a mentoring resource to help them explore their unique experiences, interests and dreams so they realize how they can make a difference in this world in a meaningful way.”
Jenn Johnson - School Counselor
Riffenburgh Elementary
Fort Collins, Colorado

“I love how the reflections and coloring pages are rooted in the land/waters that surround our students. Many of them have deep connections to nature and values displayed in the books (teamwork, kindness, confidence, etc.). Not only do these books connect to their communities, it can remind them of what is around them. How they can access the calming energies that surround our islands. I imagine using these books as a meditation activity. I can see it being used as a mindfulness activity, to ground our students who are dealing with heavy burdens not only in school but also in their home. These books allow readily accessible tools to self-regulate and to practice mindfulness with us, with counselors. Many of the students we service are learning for the first time how to ground their minds/emotions. I feel these books are an opportunity to introduce such skills to them. I think the act of drawing as well can also cultivate healing properties for their inner-child, which many of them struggle with. I hope these youth can use the books to master skills like self-regulation, mindfulness, grounding techniques all while looking at it through the lens of their community in Hawai’i. Mahalo for creating this book and for bringing these aspects/images of our community to life for our students!”
Mikeila Ramseyer -  Behavioral Health Specialist
Mililani High School
Oahu Hawaii

“I love the outdoor focus and the mindfulness piece that goes with these books. Coloring is an amazing way to decompress and having the prompts is an added bonus. Being in Colorado, I think students will love the outdoor drawings and landscapes to color. I also think they will really learn and grow from the prompts. I believe it will help them in their sense of self, emotional regulation, and growing in interpersonal relationship skills.”
Taylor Buschy – School Social Worker
Thompson School District
Loveland, Colorado

“I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for the wonderful coloring activity books that you have provided, which foster social emotional learning. Your generous contribution has made a significant impact in our community, and we are truly thankful for your dedication to promoting the well-being and growth of our youth. These coloring books have proven to be invaluable tools in our efforts to support the emotional development and mental well-being of the children in our program. The engaging content and thoughtful design not only encourage creativity but also help young minds explore and understand their emotions, promoting empathy, self-awareness, and effective communication. Your commitment to nurturing the emotional intelligence of our youth is commendable, and we are grateful for the positive influence your organization has on our community. We look forward to continuing our partnership and working together to empower the next generation. Once again, mahalo for your incredible support and for making a meaningful difference in the lives of our children and youth. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!”
Kele Sipman - Kaiapuni/504 Counselor
Kalama Intermediate School
Maui Hawaii

“We have been honored to receive the Discover at The River expressive art coloring books and we have loved utilizing these books in both our inpatient and outpatient settings statewide. The books serve as a wonderful diversionary tool for our patients and promote reflection and growth throughout the hospitalization experience. Helping kids is what we are all about at Logan Health Children’s! Our mission is to elevate and transform pediatric healthcare delivery for children and their family’s improving health and providing peace of mind.”
Logan Health Children’s
Art Therapy Team
Montana

“I love that the activity book supports the HA: Na Hopena A’o framework. It gives students a sense of belonging to place, and a strengthened sense of Hawai’i by incorporating familiar images and themes that echo Hawaiian values and characteristics. It encourages a sense of total well being by asking thought provoking questions and allowing opportunity for expression through art and written reflection. I feel that students genuinely want opportunities to safely express themselves. The reflection questions give students the opportunity to safely reflect on their experiences, the people who have/are shaping their lives, their roles and responsibilities as community contributors and so much more. I see this activity book as a way for students to strengthen their sense of selves through thoughtful reflections and artistic expression. I plan to incorporate the activity book into my weekly Hawaiian studies lessons by using them to support common themes of ‘olelo no’eau - wise poetical sayings, mo’olelo - stories of our place, and mea hana - traditional activities. I feel these books will support my students on their journey of self development - a tool that can guide and inform them of the roles and responsibilities as community contributors, leaders, and stakeholders by giving them a strengthened sense of self and place. I hope these activities will inspire within my students a strengthened sense of belonging, responsibility, excellence, aloha, total well-being, and Hawai’i.”
Naomi M. Silva - Hawaiian Studies Teacher
Kailua Elementary School
Oahu Hawaii

“The books are engaging with the pictures and allow students to express themselves with words or pictures. I think they would appeal to students because it is in a fun format that would keep them interested. I think they will help me reach a different group of students than I may normally serve. Using art as an avenue for expression to a popular technique with counselors, and this would be an additional tool in my toolbox. I plan to use these books with small groups. I think using the book as a guide for students in grades 3-5 would be an awesome journey of self-exploration. It seems like a great too to use with all students, but maybe in particular students who are more introverted or who need a more creative outlet for expression. I feel the youth will enjoy the pace, creative outlet and it allows for written and drawn responses. I think the books will help with self-confidence, belonging, community, self-discovery. I hope the youth have a better understand of themselves and their community, a better understanding of their own unique purpose in this world and the gifts they bring those around them.”
Emily Tweten - School Counselor
Birch Elementary School
Broomfield, Colorado

“Mahalo, Discovery Art for Youth for providing Discover Maui Hawaii expressive art coloring activity books for our students.  We love the layout of the book as it has reflections and coloring pages side by side, making it simple for kids to follow along during our guided school counseling sessions. These books are helping students find their inner strength and discover ways in which their resilience can help themselves heal, grow, and help others down the road.  Students really enjoy coloring the beautiful nature and cultural scenes the most.  It is an incredible resource for cultivating healing, personal enrichment and a connection with our Native Hawaiian culture for our students!”
Rachael Watson - K-2 School Counselor
Pu'u Kukui Elementary School
Maui Hawaii

“Our patients have absolutely loved the Discover Series coloring activity books. They are very popular with our teen population and our behavioral health patients. These books can keep the kids occupied for hours! They are truly beautiful and an important art for healing tool we have to use in helping our children and youth!”
Banner Children’s at Thunderbird Hospital
Art Therapy Team
Glendale, Arizona

“Thank you again for donating your expressive art coloring books for our summer camp for at-risky youth! The kids and educators are loving them. The kids are really liking the reflective prompts and the time to color while thinking about their answers!  What a great book to help kids grow and thrive!”
The Powerhouse Camps
Durango, Colorado

“These books will help me build trust with my students by providing a safe way to share their emotions. It’ll promote cultural understanding and appreciation among students from different backgrounds. It will also serve as a conversation starter which will allow me to have meaningful discussions with students about their experiences or challenges. It will also help students express their worries in a calm manner. I feel that our students will enjoy the learning about Hawaii’s culture, the artwork and being able to share their feelings and experiences through drawing.”
Pauline Benavente - School Counselor
August Ahrens Elementary
Oahu Hawaii

“I love that the books are nature focused and use local areas that students are or may be familiar with. I would like to use the books with groups of 3rd, 4th and 5th graders who have experienced loss, trauma and/or anxiety. I believe students will love having their own copies to work through and then keep. They love opportunities to draw, to explore and to meet in groups. I think they will like the indirect approach to working through hard feelings and experiences as well as the supportive messages and boost they will receive. The visual images and coloring options will speak to students who have an easier time expressing themselves non-verbally. These books will help my students have a sense of hope, calm and wonder.”
Naomi Moddel - School Counselor
Mesa Elementary School
Boulder, Colorado

“Thank you for creating this wonderful expressive art activity book for the youth of Maui. Our school will be using this resource for all our students. We appreciate the deep care and compassion you have displayed for our island in creating this beautiful resource to help our keiki process, heal and grow during this difficult time. The reflections help our keiki process their emotions at the same time develop positive coping skills and build resilience. Our team is especially appreciative of how you incorporated important culturally relevant reflections and coloring pages. This book feels rooted in our culture and special for our community. Thank you for touching our lives with your gift and vision for our healing.”
Jackie Mukai - School Counselor
Waihe'e Elementary School
Maui Hawaii

“The books are great for many of our patients but they have been extremely helpful for our patients with mental health issues. These books are a great way to build rapport as well as an opportunity to learn more about each other and a great entryway into some therapeutic conversations. Children are still learning so much about the world around them and how they fit.  It’s nice to help them navigate and be a positive impact in their lives. Your expressive art coloring activity books are a great tool to help dive deeper into therapeutic conversations.”
Valley Wise Health Medical Center
Art Therapy Team
Phoenix, Arizona

“As a teacher who teaches the 4th grade, our Social Studies curriculum is solely based on teaching Early Hawaiian History. These books flow nicely with this in mind, so that we would be able to incorporate a guidance (mental health) component with the books and our social studies curriculum. Also, we do Project Based Learning in social studies and focus on the Ahupua’a region. These books lend well with our PBL as well. Having access to these books, for the use of supporting mental health in our students and addressing it through Hawaiian based culture is pertinent for students of Hawaii. Young students need to begin to use nature more often than ever (and limit technology and indoor time) to honor their culture and to find balance in their daily lives. Children are less active these days, and need encouragement to get outdoors more often and reflect on nature and the beauty around them. Living in Hawaii is an incredible gift that students should not take for granted. My students (especially those who love art) will love coloring the beautiful pictures. Other students may enjoy the reflection process and writing about themselves. I hope that students are able to experience feelings of contentment, pride, and the ability to better self-reflect on how they view the world (and people) around them.”
Rachel Main - Teacher
Maunawili Elementary School
Oahu Hawaii

“I love that the art is beautiful and the messaging is so important and relevant. It allows students to have a soft start in the morning to regulate themselves and also gives them positive messaging. I also believe these books have been therapeutic and nurturing for so many of our kids impacted by trauma. This book enables me to share the beauty of nature and connect it to important social-emotional learning that I am also teaching them in their classrooms. The more students can hear and connect to positive concepts the more those concepts stick with them. We have been lucky enough to have been given these amazing books the past three years. Our teachers use them every morning allowing kids to have a soft start. My students love the artwork in the books and the positive messaging that goes along with every picture. I can tell you that on many occasions walking in classrooms in the morning I have students walk up to me to proudly show me what they have done and share the meaning behind the picture. These books give students an outlet to show their creative spirit and is also grounding in nature for them. I hope my students continue to show their creativity and connect how nature can have a significant impact on our lives. I believe it’s important for them to know how to go through a mindfulness journey so when they are going through a challenging time they can escape to a happier place until they are regulated and able to get help or figure out how to work through the challenge. All of the themes (Big Ideas) for every picture is very important to their social-emotional learning and connects it back to what I teach them with my lessons.”
Olivia Hyten - School Counselor
Monarch PK8
Louisville, Colorado

“We are deeply grateful for the Discovery art therapy books for our students.  The books provide a way to explore, process and actually put to words and pictures some of the feelings that they are experiencing.  The books also help them discover some of their own personal resources.  The layout walks them through this step by step and each page helps them reinforce the tools that they have and build resilience. Using place-based pictures that connect with questions and answers is an amazing tool that we can use to heal! As a school counselor, I find this so important.  Our teachers have been able to access this resource as well to use in the classroom. The Discovery Art books are an innovative, creative and a valuable resource and we are beyond grateful!”
Cathy Fitzpatrick - Counselor
Iao Middle School
Maui Hawaii

“A gift like a coloring book can be just what a child needs to put a smile on their face after a last chemo treatment or spending a birthday in the hospital. A gift like yours puts patients at ease, bringing joy to our hospital. We are grateful for friends like you who want to give back, and support us in our mission to help patients and their families enjoy healthy lives. Thank you again for all your efforts in organizing this project in support of patients and families at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford.”
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital
Art Therapy Team
Stanford, California

