PO’IPU — The message from the director of education at the National Tropical Botanical Garden to the 74th annual convention of the Hawai’i Congress of Parents, Teachers and Students was loud and clear: Take charge. Namulau’ulu Dr. Gaugau Tavana, director
PO’IPU — The message from the director of education at the National Tropical Botanical Garden to the 74th annual convention of the Hawai’i Congress of Parents, Teachers and Students was loud and clear:
Take charge.
Namulau’ulu Dr. Gaugau Tavana, director of education at the garden’s Lawa’i Kai, Ha’ena and Florida locations, encouraged parents and teachers to take charge of their attitudes and their lives.
If they do, their lives will be fuller, said Tavana, who has been a teacher, principal, director of curriculum and teacher education, lecturer, researcher and education director.
“Every moment is crucial in life,” said Tavana, who holds a doctorate and various educational degrees. “Success is not at the end of the road. It’s in the journey.”
Parents taking active roles in the educational processes of their children are rewarded with children who attain higher academic achievement, better school attendance and graduation rates, and higher self-esteem than children whose parents aren’t as involved, he said.
Tavana was the Saturday morning keynote speaker at the Hawai’i PTSA convention at the Sheraton Kaua’i Resort.
While telling an audience of about 150 people that the most important institution is the home, Tavana encouraged them to remember their roots, for their sake as well as their children’s.
“Be proud of who you are,” he said, adding that if parents and children don’t know where they’re from, they likely won’t know where they’re going.
“Take charge of your own attitude. Be the best of whoever and whatever you are,” he continued. “Be what you ought to be. Don’t be afraid of failing. Look to the positive side of things. Take advantage of every opportunity.”
Staff Writer Paul C. Curtis can be reached at mailto:pcurtis@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 224).
