DESCRIPTION:THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO REDUCE WASTE, HAZARDOUS MATERIAL USAGE, AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY ENGAGING EAST HAWAI#699;I SCHOOLS IN ADVANCING SOURCE REDUCTION PRACTICES. IT COMBINES A CULTURE-BASED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR SCHOOL STAFF TO PROMOTE THE WIDESPREAD ADOPTION OF REUSABLE FOODWARE SYSTEMS. THIS INITIATIVE HONORS AND ENHANCES HAWAIIAN TRADITIONS OF LAND STEWARDSHIP AND AGRICULTURE, ALIGNING WITH THE CURRENT MOVEMENT TOWARD NATIVE LAND USE PRACTICES. THE PROJECT SEEKS TO SHIFT PERSPECTIVES ON DISPOSABLE ITEMS, SUPPORT LOCAL FOOD INITIATIVES, AND BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE MODERN-DAY CONCEPTS OF SOURCE REDUCTION AND TRADITIONAL PRACTICES THAT RESONATE WITH HAWAI#699;I COMMUNITIES. THIS HOLISTIC APPROACH FOCUSES ON FOSTERING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AMONG STUDENTS, SCHOOLS, AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY, LEADING TO IMPROVED SOURCE REDUCTION PRACTICES IN EAST HAWAI#699;I AND A LONG-TERM SHIFT IN BEHAVIOR AT BOTH THE INSTITUTIONAL AND INDIVIDUAL LEVELS. THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT PROVIDES PARTIAL FEDERAL FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $76,000.00. PRE-AWARD COSTS HAVE BEEN APPROVED BACK TO 01/01/2025.ACTIVITIES:THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE RELATIONSHIP BUILDING WITH SCHOOLS AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, 5 WASTE AUDITS, 20 SCHOOL SITE VISITS TO EVALUATE CAFETERIA OPERATIONS AND DISPOSABLE FOODWARE USAGE, TOOLKIT PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION, DEVELOPMENT OF A REUSABLE FOODWARE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, CREATION AND ADOPTION OF A CURRICULUM FOCUSED ON HAWAIIAN LAND STEWARDSHIP VALUES, 20 SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES, AND 6 INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS WITH LOCAL FARMERS. SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:INQUIRING SYSTEMS, INC. (ISI) IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT AND ZERO WASTE HAWAI'I ISLAND IS A PROJECT/PROGRAM OF ISI. INQUIRING SYSTEMS INC (ISI) AND ZERO WASTE HAWAII ISLAND (ZWHI) WILL PROVIDE WASTE AUDIT SERVICES AND SOURCE REDUCTION ASSISTANCE TO 5 SCHOOLS IN EAST HAWAI#699;I, INCLUDING FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSIONS FOR OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS. ISI AND ZWHI WILL ASSESS CAFETERIA OPERATIONS AND FOODWARE PRACTICES THROUGH VISITS AND INTERVIEWS AT 20 REGIONAL SCHOOLS. ADDITIONALLY, ISI AND ZWHI WILL PRODUCE AND DISTRIBUTE SOURCE REDUCTION VIDEOS AND PAMPHLETS TAILORED FOR CLASSROOM TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE/CUSTODIAL STAFF ACROSS THE 55 SCHOOLS ISLAND-WIDE. A REUSABLE FOODWARE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN WILL BE FORMULATED FOR AT LEAST 20 SCHOOLS, DETAILING COST-BENEFIT ANALYSES, LOGISTICS, AND AN OPERATIONAL PLAN FOR INTEGRATING WITH THE LARGER REUSABLE FOODWARE SYSTEM IN HILO, AND DOCUMENTING ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS. ISI AND ZWHI WILL ALSO HOST 20 SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES AND CONDUCT SIX AGRICULTURE WORKSHOPS IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL FARMS. AN 'ALOHA #699;#256;INA' EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM TOOLKIT WILL BE CREATED AND DISTRIBUTED COUNTYWIDE. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE PROJECT, ISI AND ZWHI WILL DOCUMENT THE NUMBER OF ASSISTANCE VISITS, THE TYPE AND NUMBER OF OUTREACH MATERIALS DEVELOPED AND DISTRIBUTED, AND THE IMPACT OF THE EDUCATIONAL ASSEMBLIES AND WORKSHOPS. THE BENEFICIARIES ARE SCHOOL STUDENTS, TEACHERS, STAFF, FAMILIES, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ISI AND ZWHI STAFF.