“My primary focus is helping students learn about their emotions/thoughts/actions, skill building, insight building, and understanding empathy/our impact on others. I plan to introduce this book as a tool for students to learn about the community, expressing themselves, and practicing mindfulness. In elementary school, the kids feel more comfortable with using tools like art to express themselves. I love how it incorporates aina based learning. I hope they will feel a sense of belonging and responsibility when exploring this book. I feel a sense of pride that a book was created and inspired by each island.”
Rachel Remsen - Behavioral Health Specialist
Aliamanu Elementary School
Oahu Hawaii

“Thank you for your donation of your beautiful expressive art coloring activity books for our students! We will be using the books as curriculum for Social Emotional Learning. At the school, we have a high behavioral needs population and the character development will certainly help with our efforts to help them develop sustainable positive traits.  Thank you!”
Lamb Elementary School
Tampa, Florida

“I love that these books give my students an opportunity to combine art and positive coping strategies. Each week we practice a new coping strategy as many students have issues processing stress and anxiety they are experiencing at school. I will also use these books in individual counseling with students utilizing the same method of teaching coping strategies. As a leader of students dealing with stress and anxiety I have found that art is one of the best coping strategies to regulate.I think the youth will experience the opportunity to relax and rejuvenate while also learning valuable positive coping techniques to reduce their stress and anxiety.  The fact that these books are place based will help students to also develop pride regarding their beautiful island home as well as a motivating factor to visit these places in person.”
Shelly Andrews - School Counselor
Kailua High School
Oahu Hawaii

“I appreciate the connection to nature and place. We live just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park and find it surprising many of our students have not visited the Park or are not really connected to the outdoors in other meaningful ways.  These books give a chance to connect, learn and grow in their stewardship to our natural surroundings.  By learning to identify and understand the local place, students can begin to appreciate who they are and their role in taking care of themselves and their environment. In addition, the reflection piece helps students practice connecting the thoughts, feelings, and wonderings of life to the reality of the natural and human community in which they live. Many of our distracted students find moments of peace and focus while drawing and coloring. We are the working class school of a resort area and our students are not often exposed to the arts and humanities.  This beautiful resource will not only grow SEL and Executive Function Skills, it could also provide a spark of hope in the creativity and generosity of the human spirit.”
Jack Dugwyler - Dean of School Culture
Granby Elementary School
Granby, Colorado

“Mahalo Discovery Art for Youth for creating this amazing resource for our keiki, especially during these difficult times. I have used them with students directly impacted by the Lahaina fires and others that were not. I have used them as stress relief for teachers who have been feeling burnt out as well as a few parents wanting a resource for themselves. The beautiful pictures along with the reflection questions, provide a great opportunity for my students to destress and reflect on ways that support them.”
Kimberly Naylor - School Counselor
Pōmaika`i Elementary School
Maui Hawaii

“We have been using your expressive art coloring books at Rady Children’s Hospital for several years now. Our patients really enjoy these coloring books because it helps them express themselves in different ways. As a Child Life Specialist, I have used these books in 1 on 1 interactions with patients and it helps open up avenues for discussion, especially with teens. I have been a Child Life Specialist for over 20 years and I love working with children and being able to help them cope with illness, new diagnosis and hospitalization. These coloring books are not just any coloring books! They provide a way for our patients to express themselves in a totally non-threatening way. Our patients love these books and we hope for continued support by donors to provide this wonderful service.”
Rady Children’s Hospital
Art Therapy Team
San Diego, California

“Our school is a Nā mea Hawai`i school through arts integration. This book is a perfect fit for that. We also like the adaptability to all grade levels.Our students will especially like the coloring aspect to the books. It provides students with a creative outlet. Also, it will be able to connect with them on values centered around a Hawaiiana background. I believe it will give students a sense of place and belonging. It will also help them discuss values that they can work on improving in themselves. I hope they can find more outlets to express themselves and also connect to nature around them.”
Sinalei Wagner
Kamalani Academy
Oahu Hawaii

“We are a dual language school where students learn in both English and Spanish. These books provide a natural landscape that reflects the beauty that surrounds our school and the environment in which students live. They also provide a great opportunity to ground themselves through art and conversation. These books would provide meaningful opportunities for students to connect in both languages as well as through the art they create. We have an influx of newcomers who are just learning English for the first time. These books provide students the opportunity to engage in an activity together while being able to adjust language demands with each topic (I can translate for students and they share what they are comfortable with in their native language. They can also talk about their pictures in their native language). I love the artwork component of these books. I plan to use these books with small groups of students as a way to foster exploration, reflection and connection. I also plan to have them in my office when individual students need a safe and quiet place to process thoughts and feelings. I am thinking of facilitating some small groups to help students cope with increasing levels of social anxiety - not only could the journey through the books empower students to discover and develop the inner resources, but it could also create lasting connections between students in the group through conversation and being able to relate to each other’s experiences. I think my students will like how relaxed they feel as they navigate the journey. I also anticipate them liking the ability to share their creativity with their peers and connect over conversation about their journey. I think they’ll enjoy what they discover about themselves as they move throughout the book and experience. These books will help students with self-exploration and provide them with tangible coping strategies. They also provide students with the ability to ground themselves as they express their emotions and creativity, as well as a connecting activity when done with multiple students. Ultimately, I look forward to using these books to connect with my students and gain a deeper understanding of their inner worlds.”
Katie Bell - School Counselor
University Hill Elementary
Boulder, Colorado

“MAHALO to Discovery Art for Youth for providing your art for healing books to our students. Even at the high school level, students use coloring to destress and they find that it helps to ground them. It is awesome that there are reflective prompts to get students thinking which opens up and easy and safe way for me to have conversations with them about what is going on in their lives. As their counselor, I am grateful for this very powerful tool to help my students heal and also to grow.”
Jayna Yamamoto - School Counselor
King Kekaulike High School
Maui Hawaii

“The Discover at The Ocean book is amazing and our pediatric patients love it! We would love to have these books to give to every one of our patients in the seven through teen age group. The books are such a great tool for distraction, diversion and self-expression. We love working with children and youth in the hospital setting to educate about their health/procedures/diagnosis, guide to promote positive coping during their hospitalization, provide normalcy during crisis, and distract with bedside activities.  Your books are an important tool in helping our children cope with what they are experiencing in a positive and healthy way.”
Children’s & Women’s Hospital
Art Therapy Team
Long Beach, California

“I love that there are thoughtful questions with coloring pages. In counseling, worksheets can only get so far, however, with the beautiful illustrations that are included, I think students would be much more likely to get involved and discuss the pages. I also loved that the book encompasses the idea of our lives being like a tree, “As they interact with the reflective questions and express themselves, they cultivate the life of their tree. That’s great imagery that I think students of all ages can understand. I appreciate how these books provide students with social emotional support, while deepening their connection to their home. My students will like the images, the simple lesson topics (i.e., Kindness, Gratitude, Hope, etc. - rather than words they would have to learn for the first time), the fact that the book flows together (so they are able to build upon the imagery of their lives as “trees” more easily), and the overall message of exploration! Although these books will be beneficial to students at both of my schools, I immediately thought about the impact it would have at my elementary school. At Mokapu, which is a military school, we focus a lot on belonging since our students are so often moving from state to state. By incorporating a journey of self-exploration through their new environment can help those who struggle to “fit in” and/or feel comfortable and confident in their new home.”
Taite Geenen - School Psychologist
Mokapu Elementary School and Kailua Intermediate
Oahu Hawaii

“I love how the book has animals that our kids see throughout the year living so close to Rocky Mountain National Park! I absolutely love art therapy and I believe that all students could benefit from it, especially when the book gives prompts for students to reflect, express themselves, and have wonderful conversation starters. I am always wanting students to reflect on every aspect of their life, and the way this book creates that through nature is absolutely amazing. These books will help to foster a culture of self-reflection, emotional/self-regulation, self-discovery, and becoming one with nature. My plan is to use these books during our summer school program with incorporating field trips to the park or other nature spots in our community with the books and materials. I would also like to incorporate social/emotional lessons to go along with the associated page. Our students LOVE art and LOVE the social/emotional lessons I teach, so to be able to incorporate a form of art therapy with these books would tie them together very well. I think these books could help foster a sense of independence in their self-reflection, create a safe space for students to share their thoughts and emotions related to the book activities, and to really take in that nature piece. Some of our students haven’t had the opportunity to visit Rocky Mountain National Park despite being a 10-minute drive away and I think these books could give them the sense of what it has to offer. I personally hope the students experience a love and appreciation for nature and the animals we share this earth with. I hope they share their creativity in a multitude of ways that helps to inspire others as well.”
Ashley Silva – School Counselor
Estes Park Elementary School
Estes Park, Colorado

“I'm so grateful to have the Maui Discovery Art for Youth book as a resource for my work with High School students. It has been a great tool to help them express themselves in a non-intrusive way. I can also see creativity and compassion it sparks in them. Mahalo for your generous gifts to the students at Baldwin High School.”
Oudlay Tom - Behavioral Health Specialist
Baldwin High School
Maui Hawaii

“We are so grateful to you for your beautiful Discover at The Ocean expressive art coloring books. We are the leading center caring for children across all of our islands and the Pacific Basin, so the impact of your books is so far reaching. You will touch the lives of so many patients and really keep their spirits up and positive. Thank you for your wonderful donations to us.”
Kapi’olani Medical Center for Women and Children
Art Therapy Team
Oahu Hawaii

“As a school counselor, I search for calming SEL resources that can support all students ranging from k-5th grade. When our students experienced severe trauma due to the Marshal Fires we used the Discovery Art for Youth expressive art coloring activity books as a regulating and healing resource. Teachers witnessed students shifting from being unsettled to becoming quiet and self reflect. The students loved their books and were eager to engage in the next following activity. Art therapy coloring books allowed our students to process their fears and concerns safely and enjoyably. Thank you, Discovery Art for Youth, for making a difference for 4 years in a row!”
Michelle Beck - School Counselor
Louisville Elementary School
Louisville, Colorado

“These Discover Maui books have been a big support to help my students open up about their experiences with the fire and share how it has impacted them, through the reflective pages they have been able to realize it is okay to have feelings of loss, grief, sadness, anger, etc. and this book has provided a powerful tool to help them express themselves and heal by sharing their feelings through reflection and art. I also appreciate how the books help the youth focus on the good in their lives while they are processing such a difficult time.”
Lance Toyoshima - Behavior Health Specialist
Kamali'i Elementary School
Maui Hawaii

“The coloring activity books are so great and patients are enjoying them. They are giving patients the opportunity for self-expression to those who already have an interest in the outdoors and equally to those who have not yet had experiences with nature. This is a wonderful addition to the tools we use to help our patients!”
Valley Children's Healthcare
Art Therapy Team
Madera, California

