Teen/Young Adult male culture in Puna

[Cindy Blankenship]

Does anyone have experiences with their own kids or other insights to share on how much of a social adjustment it has been for their teens, especially boys. I've been homeschooling my 16 y.o. since fifth grade. He spent early childhood here but more of a mainlander now and not sure if I made the right decision in dragging him back here. Thanks

Cindy

[DanielP]

On the streets of BI there seems to be a frustration or an angry streak, partially racial thing, part lack of opportunity, until late 20's or job and marriage. Get him into Jr. college or U of H. This may help him keep his head up.

Dan

[punafish]

Cindy,
I tried emailing you through the forum but it got bounced back. If you send me an email through the forum I've got some information/thoughts that might help.
Tim

[Hawaiibound]

While it's true that all experiences will be different, I figure I'll share my experience with you.

I brought my 14 year old son here to Hawaii from Oregon to attend high school, he goes to Pahoa High School. Just yesterday he told me "school couldn't be better". I believe him, he seems happier than ever!

The phone rings and he has friends to talk to, there are even friends that live on this block. But he's home all the time besides school or very well looked into friends' homes so I'm not worried about the drugs or anything like that either.

I think it's highly possible to raise a healthy, happy kid that owns values which extend beyond work ethics and social interaction but also delves into the melting pot of ethnicities that Hawaii has to offer.

I truly hope this helps, Aloha!

-Rachael



~ Rachael

[Cindy Blankenship]

Thank you all for your responses. Rachel, I couldn't agree more, and this is a wonderful credit to you and your son. I taught at Waiakea here years ago and knew of kids that in spite of Pahoa's roughness wanted to go there for their drama dept. My daughter (now 30 something) went to Pahoa briefly and fought or cut almost everyday. So there you go. Our kids are all unique. I took your tips Daniel and Punafish on checking out UH (and thank you so much for your email Punafish). He doesn't like classes and hasn't taken one anywhere in like 4 years, but surprisingly is interested in a computer programming class that I showed him in the current course catalog. The university's director of admissions said he just needs to take the college board SAT and they have several home-schooled kids around this age. I know he'll do fine on it - if he makes it through the door at the testing location - and am picking up the study guide. Also checking out some other avenues to help with the social anxiety, etc.

Thanks again and aloha,

Cindy

[Tiffany Edwards]

We need to give kids something to do. I see these kids as BORED out of their minds. There isn't much going on in and around Pahoa. Think about how bored you must be as a teenager... especially if you aren't water oriented. Thankfully, we have the pool in Pahoa and there are keiki who surf... And I really see the Skate Park as a positive. There are so many kids coming into our surf shop looking at the skateboards, lots of kids are getting into it and we as parents need to embrace that as an outlet for positive energy... Something for them to do... hopefully we can have more of them on a lesser scale. I would like to see a bowl down at Pohoiki and the soon-to-be old Highway 137 along the shoreline turned into a walking path that includes a skate park.
I really hope as many parents as possible can help us get as many playgrounds and gyms as possible in and around the district. Two playgrounds are hoped to be installed next month, and one is next to the skate park. This playground is a co-mingling of the teens. It will allow moms like me there to watch the keiki at the playground to also watch what is going at the skate park... I seriously dislike all the derelict adults drinking and smoking by the tree next to the old fire station in Pahoa. The kids at the skate park resting in the backstop look down and see this going on, and this is their example. It is one thing for the cops to stand outside Pahoa Cash And Carry enforcing the Seatbelt Law, why not enforce the Public Intoxication Law. Needless to say, please forgive the rant. Just reading this string makes me think of how active we need to be as parents to ensure that our kids aren't swayed into negative energy. We desperately need a sports program worth a **** at the high school. I think that would create some school pride enough for kids to get good grades. And kick No Child Left Behind to the curb right away.
Blah Blah these are my insights on social adjustment of a teen in Hawaii... etc.

[JWFITZ]

I am busting on this, it's very important.

The local guys I hire, kids, not worth a damn, no father figure, they simply don't know how to work or why, but they immediately attach. I worked in juvenile justice years ago and know the gig. You hire them and you waste time teaching them to lug stuff they ought to be able to do. Well, it's a public service, and you can thank me that this kid will learn you to work and won't be breaking into your car port.

I'm going to teach these guys how to race sailing canoes. They see the one in my front yard, and well, the grin is nothing less than indigenous. . .

God, I want to build a 80 footer, out of steel!

[missydog1]

Cindy, just a note on the SAT -- he only takes it once and the score will follow him forever, and if it's really good it will open doors, so I would just advise he prep well before he does it.

I don't know how many tests like that he's taken, being home schooled, but it's a skill in itself, so it does take practice. Well, you probably know that.

I took the PSAT's junior year, SAT's senior year, long ago. I didn't take one of those courses that so many people do now, just used the workbook (and did the same for the GRE down the road, the workbooks are good, and cheap!).

Twenty years later, I decided to apply to Berkeley and they let me in with a special waiver (applied in spring, six months after admissions closed), and I asked why, and they said, your exceptional SAT scores. And I got a scholarship. So that high school test came to my rescue and paid off at age 37 ...

It's worth really hitting that practice workbook to get the absolute best showing and not just looking at it as something he knocks out so he can take a class. I mean, he can probably score well enough to take the class without much work, but it wouldn't be his best capability. Kids don't know how much higher education they may want down the road.

I audited a class at UHH, and the atmosphere was very good. Lots of young Japanese-American boys who appeared to be serious about school. Smart articulate people of both genders in the English class I took. Granted it was a senior seminar. Quite a few students from California. If he can get into university it would be a better atmosphere than the community college, not the that CC is junk or anything, but caters to more remedial issues.

Ed to add, if he has any kind of test anxiety, he should put himself under the pressure of timed tests. It's so different when you're not being timed.

[oink]

Just a note. You can now take the SAT more than once. You don't even have to retake the whole thing. You can retake the part you didn't do as well on. That should reduce a little anxiety pressure.

Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.

[Beachboy]

SAT a thing of the past? These test are losing their value almost daily! Time to consider a change perhaps?

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/03/17/uc

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/06/23/sat


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