Posted on: Friday, July 13, 2001
Wheeler Elementary enriches garden
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Staff Writer
Philosopher Mokichi Okada felt that the Japanese would gain a better understanding of his beliefs if the ideas were exported to the United States, then returned to Japan.
His theory will be tested tomorrow when 200 Mokichi Okada Association members from Japan, including numerous educators, visit Wheeler Elementary School, which has incorporated some of Okada's philosophies in its nature garden.
The philosophy encompasses organic-like farming and the use of art, culture and healing techniques to promote a healthy lifestyle. Okada, who lived from 1882 to 1955, believed that the easiest way to attain health was to enjoy art, said Roy Goshi-Otaguro, who as director of arts and culture at MOA Hawai'i worked with Wheeler Elementary to transform its garden. MOA is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to Okada's ideals. Its first chapter was established in Hawai'i in 1980.
The school has had the garden for about eight years, but after an excursion this year to the MOA True Health Center in Nu'uanu, officials decided to implement the MOA gardening technique, Goshi-Otaguro said. The change brought the community together, including parents and soldiers from Schofield Barracks.
MOA also helped establish a wellness room at the school, where teachers can get away from the stress of teaching and relax. Each Wednesday, MOA volunteers provide health-promoting activities such as tea ceremonies and flower arranging.
The garden was a haphazard array of crops for years, said Joe Lee, school principal. Today the school has adopted a holistic approach that incorporates beauty. Rows of flowers — gold, red, purple, orange, yellow and blue — surround the area, promoting pollination and fending off insects. In the center is a lush crop of eggplants.
"Now that we've changed the concept, it's a place where people are drawn to," said Lee.
Students help care for the garden, but the lessons go deeper.
The students conduct scientific experiments, keep data, crunch the numbers and learn about economics. Their teachers also cook up the fresh produce for the students to sample.
But it's volunteers from the community, MOA, the 25th Infantry Division (Light) and U.S. Army, Hawai'i, that keep the garden flourishing.
For the past month, soldiers from C Company, 25th Aviation, have been reworking the garden, planting flowers and vegetables, said 1st Sgt. Chad Cuomo. C Company has performed other tasks for the school, including renovating its basketball courts, painting and manning booths for Star Gazing Night.
Cuomo said the soldiers enjoy the projects, which they usually perform during school breaks.
"They like supporting the community, doing something different, and it's something worthwhile," Cuomo said. "You're improving the quality of life for school kids and everybody involved."