“As a leader, I like how this resource will help our youth not only learn about nature and our wildlife that are a part of Maui but will provide an outlet for our youth to express their feelings. Many of our youth are not exposed to the different parts of our island to see these parts of nature and wildlife in person, this resource will also allow them to be able to identify them when they do have the opportunity and to also know the importance of taking care of their aina. Our plan is to use this book in collaboration with our Hawaiian Studies Program, Grow Some Good Gardening Program, and Social Emotional Learning. Students in each grade level will work with our Teachers and Counselors and focus on their journey throughout the school year. I feel the youth of our school will enjoy learning about each theme in the journey and having the moment to share out with themselves and others. It will be a time for the youth to reflect and then time to express their feelings through coloring. These books will help our youth by allowing them to reflect and express their feelings, share out with others, and provide an outlet with the coloring component. I hope our youth will be able to appreciate the nature and wildlife we are surrounded by as well as understand the various themes shared in the book such as gratitude, kindness, peace, and making a difference. Thank you for providing our schools with this valuable resource.”
Melissa Ramos - Vice Principal
Pukalani Elementary School
Maui Hawaii

“Thank you so much for the awesome books. As a counselor, I use art therapy with many of our students. Art therapy is a great rapport building activity. Children love to be doing an activity while they are having a conversation. Your books are designed in a way that the children feel safe to talk about their feelings while coloring the beautiful nature scenes and wildlife.  We have many wonderful conversations with students while doing art together!”
Miles Elementary School
Counseling Team
Tampa, Florida

“We want to share our gratitude for your therapeutic art for healing books to aid our community, especially the Native Hawaiians and those affected by the wildfires. We have also shared some of the books with the principal at Kamehameha Elementary School as she would love to provide a book for each of the students. We look forward to continuing this partnership.”
Holly Ho
Hui No Ke Ola Pono
Maui’s Native Hawaiian Health Care System
Maui Hawaii

“I really love the different discussion and writing prompts. They seem like they would provide some opportunities for deeper discussion and connections. I also love the idea of the pictures and coloring to go along with and as a way to track progress and give students an opportunity to engage in a creative arts activity while discussing the topics. I think the books will help me as a counselor to engage students in different ways and to open the door for deeper discussions. I also think this will allow me to have a chance to connect with students who may not respond to talk-based counseling. I think my students will really enjoy engaging in a coloring/art activity while going through some deeper connections, learning, and growth. I also think that having pictures that relate to the natural world around them right here in Colorado would be beneficial and meaningful. I hope they experience self-reflection, self-awareness, fun, engagement, and growth.”
Ashley Friede - School Counselor
Superior Elementary School
Superior, Colorado

“Mahalo for your generous donation of 300 art for healing books to Malama I Ke Ola Health Center in response to the Maui wildfires. Now, more than ever, we strive to support the medical and behavioral health recovery efforts our keiki affected by this disaster. Your donation is allowing us to do so! We are so humbled and grateful for your generosity. Thank you helping us continue our mission to help our community on the long road to recovery.”
Malama I Ke Ola Health Center
Maui Hawaii

“We all recognize that being in the hospital can be a very emotional experience and being able to express those feelings is an important part of the coping process. Your generous donation will be a great way for children of all ages to find ways to capture their feelings in artwork and writing. You can be sure that the books will be used by our patients in our in-patient areas, especially with those having long-term stays. Thank you for the positive impact you are having with the children who need it the most! We appreciate you very much!!”
Los Angeles Children’s Hospital
Art Therapy Team
Los Angeles, California

“I love the illustrations and how it represents the natural beauty and wonders of Hawaiʻi! The reflections and words that are also paired with each picture demonstrate the connectedness we all share of the ʻaina. Using these resources will help regulate students, especially, if they use art and coloring as an outlet for their emotions. Our students at Mākaha Elementary will enjoy having their own booklet of wonderful artwork to choose from local and close to home. Thereʻs a lot of significance in feeling a sense of belonging and identity for students to discover and feel in a school setting. These books will help students grow in their identity to Hawaiʻi and Oʻahu as their home paired with the natural world and living things around them. These books will help our students cope through their traumas and adversities they face everyday in creating something beautiful and taking pride in their artwork. It will also bridge connections to their real-life experiences in going to the beach, diving, swimming, and living Hawaiʻi. It will also create space for them to share through art and possibly open them up to unpack their traumas or challenges they have internalized. My students will love these books and gain a greater sense of belonging, appreciation, and gratitude for aloha ʻaina.”
Teagan Martin - School Counselor
Mākaha Elementary School
Oahu Hawaii

“Thank you for donating your Discover at The Ocean books for our students!  We will be using the books with our third-fifth grade students demonstrating anxiety, depression, adjustment problems, or trauma in order to increase mindfulness and coping skills. Our school is a Title 1 school with 100% Free & Reduced Lunch where all students receive breakfast and lunch at no cost. Your books use ocean nature to walk readers through a journey culminating in the leaves of their trees impacting the world around them.”
Weatherbee Elementary School
Counseling Team
Fort Pierce, Florida

“Thank you for donating Discover Maui art for healing books! I am using the books with my students to help process the trauma from the fires but also as curriculum for overall social emotional wellness. The books have so much going on in them - I love how I can use the nature and coloring for mindfulness and the reflection for an increased connection to self and their personal goals. I have noticed my students feel much calmer after they have worked in the book. Thank you for creating such an amazing tool for healing.”
Kelly Albrecht - Behavioral Health Specialist
Maui High School
Maui Hawaii

“Your Discovery Art expressive art coloring books are a wonderful tool of expression for our patients and siblings. Many of the images are representative of the natural beauty we are lucky enough to be surrounded by here in Alaska. The images really seem to resonate with the patients here. We also appreciate the simplicity of the prompts which allows each child to really make it their own. We are using them in a variety of ways – they are available to children in the pediatric unit, passed out in sibling coping bags, utilized in our pediatric ER and more. Thanks again for your work and dedication!”
The Children’s Hospital at Providence Alaska
Art Therapy Team
Anchorage, Alaska

“I love that these books provide a simple and visual way to open conversation with students.  Allowing them to go at their own pace to build their awareness. I will be using these books to support personal growth, personal awareness, and build emotional intelligence with common positive and universal characteristics. The reflective lessons are universal in supporting my students awareness, and mental health by having something tangible to explore with them to open up a safe space for them to explore how they feel. The books are simple enough to allow students to go as deep or stay as surface as they want with ideas and pictures that are familiar and may help them feel safe. It’s a positive tool to help facilitate conversations, and mindfulness activities with my students. I hope my students will continue to build personal strength and sense of belonging here in the islands.  In essence to help them see that their island home provides protective factors if they take a minute to see them, in the universal values, and they landscape, and the cultures around them.  In my experience … coloring has also provided opportunities for students to relax enough to share things that are on their mind that support their personal growth.  I’m hoping these books will help in this way too.”
Vasi Wolfgramm - School Counselor
Castle High School
Oahu Hawaii

“I love how each coloring page has a different focus and reflection. It allows for great discussions for students, whether working individually or with a small group. I appreciate how there are 20 different lessons that tie into each other and how this can help students build self-confidence and self-awareness regarding different experiences in adolescence. Coloring is a very meditative experience and these beautiful images accompanied by the lessons will be very powerful for students. I also like how there is a blank space for students to express themselves and free draw with some guidance. I also love that there is a family engagement part, which could be used to connect to our families. I feel these books will help with discussion starters and help students normalize some of the challenges they face in life. It will allow them a safe place for self-expression and provide them with an opportunity to grow and learn. I think youth will like the group aspect for the discussion. These discussions can be hard. Providing beautiful coloring pages will help students to feel safer when having these discussions since their peers will not be solely focused on them as they talk. I think it will allow for students to feel safe and comfortable when coloring. I also think students will like to have something to take home and reflect on after the 20 lessons are completed. I think these books will help the youth I serve by providing them with meaningful lessons in middle school and hopefully will help strengthen their tool kids when moving on to high school and beyond. I hope it helps provide them with a stronger sense of self-love. I hope my students will experience an awareness and appreciation of being kind to themselves and others and recognize they are not alone.”
Becci Kirby – School Counselor
Preston Middle School
Fort Collins, Colorado

“I love that the books introduce important SEL topics in an artistic way. I also love that it introduces things about Hawaii Island. It’s important for children to know and appreciate where they come from. It grounds them and helps us to provide them a well-rounded education. This will be a great supplement to our existing curriculum. I think it will help youth to gain more information through different modalities.”
Trisha Sanborn - Principal
Kohala Middle School
Hawaii Island, Hawaii

“Thank you so much for your generous donation of Expressive Art Coloring Activity Books to our hospital!  We are very appreciative of this donation as it allows us to provide a creative outlet and form of distraction to many of our current pediatric patients. Because of our COVID protocols, all supplies that go to our patients must be personalized and individual to the patient, which has proved to be difficult. We truly appreciate the care, love and thought you have put into these coloring books.  Thirteen-year-old Maria Fareri, the extraordinary girl for whom the Children’s Hospital is named, had a special wish “for the health and well-being of all the children of the world.” Guided by Maria’s wish, her parents John and Brenda helped lead the design and creation of Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, which today continues to specialize in advanced family –centered care in a nurturing environment. The spirit of Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital is one of community and helping hands. We are so grateful to have you join the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital family of donors; these amazing and beautiful expressive therapy coloring books will surely make a difference for our patients while they are receiving care at MFCH.”
Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital
Art Therapy Team
Valhalla, New York

“We are excited to use these books for Social Emotional Learning (SEL). I think these will a  good to use to spark conversations about SEL, Hawaiian Culture, Wildlife, Conservation, and Community.”
Olino Kotaki
Connections Public Charter School
Hawaii Island, Hawaii

“I love that creativity that is used to facilitate introspection, self-learning, and growth! Any time we can incorporate art as a tool for self-exploration, as a mental health provider, I capitalize on the opportunity! My students will appreciate the visual aspect, having the opportunity to create something beautiful and visually stimulating. Also, the words/values will serve as excellent prompts! These books can help channel some important self-growth in the ways of development, skilling, and expression. Also, being that the use of these tools will be facilitated, I intend to open up communication with others and allow for group processing to take place, so these books will serve as a catalyst for connection and sharing. I personally hope my students will experience positive self-esteem, self-efficacy, feeling connected to others, and positive self-expression!”
Jane Campbell - Mental Health Specialist
Fort Collins High School & Poudre Global Academy
Fort Collins, Colorado

“My students will most enjoy getting to reflect on pages from the beginning of the year and being able to use their creative side more. I think these books would help to develop some students’ growth mindset. This is a difficult thing for some students who only think about it academically. I think these books would help bridge the gap to show that the growth mindset is not just about ‘school subjects’. I hope my students would take this as an opportunity to grow. Not many students do much self reflection outside of school. I would hope that this journey would help them grow into more well rounded and self aware individuals.”
Whitney Hall - Teacher
Hickam Elementary School
Oahu Hawaii

“NICU parents and older siblings have said they really benefitted from reflecting on and answering the questions as well as coloring the pages in your expressive art books.  They became calmer and more relaxed after engaging in the activity. The books are also a wonderful resource for stress management and social emotional wellness.”
Golisano Children’s Hospital
Art Therapy Team
Rochester, New York

