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Giving is the gospel She came to the classroom to teach Hawaiian studies, but before she even got through the door, she began a lesson.
according to Nishi
Hawaiian studies expands
into lessons for life with a kupuna
at Wilson ElementaryBy Pat Gee
pgee@starbulletin.com"Alex, line up those shoes so everyone can see how neat Mrs. Kodama's students are," instructes Carolee Nishi, known as "Kupuna (grandparent) Nishi" now that she is almost 60. "Thank you! You don't just make yours straight, you do everybody's shoes. Then the next person will line his shoes up if he sees everyone else do it."
Besides teaching ukulele, hula, the Hawaiian language, crafts and culture, Nishi tries to get her students to give the best of themselves. Sharing her knowledge has made her the happiest of human beings, she says.
In addition to being a volunteer Hawaiian-studies teacher at the Nuuanu YMCA for 33 years, Nishi has volunteered in the public schools for about 20 years, currently at Wilson Elementary School in Kahala. Nishi also helps performers prepare for competitions and puts on pageants regularly here and on the mainland.
And that's on top of her regular day job with United Airlines, which takes her to Kauai four days out of the week.
Nishi has the energy of a young woman and the wisdom of a grandmother. She is always smiling or laughing, even as she dispenses sage observations about what she has learned in life.
"I always want to learn. You never know it all. ... I'm in my last quarter of life, and I'm still learning. ... I love to share what I know. ...
"You give, people give back. But you don't look for it; you just give." That's the gospel according to Nishi.
Now working with the children of former students, Nishi says what she loves most about teaching is seeing the growth.
When she first gets students, they "know nothing," then they get to "know how to share without an attitude; they know so much, but they are respectful, humble. You can't buy it. The things they give back you can't buy for money," Nishi says.
Once a week, Nishi spends 45 minutes with Dawn Kodama's second-grade class. Her appearance is a special occasion, if one can judge by the enthusiastic responses and expressions on the faces of the 7- and 8-year-olds. Without prompting, they greet her in perfect unison with a whole sentence in Hawaiian as they sit in straight rows, cross-legged, hands on hips like hula dancers at attention, all eyes on her.
They recite Hawaiian words with the same animated intonations and facial contortions as Nishi. Today, she is teaching them a song about a "rich man, 'Kanaka Wai Wai.'" Strumming her ukulele and singing in a clear, confident voice, Nishi attributes her singing ability to lessons with the legendary Genoa Keawe, also a close personal friend.
Nishi quizzes the youngsters about what kind of gifts they would give someone to make them happy. After several students mention toys, a television set and other material things, one answers, "Friendship," and Nishi responds, "That's excellent!"
"The point is, how is a person rich? What will make him happy? Money? Toys? A television? What can we give that truly makes you rich? ... The richest person is he who can give," she says.
"'Ha'awi' means to give. Say 'ha'awi,'" she instructs.
Nishi is "not just a teacher," says Kodama. "She's someone who cares, and it means a lot to them (her students). They've learned a lot more than just songs. They've learned self-esteem, self-control, respect for their elders.
"She's just wonderful. She teaches them character and how to be contributors to society. She talks to them about her personal experiences. They feel they really know her. They love it."