KALAHEO — The sound of jingle bells was almost drowned out by the rumble of morning traffic on Papalina Road Wednesday. Santa, er, Aloha Santa, joined the Kalaheo Elementary School Walking School Bus, the final one in the 2013 calendar
KALAHEO — The sound of jingle bells was almost drowned out by the rumble of morning traffic on Papalina Road Wednesday.
Santa, er, Aloha Santa, joined the Kalaheo Elementary School Walking School Bus, the final one in the 2013 calendar year.
“That suit gets really hot,” Santa said. “I can walk to the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center as Aloha Style Santa. I am proud to give back to a community which has given me so much of the aloha spirit. The spirit of Christmas will love to walk with the keiki of Kalaheo.”
Erik Burkman, Kalaheo School principal, said the walking school bus takes place once a month as a way of bringing attention to the merits of walking, moving one’s body and getting oxygen to the brain.
“The larger goal of the Walking School Bus is to improve the sidewalks and roads in Kalaheo so the kids can walk to school,” Burkman said. “This keeps in line that walking is good.”
Kapaa Elementary School was the first school to successfully implement a Walking School Bus in 2009, selected to serve as a pilot school for a Safe Routes to School program. It partnered with Get Fit Kauai, the Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition of Kauai, the County of Kauai, the Hawaii State Department of Education and the Kauai Police Department.
Bev Brody of Get Fit Kauai said in addition to Kalaheo School’s Walking School Bus, other schools taking part include the King Kaumualii Elementary School, Kapaa and St. Catherine School.
Brody said about 77 students and eight parents from St. Catherine School joined about 70 students and eight parents from the Kapaa Elementary School in the Kapaa Walking School Bus.
King Kaumualii Elementary School reported 101 participants in its Walking School Bus with the task force fulfilling a request for hot cocoa at the end for the “chilly morning walk.”
“Aloha Santa lives in Kalaheo, so they are the lucky ones who has Santa walking with them,” Brody said. “This should bring excitement for the kids.”
Kawika Nuuhiwa, a Kalaheo School fifth-grader and third-grader Anika Riesslandreau said the Walking School Bus is fun and they do it every time the school has one.
“We try to go as much as we can, if we get up in time,” said Mindy Murray who was walking with her son Cayden. “My son loves it and it gets me ready because I’m doing the marathon Sunday.”
Mahealani Contrades-Brun, the Kalaheo School Parent Community Network Coordinator, said her daughter Makani likes the event.
“Hillary Johnson, the school’s PTSA president, used to lead the group, but got a new coordinator, Yuki Reiss, who is doing it for the first time today,” Contrades-Brun said. “Hillary is doing the Zumba at the end of the walk.”
Burkman said the 10-minute walk from the neighborhood center to the school usually starts with about 30 students, but picking up kids along the way, it reaches about 50 by the time they reach school where the students head to the cafeteria for snacks, breakfast, and Zumba.
Johnson invited Santa to the stage to lead students in a rigorous workout.
“The kids get me going,” Johnson said. “I feed off their energy. The Zumba session allows students who ride buses and are dropped off to get in their share of exercise to get the blood moving.”
With the excitement of Aloha Santa joining the group, Johnson said the students’ blood is really moving and they’re ready to learn.