“I plan to use the books in a group setting as well as one on one with students to promote and support the creative growth and reflective insights students are opening to in therapy. I use many evidence based practices within the sessions I do and this book is a beautiful addition to student’s creative expression and learning how to express themselves and come to their own insights. This book is very beautiful and can give students a sense of home and place while also learning about all the 20 concepts within the book. Some of the ones that stand out to me that are most important for our students here in Ka’u are rooted, gratitude, ohana, purpose, hope, teamwork and confidence. All of the concepts in the book are spot on with what I teach my students currently. Each one of these lessons give my students important reflections and concepts to grow on and use in their daily lives. Not just in an internal and mindful way but with family functioning, peer relationships, self-awareness and self-regulation skills. I love the family engagement section as well. So many students are focused on social media and technology. These books may help to bring them back to nature. Which then brings them back to themselves and in turn brings them back to their hopes and dreams for their futures and the future of our island and ultimately the world. Our school is 35% Native Hawaiian so the place based learning of this book is perfect to reconnect them with a sense of belonging, responsibility and purpose. I hope this journey helps them to reconnect with nature, their aina, and their own insights and inner knowing. What is right and wrong and that they have the ability to make a difference. Ka’u (the south tip of the Big Island) is an isolated and rural place. Our students do not have a lot of opportunities here. Giving them this book that journeys them through an experience and ends at the end of the year will give them an added sense of hope and accomplishment.”
Lindsey Miller - Behavioral Health Specialist
Naalehu Elementary School
Hawaii Island, Hawaii

“I like that these books are tailored to specific themes and locations which will resonate with our students in the district and encourage students to think more deeply about themselves and the world around them. These books will provide a great way to create discussion within a group stetting or for use with individual students. I believe my students will appreciate the Colorado specific themed images that relate to the world around them.  Students will be able to make connections between the natural world around them with the concepts that are being taught and discussed in the accompanying lessons. These books will provide a concrete structure for them to think about their lives, their choices, their mindset in the context of the natural Colorado world.  They also allow my students to express themselves in multiple modalities, both written and creative/artistic. I hope these books will help our youth to think more deeply about their lives and what they are experiencing while finding new ways to express themselves and work through some difficult things they might be facing.  I hope they will experience a deeper sense of self-awareness and understanding while tapping into their creativity and artist expression.”
Kat Boschmann - Mental Health Specialist
Poudre School District (multiple schools)
Fort Collins, Colorado

“I am excited to use these books to provide my students with an opportunity to regulate their emotions, reflect on their emotions, ground themselves, and think deeply about a variety of social-emotional learning topics. These books will also provide all of my students with an opportunity to be creative and express things that they may not normally have an opportunity to express. My first grade students will like that the creative opportunities provided in this book have a real connection to their lives. The art provided in the book as well as the questions and values provided have a direct and deep connection to the experiences of my students. My students will also enjoy the variety of complexity provided throughout the book. Finally, I think my students will enjoy the fact that the journey is not solely connected to school but it also provides opportunities for family engagement. These books will help the youth I serve by providing them with opportunities to reflect on social-emotional questions that help them focus on becoming positive thinkers and leaders. In addition, these books will help the youth I serve by providing them with time and space to express themselves creatively. The topics discussed throughout these books as well as the opportunities for personal reflection will help my students get into the habit of positively reflecting on their values, experiences, and zone of regulation. I hope students will experience a sense of connection, growth, and daily regulation as they are walked through this journey. I hope that throughout this journey, students are able to recognize the way that being creative and expressing themselves artistically can help them to feel more calm, regulated, and focused.”
Kimberly Barnett - Teacher
Pahoa Elementary School
Hawaii Island, Hawaii

“Thank you for your donation to our Child Life team!  We will use your expressive art coloring books in our work with children on our Pediatric unit, in our Pediatric Emergency Department and with the children of adult patients who are seen by our Child Life Specialists when a parent or loved one dies. Our pediatric unit has changed during the pandemic and much of our support has been for children grieving losses on many levels. Your books will be used by our child life team to support children in the hospital and community heal. We will share with our hospice team for their Child and Family support groups, unfortunately there is a great need. Thank you for all you do for children, families and children’s hospitals.”
Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center
Art Therapy Team
West Islip, New York

“I love how these books incorporate art and nature together to help teach the youth to reflect on their own personal journey. I appreciate how these books reach out on a more holistic approach. I feel these books will help me help the youth become more reflective within themselves and where they live. They help me help them develop an appreciation for and embrace where they live. Develop more of a sense of curiosity around them and an eagerness to learn more. Understand how the Aina gives them and how they can give back to the Aina. I am delighted to find out about this valuable resource to enhance the students’ experience in learning, self-development and self-discovery.”
Candace Crouch-Kelsey - Hawaiian Studies Enrichment Teacher
Ewa Beach Elementary
Oahu Hawaii

“As a leader of youth, I love the connection of nature and character-building skills. It fits nicely within the Expeditionary Learning model. These will be nice to as a guide, and a starting point for my SEL classes, a good way to introduce these topics throughout the year. I will introduce these topics to kids as they are enjoying coloring the pages in. I teach SEL to K-5 every week, and the kids love hands on activities. And I love the nature connection, and that its RMNP…our local NP! I will be using these at the start of every month, as I introduce the next skill/focus. This will be a great introduction, and I will expand on these topics throughout the month, and will have the book to come back to and reference. This will also be a great thing to send home with students at the end of the school year, and they can reflect on their learning at home. I believe that students will enjoy the coloring pages the most. I always try to have a hands-on activity available as we are learning a new character trait, and this will be a great thing to do and connect with as we are learning about teamwork, friendships, confidence, etc. I will try to find connections with the animal to the skill as well…for example, when learning about confidence, why does a young elk need confidence when crossing the river, or how does a river have rhythm? Being an Expeditionary Learning school, we are always incorporating nature and the outdoors into our curriculum and learning. This will be a great opportunity to continue with that. And I love the skills that are presented in the book. The book presents some skills that I haven’t thought to teach about, and I’m excited to explore with kids…ie: special memory, freedom, rooted, rhythm, etc. I hope students will experience new learning and connections within themselves and nature.”
Katie Meunier – K-8 Counselor
Polaris Expeditionary Learning School
Fort Collins, Colorado

“The topics of discussion and reflection are more in depth and allows the students to connect what they are learning and applying in and out of the classroom to the community and their environments. This builds character to be able to self-reflect and analyze the impact their actions and words have on others and the world around them. The artwork adds to the topics in a way that is familiar to the students as the places that these pictures represent are in the students’ communities. I feel that these books will help me view the world and life from the youth’s perspective as I myself, self-reflect on the topics as an adult, and try to predict reflections from their perspectives. I plan to use the books for SEL and ʻIke Hawaiʻi learning, practice, and integration. Most of our teachers start the day with a reflection or writing prompt. So this will be a great resource for them. My students will appreciate the familiarity of the pictures that represent places in their home, the artwork and drawing aspect, and the topics, as these are topics we constantly discuss with them and align to our mission and vision of delivering instruction through fun and creative project-based learning approaches, to integrate Mahiʻai, Aloha ʻĀina, and ʻIke Hawaiʻi, which are the core focus of our school as a Hawaiian-culture based school. Many of our youth come from demographics of high poverty and deal with challenging social situations at home. These topics of reflection are what many of them think about but are not always given the opportunity to share about. I hope our students learn that being aware of our emotions and thoughts and feeling safe and respected enough to share them is a part of healthy growth and development, and a reminder that we are all human.”
Akalā Neves Chinchilla - Vice Principal
Nā Wai Ola Public Charter School - Mountain View
Hawaii Island, Hawaii

“Thank you for providing us with your healing art coloring books! They will bring a lot of comfort to pediatric patients who are isolated in their rooms during this COVID-19 crisis as well as provide an important therapeutic outlet for them. This time period has been incredibly difficult for us and our patients/families- so much fear, anxiety and stress.  I cannot fully express how much we appreciate your offer to support us and our children, except to say that it is akin to someone throwing us a life raft during a time when we feel like we’re barely staying above water.”
Maimonides Children's Hospital 
Art Therapy Team
Brooklyn, New York

“Each one of the pages can translate to an ʻŌlelo Noʻeau. This year the counselor, teachers, and staff focused on SEL around our school core values of ʻIke-Kaizen-Accountability-Ingrity- Respect- IKAIR for short. We also have a mission and vision that asks our community to embrace a place of infinite possibilities. This book is perfect for our vision!”
Janice English
Waimea Middle Public Conversion Charter School
Hawaii Island, Hawaii

“We serve a diverse population who have experienced a great deal of trauma. Being an Arts and Tech school who places high value in Social Emotional Learning, these art books fit right into our beliefs and values. Our community teaches and promotes self-regulation and these would be another great tool to support this. I also love the idea that they are learning about the Beauty that surrounds them in Colorado. As a leader, these books will help me open the doors for communication, friendships and self-discovery. Relationships are key, and what a beautiful way to build community within a classroom and school setting. Then once complete, we are hopeful that they can be shared with families/guardians. Our school leaders would also love to use the expressive arts books in small group settings so that we can dig deeper on specific topics such around grief and loss, anxiety, and provide opportunity for personal growth and reflection as we go through this journey together. Our school is being trained in the Neurosequential Model in Education (NME) and we are working on starting our day and transitions with the 3 R’s of Regulate, Relate and Reason. These books would be a great addition to our morning routines to help students regulate and then relate to each other during circle time. I believe our students will enjoy learning about Rocky Mountain National Park, experiencing the beauty of nature, making them their own, and opening deeper conversations. These books will allow for self-reflection as well as connection between peers. It will help create a safe and welcoming environment to all. We are hopeful that this journey will open the door for more opportunity to lead and support one another. I believe these books will help our students cultivate gratitude, self-acceptance, perspective, empathy, and self-discovery and joy!”
Leah Roberts – School Counselor
Laurel Elementary School of Arts and Technology
Fort Collins, Colorado

“I love that these books are island based in culture via pictures and activities. I struggle to find this type of material. I’ve been trying to teach emotional intelligence to my students we got back from the covid shutdown. They are all still struggling as a generation.  I love that the book teaches many universal truths that are lacking right now in our society. This curriculum will help me to achieve my goals of connecting with my students at a level where they can get in touch with their feelings and emotions. I think my students will most like the part of the curriculum where they are able to express themselves through an idea. Each section has one of these. I think they will help my students to gain a better understanding of who they are and where they come from. I hope they see the beauty of their island culture in the light of emotional intelligence.”
Keith Hatcher - Principal
Kahili Adventist School
Kauai Hawaii

“We have just received a donation of your wonderful coloring books, and we absolutely LOVE them! I love the designs you did and how they can be used by a variety of ages. I personally look forward to using them with a lot of our teenagers that are dealing with chronic illness and pretty frequent hospitalizations. I think this is a great resource for us as Child Life Specialists to allow our patients a safe space to express themselves using art, words or both, and then giving them the opportunity to share any of it with us if they so choose. Through your books, you will be touching the hearts of so many children and families all over the world and helping to improve their lives. Thank you for sharing this resource with us!”
Saint Peter’s University Hospital
Art Therapy Team
New Brunswick, New Jersey

“These books capture readers’ attention with its color and focus on nature, wildlife, healing, and growth. Testimonials speak to their educational and engaging content which will help the Y’s leaders and counselors connect with youth to discuss topics such as emotional processing and cultivating mental wellness through self-affirming language within a nature-based framework. The Y’s counselors are committed to leading youth on a journey of inner transformation and personal enrichment through individual and/or group sessions one to two times per week. The sessions will utilize the book’s lessons to assist youth in reflection and discussion. Concluding each session, student participants will set goals that will support their relationship with ʻāina in relation to their personal mental health and wellness. Student participants will explore themselves through the book with the guidance from the Y’s counselors. The Y believes this book has the capacity to elicit thoughts and discussions on how students can improve their emotional well-being. These books have the potential to help the students we serve by providing a focus to think about, discover more about themselves and hopes for the future. The books will help foster a positive outlook on themselves, build and strengthen their individual support systems, and learn to utilize skills that will assist them in navigating through challenges in their lives. Thank you for investing in the area of mental health and wellness for youth.”
YMCA Youth Mentoring Program
Oahu Hawaii

