Saturday, January 11, 1997
Name: Alvin Kishimoto
Age: 39
Position: P.E. resource teacher
Education: U. of Redlands, UH-Manoa
Pastimes: Weightlifting, jogging
"He follows the golden rule," said Amy Martinson, vice principal. "He treats his students as if they were his own kids."
Kishimoto has helped both students and co-workers keep up with technology.
When he discovered many teachers weren't comfortable teaching physical education, he made a video to be used as a teaching tool, "Richard Simmons-style," Kishimoto said.
Last November, the student council he advises produced the "Honowai News" on closed-circuit television, broadcasting news of the holiday season to classrooms campuswide. Kishimoto is also heading plans for a fun-run to raise money for the school's high-tech supplies.
Determined to keep parents involved at school, Kishimoto plans annual events such as "Family Fitness Night." He initiated the idea, "to promote fitness and to bring families together," he said.
Kishimoto was honored by the governor-appointed Leeward School Advisory Council and is naturally very popular with the students, Martinson said.
"Everybody's good at something," said Kishimoto. "You just have to find that spark, and the kids really shine."
At home Kishimoto's new favorite pastime is playing with his 8-month-old baby.