Keaau High poets are ‘Loud & Proud’

Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

Keaau High staged another successful poetry slam after two days of intensive writing workshops conducted by Youth Speaks Hawaii poets. This was made possible with grants from the Pahiki Nui Fund of Hawaii Community Foundation and the Diane Middleton Foundation.

Keaau High staged another successful poetry slam after two days of intensive writing workshops conducted by Youth Speaks Hawaii poets. This was made possible with grants from the Pahiki Nui Fund of Hawaii Community Foundation and the Diane Middleton Foundation.

Inspired students worked on their own poems begun in the workshops, then recited them to classmates in a small assembly. Thanks to the generous spirit of Target, each reciter received a journal to continue their writing. And mahalo once again to KTA, school supplies and refreshments were also available. This is Keaau High’s third poetry slam, and the poets were “Loud & Proud.”

The students really have a natural talent for writing. We hope we can continue this tradition and make good writers a signature of Keaau High. As one 10th-grader wrote in his mahalo letter to the Oahu poets: “Having kids share their poetry really helped me realize that there are plenty of students here who are going through things that I am. It helped me get more creative in my writing style, and gave me the courage to talk in front of my fellow students. It was one of the highlights of the school year.”

This, and many other letters written by students echoing the same genuine enthusiasm, is very rewarding for all of us involved to hear, so we thank you who helped us from the bottom of our hearts. We appreciate the support we get from the community to sustain this wonderful experience.

Catherine Kennedy

Truth 2 Youth