“I find nature to be an essential ingredient to emotional health and healing. Nature is also something many kids are missing out from in their everyday lives. Therefore, I feel the combination of the nature, art and social emotional education is the perfect match up to support our youth. These books would serve as a guide and tool to work and support students, assist them in reflecting on themselves, build relationships and support problem solving skills. These books could serve as a tool to educate students on nature and the healing properties of nature. Nature and the outdoors serve as a positive escape for students and can serve as another layer of support. I believe my students will enjoy learning about themselves as they also reflect on nature. Many students are naturally drawn to nature and animals and this provides a great avenue to help students explore, and engage in self-discovery as they also connect to nature and themselves. I love each of the topics the books tap into and will truly support each student as they learn about themselves and how they can navigate the world. I believe our most important relationship is the one we form with ourselves and this book is the perfect tool to walk students down the path of self-discovery and self-empowerment. I believe these books will help my students learn who they are and who they want to be as well as learn how nature can be a source of grounding, clarity and support through their life’s journey.”
Melissa Gonzales – Mental Health Specialist
O’Dea and Riffenburgh Elementary and Boltz Middle School
Fort Collins, Colorado

A very creative teacher shared how he is planning on using the Discover Oahu book during the coming school year: “In the heart of our educational odyssey, we set our sights on nurturing the minds of elementary school voyagers in Grades K - 5. These young explorers, who bravely embark on the wondrous journey of Hawaiian Studies, form a lively crew of approximately 300 students. Throughout the school year, each of these eager learners will dive deep into the rich tapestry of culture, history, and stories that define our heritage, guided by the compass of curiosity and the maps of knowledge we aim to provide through the Discover Oahu expressive art books. The treasures we seek are not mere pages bound in ink, but portals to realms of imagination and profound reflection. These books possess the magical ability to ignite the creative spark within young minds, nurturing their innate capacity to dream, grow, and express themselves. Moreover, they serve as invaluable guides in our quest to foster cultural awareness and instill a deep appreciation for the rich heritage of our students. As a navigator of knowledge, these books will empower me to enrich my curriculum with vibrant lessons that spark lively discussions on culture, identity, and personal enrichment. They provide a sturdy foundation for project-based learning, where students are encouraged to draw inspiration from the book's themes and create their own unique stories and artworks. This creative journey will transport my students into the center of their own story and leave an indelible mark on their hearts and minds. My hope for my students is that they will have a safe space to explore their inner world of thoughts and feelings, boost their confidence and self-belief, find their unique voice and become radiant beacons of hope and kindness in their communities.”
Mr. Alston Alika Albarado - Hawaiian Studies Teacher
Jefferson Elementary School
Oahu Hawaii

“I am excited to use these books on future backpacking trips with our middle schoolers. We host a program called CoPack where we take some of our community’s most at risk youth on backpacking trips during the summer. I like that these books will provide structured activities to complete in the outdoors so that our students are receiving high quality SEL education while having enriching outdoor experiences. I believe that art and reflection have the potential to be incredibly healing for people of all ages and that these books would provide a unique avenue to participate in art therapy. I believe that these books will support our students to heal and grow through interactive experiences with nature. These books will empower them to see how they can contribute and make the world a better place. The youth I serve come from very diverse backgrounds with a high population of students who qualify for free and reduced lunch and have experienced various traumas. We work hard at Lincoln to provide opportunities for our students to find hope and healing due to various traumas they have experienced in their lives. These books would support their process for hope and healing and supplement our backpacking programs SEL curriculum in a very helpful way. I hope that my students find a connection to nature and themselves through going on this journey.”
Sarah Bolduc – School Counselor
Lincoln Middle School
Fort Collins, Colorado

“These books are an amazing tool to use with students to teach skills as well as relaxation. I love using art and alternative methods to teach skills. I think these books are also a great way for our students to connect with the culture of the island. I am also part of a family engagement program that is starting and I love that component as well! My students come from low income home and military families where they do not always feel connected to the culture of where they are living and/or have the means to purchase materials like this for their children. I know they will love the relaxation part of coloring and the art component! I hope they love learning more about these elements and reflecting on their own journeys.”
Amy Hart - Behavioral Health Specialist
Helemano Elementary School
Oahu Hawaii

“Thank you for your beautiful expressive art coloring books! We use them to work with patients for art therapy and to work out feelings. We help children on so many levels because we are based in a low socio-economic area in which children have more than health concerns when coming thru our doors. Your books are so much more than a coloring book, the reflective questions provide valuable opportunities for processing, healing and growth.”
St. Christopher's Hospital for Children
Art Therapy Team
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

“I really like how these books are laid out. They are easy to follow, yet very meaningful. I like that each section gives prompts for conversations and reflections, and the coloring portion of it takes the pressure and awkwardness away from the intense conversation. I think that my students will love that they get to color while we work through these meaningful discussions and conversations. They will also really enjoy sharing with each other, and hearing from one another. This will be really great practice for the kids and challenge them to be vulnerable, caring, empathetic, and respectful. I hope that my students feel seen and cared for. 80% of change in a counseling relationship or small group comes from feeling belonging. I can see these books being a starting point for that to happen in our groups.”
Ali Anderson – School Counselor
New Vision Charter School
Loveland, Colorado

“These topics, reflection questions, and opportunity for students to express themselves will allow me, as a counselor, connect with my students. This can be done as a whole class, small group setting, or individual counseling. I enjoy these journal prompts because students need other ways to communicate besides talking. Students often can better express themselves through drawing and writing how they feel. These journal pages can provide a place for self-reflection, emotional regulation, and relationship building. In this space I will have an opportunity to get to know my students at a deeper level and better understand how they express themselves.Our students will love connecting and learning about the coloring/pictures that are in the book. We have students that are curious and always hungry to learn. They will also like the variety of reflection prompts. Our students will enjoy learning more about where they come from, the land and animals that surround them. Not all students have the privilege of having a Hawaiiana Kumu, therefore these books can be a step in bridging the gap of learning about their island home. Many of our kids come from low-income families. This means that parents are constantly working and trying to provide for their keiki. As a result of this, students struggle with emotional literacy, conflict resolution, and coping skills, etc. These books will serve as one resource to help students better understand themselves, practice relationship building, and learn new coping techniques and strategies. I hope that our students can experience a sense of freedom to express themselves without any judgment. That our students feel comfortable and safe to share their thoughts and feelings. I hope that our students experience a sense of belonging and pride of where they come from. We hope that through this journey students learn more about themselves and grow as individuals.”
Kylee Ancheta - School Counselor
Kalihi Uka Elementary
Oahu Hawaii

“Your expressive art coloring books have been a wonderful resource for facilitating self-expression and helping to build rapport with children/teens admitted for behavioral health crisis intervention. We want every child and youth to feel valued and to know their voice matters. Your books help our kids recognize their strengths and build coping techniques to help them in the hospital and in their lives overall. Thank you for your donation!”
University of Maryland Children’s Hospital
Art Therapy Team
Baltimore, Maryland

“There are a significant percentage of students who prefer drawing over writing. I think that the combination of the two activities ensures more buy-in from the whole group of students. The ability to be creative, express themselves in unique ways, and to use a coping skill (art) while they are thinking through topics related to social-emotional learning are some of my other favorite parts about these expressive art activity books. I think there are some students for whom it’s helpful to have a structured activity in front of us when we are talking. For students who are shy, quiet, or have a harder time talking about their thoughts and feelings, the books can give us a starting place. It will enable me to better connect to those students and to understand their experiences, strengths, challenges, etc. I believe one component that the youth will be most excited about is the concept of growing one page at a time. Analogies can be particularly effective with middle school aged children and I think they’ll appreciate some of the analogies present in the books that can be tied to real life experiences. It will also be exciting for them to look back when they finish the book to see where they were when we started the counseling group to where they are at the end of the group. I appreciate the nature element of these books. In a society that has become obsessed with screen-time and time indoors, I think it’s good to encourage time outside wherever possible. Even seeing the animals and nature scenes could be enough to remind our students of the importance of wildlife and the great outdoors - for our physical, social-emotional, and mental health. Nature has such holistic benefits for everyone and I hope the books will inspire the youth to explore the world outside.”
Andrea Wallace – School Counselor and Head of School Counseling Dept.
Turner Middle School
Loveland, Colorado

“The age group that I primarily serve and would like to focus this resource on are adolescents, ages 14-18. I like that the books have images of the areas that would be familiar to these students and the pages blank to be colored in. I love that it integrates mindfulness with the natural settings in which they live in every day. I think these books will help the students to slow down, appreciate their surroundings and integrate themselves into their familiar haunts, beginning to have connection to self and to their land. I think there is a real trend to become more familiar with one’s roots and cultural traditions that these resources will help the emerging identities of adolescents shape how they relate to Hawai’ian values. I think it’s important to be able to cultivate identity formation at this particular stage of development and this seems like an easy-to-digest way of introducing concepts and practices. Using the book would be an adjunct to talk-therapy, a carved-out space to reflect or begin each session and open up discussions related to multiple identities they might hold. I think my students will most like the aspect of coloring but having guided questions along with each page leads to a confident objective to achieve and an easy way to introduce talking points. Students often flounder with the open-ended nature of therapy and having a guide will provide safety and boundaries for them to gain confidence in understanding the purpose behind the reflections and discussion. It’s my hope that they gain a deeper understanding on how to reflect on values and personalize them to make meaning of how their culture and place they live shapes some of these values. I would like for them to also see the beauty in their home and instill a sense of ownership in protecting the aspects of nature that will benefit generations to come. I appreciate this resource and love to find innovative ways to introduce mindfulness techniques to my students. I think these books are visually interesting and diverse, the lessons artfully arranged and build off of one another. I think that they will appeal to most everyone and am grateful you are offering this resource up for free to so many keiki!”
Breanna Thornton - Counselor
Windward School District
Oahu Hawaii

“Thank you for your wonderful expressive art coloring activity books. We use the books as a way for patients to express their emotions following a trauma, loss, or during hospitalization. We appreciate the blank spaces for children & teens to express feelings in an open-ended way. For example, the prompts aren't specific to traumatic events (accident, death, etc.) but are very open to interpretation by the child or teen.”
Duke Children’s Hospital
Art Therapy Team
Durham, North Carolina

“As a counselor I feel these books could benefit our students through my small social-emotional groups. Sometimes kids can more easily process their emotions through art. As we know, a coping skill for strong emotions is getting out in nature, so this could aid me in teaching important skills and self-reflection in a fun way. In addition, I feel it would encourage us all to get out into nature that is right in our own backyards. Students will take their books home and have discussions with parents. One ‘homework’ assignment would be getting out in nature, and RMNP could be an avenue in which to do this. In leading my small groups, I think these books could be a great supplement and guide to important social-emotional topics. I think my students will benefit from the RMNP books. I think they will like the integration of nature through the habitat of our national park just outside our school district. It will be a fun way to talk about personal traits, insights, coping skills, and to look at the world outside of ourselves. I also think it will encourage students and families to seek nature, specifically RMNP, to see the animals/scenery in the pictures they’re coloring. As a result, being in nature creates a sense of calm and self-reflection as a coping skill.”
Erin Jobman – School Counselor
New Vision Charter School
Loveland, Colorado

“I meet with and counsel students both individually and in small group settings, usually on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. I work with students on developing their emotional intelligence. I plan to use the books with students to help connect to our culture, and as a coping mechanism to assist them with learning how to express themselves in a healthy and positive way. I work with students from ages Kindergarten to 6th grade. Because my time with each student is limited, these books will help me with promoting cultural values intertwined with art as a healthy and positive coping mechanism. I feel like these pages provide imagery to students who may not always get a chance to see the beauty that we have access to in Hawaiʻi, specifically on Oʻahu. I have met many students from the Waiʻanae Coast who have expressed to me that they have never been to another island or even to the other side of Oʻahu. It is astonishing that they learn about the other islands in school, but they have yet to explore the very island they live on. I feel like they will try to relate to the illustrations by sharing what they know, what they have heard of, or even what they wonder about. I am hoping that these pages will inspire their curiosity to learn more about the beauty of our island and culture, and instill within them a sense of pride and belonging. The students I meet with, often have experienced trauma or continue to experience trauma, and I use art as a healthy way to calm their minds while replacing negative imagery with positive imagery. I find that students open up about their experiences when their hands are busy doing coloring or drawing.”
Chelae Primacio-Taua - Behavioral Health Specialist
Oahu School District
Oahu Hawaii

“We just received your donation of expressive art coloring books and our team is really looking forward to sharing these with our patients throughout all of the pediatric areas of our hospital! The coloring pages of nature and wildlife are so beautiful and are really great for so many ages. Thanks for creating these books to help encourage children and youth on their journey and to give them a way to help express what they’re going through. We’re truly grateful!”
Baystate Children’s Hospital
Art Therapy Team
Springfield, Massachusetts

“As an educator and LCSW I love the guided reflective response opportunities along with the opportunities to color. As a former mental health therapist in the schools this combination works perfect for small group work; students have the time to reflect and can color while the group discusses the responses (no one has to sit and stare at each other when sharing). I think the prompts with the guided discussion of one of the SEL Specialists allows for our students to deepen their understanding of key concepts related to SEL, relate these concepts to their own experiences, and allow for growth and increased self-confidence. I believe the students will like the opportunities to color most, however I do believe the students will really enjoy the reflection and opportunities to talk in small groups. I think these books will deepen their self-awareness, make connections to their life related to concepts that will deepen their values.”
Jennifer Chadwick – Social Emotional Learning Coordinator
Thompson School District
Loveland, Colorado

“I plan to use these books in my Advisory class. What I like most about this book is the connections between the pictures (ʻaina), themes with all students. All students should be able to relate, connect and reflect on the pictures or themes. And by doing so will tell their story thatʻs in their mind and heart. This book will help me to learn more about my students and how they are feeling. Students are comfortable sharing their feelings through writings because they struggle with expressing their emotions, thoughts and feelings in conversations. This book is a good resource/tool for SEL purposes. I believe students who are given the opportunity to express themselves in ways that make them feel safe, and simple enough to do, and have fun with it leads to positive outcomes. Also, the pictures and themes will help them to reflect on whatʻs on their mind and heart. And itʻs not graded! The book will help them to just have fun with it and express themselves in drawing! Students love to draw no matter what age they are at. I hope at the end of their journey, for them to reflect and assess their growth from day one to the last day of their middle school journey that will better equip their transition into high school.”
Chendra Kauahikaua - Teacher
Kaimuki Middle School
Oahu Hawaii

“We are so excited to begin using your expressive art coloring books for therapeutic interventions with our patients. We love the focus on different reflections while also allowing a spot for journaling or free expression. The coloring pages will surround the children and teens with the beauty of nature that they are missing while being in the hospital. What a great thing you created and we are so thankful for your donation!”
Studer Family Children’s Hospital
Art Therapy Team
Pensacola, Florida

“We work with kindergarten through 12th grade students. Most students we directly work with are receiving Special Education services. One of our roles is to provide mental health support in order to enhance growth in the area of mental health and wellbeing as well as social emotional wellness. Art is a great way for students to express themselves. We also like the reflection questions that come with each sheet. Many of the students we work with enjoy hands on activities and art is a great way to get them expressing themselves. Additionally, we find it is effective to talk about deeper emotions with students while we are engaged in something like art versus just straight talking. Additionally, many of our students enjoy being able to keep something they created so having it all in a book is great.”
Social Working Team at Thompson Valley School District
Loveland, Colorado

“I really like that each page includes an “express yourself” component for the student to be reflective and creative in a way that makes sense for each individual. I also like how each page could be connected to our school’s mission of Aloha, Kuleana (responsibility), and/or Pono (balance/righteousness) which we want everyone at our school to live every day/all day. It also connects to our school’s vision of “empowering to move forward”. The book allows the students to make connections in their own way, but also gives them some continuity when they have discussions or need to problem solve. I especially like the full-circle theme of the book and the actionable steps that students can take by the end of the book - shifting from the individual to the good of the community. We are also a project-based learning school with a focus on mauka and makai. I can see how the themes/artwork in the book could be related back to the projects that are happening in the classrooms. So many possible connections! I feel these books with the artwork, along with the guiding questions, will bring us together as a school to be able to have common understandings and a way to open up a dialogue in classrooms. As a school, we were looking for something that was based in our culture and that was something teachers or our counselor could use to connect with students even if they were not from the same background/culture. I honestly think our students will absolutely LOVE the artwork! And that they can put their own individual stamp on it by choosing how to color each piece of art. I think it will help them to become more reflective in their daily lives, to see how they fit into their world, and how they can play a role in making their ‘āina a better place for their children and to make their ancestors proud. It would also help our students to strengthen their sense of belonging and to celebrate their culture. Again, I hope that they will become self-reflective, appreciate what they have, and become stewards of the ‘āina they live on.”
Donna Kawasaki - Academic Coach
Waiāhole Elementary
Oahu Hawaii

“As Supervisor of Child Life at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital, I can speak to the wonderful benefits of the Expressive Art Coloring Books in the hospital setting. Here at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital, we see a variety of patients of all ages with a variety of medical needs. Going through any healthcare experience as a child can be traumatic, our goal as Child Life Specialist's is to help patients cope in this unfamiliar environment. By providing emotional expression activities, we are able to allow for a sense of control and mastery. These Expressive Art Coloring Books are the perfect resource to facilitate alongside our patients but also to utilize as a resource on an individual basis.”
St Joseph Children’s Hospital
Art Therapy Team
Tampa, Florida

“As a mental health specialist, I love integrating nature while teaching about self-awareness, self-acceptance, and personal growth. The more children learn how to incorporate journaling, art, and the outdoors to soothe, calm, and regulate themselves, the better equipped they are to develop lifelong coping strategies. Having set talking points is a great way to get children to open up and reflect on or talk about their experiences. Especially when it comes to emotions and connecting with others. And coloring promotes relaxation, expression and confidence. I love the connection to the beauty of nature that surrounds us. Students love to have a workbook that is theirs to personalize. Having a place to journal their thoughts and ideas in addition to coloring sheets, adds to their creativity. And connecting their thoughts, emotions, and beliefs to the world around them. Having a personal workbook is something they can carry with them and refer back to. I want students to walk away with strategies and the confidence that they have the strength to get through tough situations utilizing their inner strengths.”
Natalie Denkers - Mental Health/Social Emotional Specialist
Garfield Elementary
Loveland, Colorado

“As a leader, what I appreciate most about the Discover Art for Youth books is their ability to ignite creativity and curiosity in our young minds. These books not only introduce artistic expression but also encourage critical thinking. They provide a platform for meaningful discussions about aina, culture, and creativity, helping to broaden the horizons of the youth and encourage them to explore new ideas and perspectives. By engaging with the content of these books, I can facilitate discussions that promote empathy, cultural understanding, and appreciation for diversity among the youth I lead. Furthermore, the Discover Art for Youth books offer practical guidance on how to organize and facilitate art-related activities effectively, which will enhance my leadership skills in planning and executing engaging and enriching experiences for the youth. By incorporating these resources into my leadership toolkit, I can create opportunities for the youth to discover their talents, build confidence, and develop important life skills through the transformative power of art. The premise of this book aligns perfectly with our goals of fostering hope, cultural awareness, and individual development. To carve out time for this journey, I plan to integrate the reflection topics from the book into our existing programming. I'll designate specific sessions or workshops focused on each reflection topic, ensuring that we have dedicated time to explore and discuss them thoroughly. Additionally, I'll encourage the youth to engage with the book outside of our scheduled sessions, whether it's through independent reading or journaling. This will allow them to delve deeper into the content and reflect on their personal experiences and insights. Furthermore, I'll facilitate group discussions and activities that encourage peer interaction and support, creating a sense of community and shared learning throughout the journey. Overall, my plan is to create a supportive and nurturing environment where the youth feel empowered to explore their inner selves, embrace their cultural heritage, and chart their paths towards personal enrichment and growth. I believe the youth will be drawn to several aspects of the books and the journey they offer. Firstly, the interactive nature of the reflection topics and activities will likely appeal to their sense of exploration and discovery. These books provide a hands-on approach to learning, allowing the youth to actively engage with the content and express their thoughts and feelings in creative ways. Secondly, the journey mapped out by the books touches on themes of hope, culture, and personal growth, which are universally relevant and resonant with young people. The opportunity to explore these topics in depth and reflect on their own experiences and aspirations will likely captivate their interest and inspire introspection. Moreover, the journey facilitated by the books offers a sense of empowerment and agency to the youth. By guiding them through a process of self-discovery and inner transformation, the books encourage them to take ownership of their personal development and pursue their aspirations with confidence and determination. Overall, I believe the youth will appreciate the books for their ability to spark creativity, foster self-awareness, and inspire them to embrace their unique identities and cultural heritage as they embark on a journey of growth and fulfillment. I believe these books will be instrumental in supporting the holistic development of the youth I serve in several key ways. Firstly, they provide a structured framework for self-reflection and personal growth, offering valuable tools and insights to navigate the challenges and opportunities they encounter in their lives. Secondly, the thematic exploration of hope, culture, and growth in the books will help the youth develop a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them. By engaging with diverse perspectives and experiences, they can cultivate empathy, resilience, and cultural awareness, which are essential qualities for navigating an increasingly complex and interconnected global society. Moreover, the creative and interactive nature of the books will inspire the youth to explore their interests, talents, and passions, fostering a sense of purpose and self-confidence. Through hands-on activities and reflective exercises, they can discover their strengths, overcome obstacles, and chart their own paths towards fulfillment and success. Overall, I believe these books will serve as invaluable resources for empowering the youth to realize their full potential, cultivate positive relationships, and make meaningful contributions to their communities and the world at large. On this journey through the books, my hope is for the youth to experience a profound sense of self-discovery, empowerment, and growth. I envision them engaging deeply with the reflection topics and activities, exploring their thoughts, feelings, and aspirations in a safe and supportive environment. I hope the youth will encounter moments of inspiration and insight as they navigate through the themes of hope, culture, and personal growth. Through this exploration, I aim for them to develop a greater sense of self-awareness, understanding, and acceptance, embracing their unique identities and cultural heritage with pride and confidence. Additionally, I hope the journey will ignite their imagination and creativity, encouraging them to dream big and pursue their passions with determination and enthusiasm. As they reflect on their goals and aspirations, I envision the youth gaining clarity and direction, as well as the resilience and perseverance to overcome obstacles and setbacks along the way. Ultimately, my hope is for the youth to emerge from this journey with a renewed sense of purpose, agency, and optimism for the future. I aspire for them to carry forward the lessons and insights they've gained into their lives, inspiring positive change within themselves and their communities.”
Elise Price - Principal
Voyageurs Public Charter School
Oahu Hawaii

“Thank you for providing your expressive art coloring books to our Child Life team!  We love the way you created the books in a way that is very appropriate for all ages. The coloring pages are simple enough the younger children can do them but they are not childish so we can use them with our teen patients as well. We also appreciate how you included simple questions for the children and youth to reflect on which fills their minds with positive thoughts and helps them realize how strong, courageous and brave they truly are. It also helps them evaluate so many beautiful pieces of their lives. Your books are truly a gift.”
Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
Art Therapy Team
St. Petersburg, Florida

“I love that students have access to these invaluable social and emotional concepts through art and creativity. Since we are a mountain school, students are limited to mental health support due to cost, transportation, and/or availability. This book will allow access for all students. I think my students will love the nature scenes that are similar to their own backyards here in the mountains. Part of our mission is land stewardship and outdoor education, which ties nicely with the theme of the “Discover Rocky Mountain” book.  We also have many artistic students at our school who will greatly benefit through this creative approach to social/emotional learning.”
Kristen Kron - School Counselor
Nederland Elementary
Nederland, Colorado

“It is wonderful to have curriculum and lessons that are designed ready to implement such as these.  What I like the most is that includes reflective questions and space to express themselves.  And how interactive the pages are with coloring activity. I feel these books will help the students in many different areas such as self awareness, self regulation, and learning how others feel.  I hope they become more self aware and have learned tools to help manage life's ups and downs.”
Fay Angeles-Aguda - School Counselor
Nanakuli Elementary School
Oahu Hawaii

“Thank you so much for donating your expressive art coloring books to our children! We are very excited to receive these and know that the patients are going to love them! Thank you so much!”
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
Art Therapy Team
Nashville, Tennessee

“Our school doesn’t have an SEL curriculum so I have asked some local counselors if they have any good resources they’d recommend and your books were highly recommended. I’d love to incorporate them into a whole school SEL curriculum. I love that these books are engaging, therapeutic, have a calming effect while appreciating nature, ask some deeper questions, can help move to a positive mindset, and can be used with many age groups and in a variety of ways. So many of my students I meet with LOVE art. When we discuss coping skills, many choose drawing, painting, and journaling as their top strategy. I think many of our middle school students will like the deeper questions and having time to reflect on those, most would enjoy class discussions and sharing with one another. I feel these books will help our youth work through and regulate emotions, can calm many of them, and will give them an opportunity to be creative and have self-expression. Many of the topics and questions can help bring about awareness, transformation, confidence, and a connection to nature and others around them. I think the youth will see that art/nature/journaling can create a calming effect and can be used as a tool in life to deal with their emotions. My hope is that they will experience enjoyment out of the lessons and gain a better understanding of who they are, who they can be, and how important it is to know they are unique and special.”
Bethany Anderson – School Counselor
St. John the Evangelist
Loveland, Colorado

“One of the things that I like and appreciate about this book is that it weaves mental health, art, place based learning, Hawaiian culture, and ʻāina elements into SEL. One of the things that our school is currently trying to work on is finding more opportunities to incorporate Hawaiian and local Hawaiʻi culture into our classroom and campus. Personally, another thing that I like about this book is that it has art and culture. As a school counselor, you need to know your students on an individual level and understand what works for them and what does not. For some of my students, a 1:1 session in which we only talk is not always the most effective way of reaching out to them. However, some students are more reflective and receptive when things like art, games, culture, journal entries/writing, music, physical tasks, crafts, etc. are weaved into  counseling. I believe that counseling can be great for students but we need to make it relevant to them, so the flexibility in how, where, and what we use to counsel are very important factors when it comes to empowering our students. I can use this book to work with students who connect deeply with art, ʻāina, animals, and/or Hawaiian culture. In addition to using these books with students, I also envision myself and/or school leadership utilizing the book in SEL related workshops or professional development opportunities. The activities in the book can be a great stepping stone for teachers who are new to SEL or still have not developed the confidence to teach it. I also believe that this book can be used in helping our teachers to embrace vulnerability within themselves, their feelings/emotions, and life experiences. We are always encouraging our students to be open with us about how they are feeling and what they are going through but it can be hard to explain vulnerability to our students if we do not practice it with ourselves. The activities in this book offer those moments of self-reflection and vulnerability that our teachers can learn to appreciate. Completing the activities and also being able to talk to colleagues about it is also a great way to build community within the faculty and support staff members. We only know our colleagues through the lenses of how they portray themselves at work but seldom do we ever have opportunities to learn about who they really are outside of work. It is through the sharing of stories and life experiences that we gain a new perspective and understanding of someone. Lastly, I would like to give one last mahalo to your organization. You are doing some awesome work in the communities!”
Geneva Costales
Kahala Elementary School - School Counselor
Oahu Hawaii

“The Discover coloring books are amazing for our pediatric patients. These books are a great addition to helping our patients cope positively while in the hospital setting. Due to COVID-19 our patients are unable to walk the halls of the hospital and are often confined to their rooms, having the Discover coloring books allows our patients a little escape and assists in promote guided imagery, reducing stress and anxiety as well as being fun to color! My role as a CCLS is to reduce stress and anxiety and The River coloring books help me do my job better.”
CoxHealth Dee Ann White Children's Hospital
Art Therapy Team
Springfield, Missouri

“Our middle schoolers are having a lot of struggles with mental health, suicidal ideation, low self-worth and self-efficacy. These books help them take a break from social media and take a moment to notice how they are feeling, what is going on around them, staying mindful and present. This is a great resource to engage kids and get them out of their heads and phones. My students will love the journey of combining nature, art, and self-discovery. I think they will find a connection with themselves and the state that they luckily live in.”
Veronica Bechara - Mental Health Specialist
Wellington Middle High School
Wellington, Colorado

“The world isn’t as gentle and empathetic as it once was, so we need to help students seek growth and learn to manage emotions more effectively. I hope they will enjoy the learning part, I hope they will be excited and more engaged in conversations and will find growth for themselves and learn to support one another while building connections and increasing their understanding of themselves as well as those around them.”
Jennifer Nakamura - Explorations teacher for Na Mea Hawaii
Parker Elementary School
Oahu Hawaii

“Having the opportunity to engage in a normalizing activity like coloring can be so helpful for patients and their families in coping with hospitalization. Not only does coloring help to provide a way to pass time and keep engaged, it is also a familiar and comforting activity to many, which is so valuable in a place that can often be very unfamiliar, scary or overwhelming like a hospital. Thank you for providing the opportunity for our patients and families to engage with this important therapeutic book!”
Children’s Hospital of Michigan
Art Therapy Team
Detroit, Michigan

“Through the books, students will be learning SEL skills by relating it to the Aina and the culture they are surrounded by. These books will deepen our Hawaiian studies curriculum in many ways. It will help develop a love for reading and understanding of how we are connected to our Aina. It will help perpetuate our past, connect it to today and help explore and plan for a better future. Although we communicate to students their responsibility to be a citizen of the community, providing them with an Aloha Aina SEL connection will deepen their understanding and connection. Students will learn how important our Aina and our resources are and how we need to malama/take care and appreciate what we have. Our hope is that students will be encouraged to speak about their learning from this series to build in family learning time at home. It will allow students to learn from others such as our kupuna to understand the history of Hawaii and make sense of who we are today based on our past to make tomorrow better. We will be connecting generations together for the common good and learning from each other.”
Jolene Imada - Hawaiian Studies Teacher
Pauoa Elementary
Oahu Hawaii

“Children need play, art, music, activities to work through and process the hard stuff.  As a child life specialist, I get to create opportunities for children and families to work through hard topics utilizing play as a modality to do that. Your expressive art coloring books help the children and youth we care for discover they can make it through the hard times they are experiencing and provides a valuable resource for us to initiate deeper conversations about their thoughts and emotions.”
Gundersen Health System
Art Therapy Team
La Crosse, Wisconsin

“These books remind me of the Six interconnected dimensions of wellbeing, rooted in Native Hawaiian values, Holism, Multidimensionality, and social justice. Ea, ‘Āina Momona, Pilina, Waiwai, ‘Ōiwi, & Ke Akua Mana. I like how the books offer an alternate way of providing support for those that learn in different approaches. This would help provide a healing resource for youth to express themselves and aid them on their creative journey.”
Jonathan Anderson-Leonard - Counselor
Oahu School District
Oahu Hawaii

“We just received a donation of your expressive art coloring books and our team could not be more excited! The coloring pages are so beautiful and perfect for all ages, children through teens. These books are going to be used with our Oncology, Neurology, Rehab, and Hematology patients! These will be a great expressive activity for them! Thank you for doing something so positive for patients in the hospital. Your mission is incredibly moving. Thank you for this generous donation, you are impacting SO many lives!”
Marshfield Children’s Hospital
Art Therapy Team
Marshfield, Wisconsin

“I appreciate how the book encourages self-reflection and personal growth while promoting a culture of lifelong learning. Given the unique cultural context of Hawaii, we can also explore self-expression through art. By utilizing this resource, students will not only gain insight into the diverse cultural land of Hawaii, but also be equipped to embrace creativity as a therapeutic tool to empower students that they matter, and can make this world a better place. I believe that youth will be captivated by the immersive journey that this book has to offer. The vivid imagery and landscape of Hawaii's natural beauty is likely to spark their imagination and sense of adventure, creating an inviting and engaging experience! Additionally, the counseling content woven into the narrative provides valuable insights and tools for personal growth and self-discovery, which youth may find empowering and relevant to their own lives. Each of them have their own unique journey. The combination of scenery and meaningful counseling themes creates a compelling journey that resonates with students, inviting them to explore both the external beauty of Hawaii and the inner landscapes of their own emotions and experiences. On this journey, I hope that youth will experience a profound sense of connection, both to Hawaii and the themes of personal growth and resilience woven throughout the book. I hope they will feel inspired and empowered by the stories of individuals overcoming challenges and finding strength within themselves. Ultimately, I hope that this journey will ignite a sense of creativity and self-expression within them, encouraging them to explore their own thoughts, feelings, and experiences in meaningful and transformative ways. Overall, I hope that the youth will emerge from this journey with a renewed sense of resilience, a greater understanding of themselves and the world around them, and a profound appreciation for the beauty and complexity of life's journey.”
Kaylie Miyashita - Behavioral Health Specialist III
Red Hill Elementary
Oahu Hawaii

“As a Child Life Specialist who sees primarily teens, I couldn't be more thankful for this. Lengthy hospitalizations and new diagnoses have such an impact on teenagers, and it is great to have a resource that helps promote utilization of positive coping skills during such challenging experiences.”
Advocate Children's Hospital
Art Therapy Team
Park Ridge, Illinois

“What I like most about the books are that they integrate elements of our Hawaiian culture, traditions, and way of life into Social and Emotional Learning lessons. Through them, students can develop a deeper appreciation for and connection to the rich heritage and values of Hawaii Nei. I believe that these books have the potential to deliver invaluable social-emotional lessons, fostering the development of happy and healthy students. We hope kids will enjoy discovering new things about themselves and the world around them through nature, art, and reflection. Our goal is for them to feel stronger, kinder, and more hopeful as they go on this journey.”
Kellie Kobayashi - School Counselor
Haha’ione Elementary School
Oahu Hawaii

“When a child or family faces hospitalization, there are many emotions and challenges that come along with their medical experiences. Your expressive art coloring books are used frequently to help manage pain in an alternative way and allow children an outlet to express emotions. Engaging in art can reduce stress, anxiety, pain, and length of admissions. Even children who are nonverbal and cannot articulate how they are feeling, can use art to express themselves and process their experiences. Your books are unique because they are simple, but appropriate for children and teenagers of all ages. We love the format of the book with simple reflective questions and space for self-expression on the left and inspiring coloring pages of nature and wildlife on the right. The questions foster creativity, imagination and growth. As the children interact with the pages it provides a calming way to cope with what they are experiencing.  Thank you to your gift to our child life team and children here in Chicago!”
Children’s Hospital University of Illinois
Art Therapy Team
Chicago, Illinois

“As a leader at Nānāikapono Elementary School, I find immense value in the unique qualities that these books bring to our educational landscape. What truly resonates with me is their profound ability to serve as dynamic tools for fostering social-emotional learning (SEL) and cultivating a deeper understanding of our Hawaiian culture. These books not only facilitate the exploration of SEL concepts but also seamlessly integrate them with the rich tapestry of our heritage, providing students with a holistic and culturally relevant learning experience. One aspect that particularly stands out to me is the way in which these books serve as a bridge between SEL principles and our Hawaiian cultural values. By intertwining themes of resilience, empathy, and identity with narratives rooted in our local traditions and landscapes, these books offer students a meaningful framework for understanding themselves and their place within their community. This integration not only strengthens our students' connection to their cultural heritage but also equips them with essential social and emotional skills that are deeply rooted in our collective identity as Hawaiians. Furthermore, I appreciate how these books offer engaging and relatable narratives that resonate with students of all ages. Through compelling storytelling and vivid imagery, these books captivate the hearts and minds of our students, fostering a sense of inclusivity and belonging within our school community. In essence, the multifaceted nature of these books—bridging SEL concepts with Hawaiian cultural values, offering engaging narratives, and fostering a sense of inclusivity—aligns seamlessly with our school's mission to cultivate successful, resilient learners and leaders in an academically rigorous environment. As a leader, I am deeply grateful for the transformative impact that these books have on our students' social, emotional, and cultural development, and I am excited to see the profound journey of growth and discovery that lies ahead for our school community. I am deeply convinced that the integration of these books into our curriculum will be transformative for both our students and the broader school community. Their inclusion represents a commitment to providing a comprehensive education that goes beyond academic achievement to prioritize the holistic development of our youth. Central to the impact of these books is their ability to weave together themes of kindness, identity, and purpose—essential elements of social and emotional learning (SEL) that are fundamental to our students' growth and well-being. Through the lens of these lessons, they will be encouraged to reflect on their own values, beliefs, and experiences, fostering a sense of self- awareness and empathy that is essential for building strong interpersonal relationships and navigating diverse perspectives. Moreover, the incorporation of these books into our curriculum holds immense potential for fostering a positive school culture grounded in empathy, understanding, and mutual respect. By providing students with opportunities to explore themes of diversity, inclusion, and belonging, we can cultivate a sense of unity and collective responsibility within our school community. As a leader, I see these books as invaluable tools for nurturing a school environment where every individual feels valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. In summary, the integration of these books into our educational practices represents a commitment to fostering the holistic development of our students and cultivating a positive and inclusive school culture. By prioritizing social and emotional learning alongside academic excellence, we can equip our youth with the skills, knowledge, and values they need to succeed not only in the classroom but also in life beyond our school walls. As a leader, I am confident that these books will serve as catalysts for meaningful growth, learning, and connection within our school community. In implementing these enriching books at Nānāikapono Elementary School, our strategy is comprehensive and aims to seamlessly integrate them into various aspects of our curriculum. Our approach is designed to ensure that every student has the opportunity to engage deeply with the themes and content presented in these books. First and foremost, we will embed these books into our existing Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum. Recognizing the paramount importance of SEL in nurturing well- rounded individuals, we will facilitate age-appropriate discussions and activities across all grade levels that are directly aligned with the themes explored in the books. Our dedicated Papa Hawaii Kumu, with her extensive expertise in Hawaiian language and culture, will play a pivotal role in supporting teachers with lesson planning and seamlessly integrating these valuable resources into our Hawaiiana lessons. This collaborative effort will not only enhance students' understanding of SEL principles but also deepen their connection to our rich Hawaiian heritage. Furthermore, we envision these books becoming integral components of our language arts and social studies lessons. By utilizing them as springboards for exploration, we can delve into the nuances of Hawaiian culture, history, and geography in a meaningful and engaging manner. Through guided discussions, interactive activities, and hands-on projects, students will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the vibrant tapestry of our island community, fostering a sense of pride and appreciation for our collective heritage. In our commitment to providing a well-rounded education, we aspire to roll out these immersive learning experiences to our students during the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. By seamlessly integrating these books into our curriculum, we aim to create a dynamic and culturally responsive learning environment that empowers students to become engaged, empathetic, and globally minded citizens. Overall, our plan to use these books reflects our unwavering dedication to providing our students with enriching educational experiences that honor our past while fostering innovation and growth. We are excited about the transformative potential of these resources and look forward to witnessing the positive impact they will have on our students' learning journey.  I anticipate that our students will be deeply engaged and enamored by several aspects of the books and the experiential journey they offer. Firstly, the reminiscent illustrations within the pages will undoubtedly capture their attention and imagination. These visuals serve not only to enhance comprehension but also to immerse the readers in the rich tapestry of our community and cultural heritage. Through these illustrations, students will feel a palpable connection to the landscapes, traditions, and people depicted, fostering a sense of pride and belonging. Furthermore, I believe that the open-ended reflection questions interspersed throughout the text will serve as powerful catalysts for meaningful dialogue and introspection. In light of our recent introduction of Philosophy for Children, these questions present invaluable opportunities for students to delve into deeper discussions, share personal insights, and explore diverse perspectives. By encouraging students to reflect on their own experiences and beliefs, these questions will not only enhance critical thinking skills but also foster empathy, understanding, and mutual respect within the classroom community. Moreover, the thematic content of the books offers a refreshing departure from the more traditional English Language Arts and Math curriculum. By incorporating lessons that resonate with their lived realities and cultural backgrounds, students will find relevance and significance in their learning experiences. This alignment with their own life experiences not only enhances engagement but also empowers students to see themselves reflected in the curriculum, validating their identities and perspectives. In summary, the combination of visually captivating illustrations, thought-provoking reflection questions, and culturally relevant lessons will make the journey through these books an enriching and enjoyable experience for our youth. It is my firm belief that these books will not only ignite a passion for reading and learning but also nurture a deeper sense of connection, belonging, and understanding within our school community. These books hold immense potential to empower the youth we serve in multiple impactful ways. They offer invaluable opportunities for students to deepen their understanding of themselves, their peers, and the world around them. One significant avenue through which these books will benefit our youth is by fostering introspection and self-awareness. Through the exploration of culturally relevant lessons, students will be encouraged to reflect on their own identities, values, and beliefs. This process of self- discovery is fundamental to personal growth and development, enabling students to develop a stronger sense of self and a deeper understanding of their own unique strengths and qualities. Furthermore, these books provide a platform for meaningful family engagement, which plays a vital role in supporting students' social and emotional well-being. By incorporating family discussions and activities related to the themes of the books, we create opportunities for students and their families to connect on a deeper level and engage in conversations that promote understanding, empathy, and mutual support. This collaborative approach not only strengthens the bond between students and their families but also fosters a sense of belonging and connectedness within the school community. Moreover, by nurturing a sense of belonging both at school and at home, these books empower students to become resilient learners and leaders. When students feel valued, supported, and accepted in their school environment, they are more likely to actively engage in their learning and take on leadership roles within their communities. By cultivating a positive and inclusive school culture, we lay the foundation for students to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally, equipping them with the skills and mindset necessary for success in school and beyond. In essence, these books serve as catalysts for personal growth, familial connection, and community empowerment. By providing students with opportunities for self-reflection, family engagement, and a sense of belonging, we empower them to become confident, compassionate, and resilient individuals who are capable of making positive contributions to their communities and the world at large. Aligned with our school's mission of nurturing excellence in a safe and rigorous environment, we envision this journey through the books as a transformative experience for our students. Our foremost aspiration is for students to feel a profound sense of belonging—not only within the walls of our school but also within the embrace of their families and communities. As students embark on this journey, we hope they will be enveloped in an atmosphere of inclusivity, empathy, and understanding. Through the exploration of diverse characters, themes, and narratives, we aim to cultivate a school culture where every student feels valued, respected, and supported. By fostering a strong sense of belonging, we believe students will be more motivated and empowered to engage actively in their learning, pursue their passions, and strive for excellence in all areas of their lives. Furthermore, we hope this journey will be a catalyst for personal growth and development. By engaging with the social-emotional learning (SEL) lessons embedded within the books, students will have the opportunity to enhance their self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal skills. We envision students developing a deeper understanding of themselves and others, as well as acquiring practical strategies for navigating life's challenges with resilience and empathy. Moreover, we aspire for this journey to be a source of connection and collaboration between students, families, and educators. Through meaningful family engagement activities and discussions centered around the themes of the books, we seek to strengthen the bonds between students and their families, fostering a supportive network of mutual understanding and encouragement. Ultimately, our hope is for students to emerge from this journey with a renewed sense of confidence, purpose, and belonging. We believe that by providing a nurturing and enriching educational experience—one that combines academic rigor with social-emotional learning and cultural relevance—we can empower our youth to become compassionate, resilient, and socially responsible leaders in their communities and beyond. This journey represents an opportunity for our students to flourish and thrive, both academically and personally, as they embark on the path toward realizing their full potential. I intend to utilize these books across all grade levels as a means to foster unity and strengthen bonds among students within and across grade levels and classrooms. Leading this journey throughout the school year will be our dedicated Hawaiian studies kumu. With her expertise and experience in serving the entire school population, she is uniquely positioned to guide students through these lessons effectively. Our Hawaiian studies kumu will align the lessons from these books with her existing pacing guide, ensuring a seamless integration into the curriculum. By connecting these lessons to other moʻolelo (stories) and cultural teachings, she will create a cohesive and enriching educational experience that resonates deeply with our students' heritage and traditions. Through her leadership, students will not only deepen their understanding of the themes presented in the books but also develop a greater appreciation for the interconnectedness of Hawaiian culture and values. By having our Hawaiian studies kumu at the helm of this journey, we can ensure that each student receives comprehensive and culturally relevant instruction that honors our collective heritage and fosters a sense of belonging within the school community. Her guidance will be instrumental in creating meaningful connections between students, classrooms, and grade levels, ultimately contributing to a more unified and inclusive learning environment for all.”
Ashley Ono
Instructional Coach and Student Services Coordinator
Nānāikapono Elementary School
Oahu Hawaii