2023 Keiki Day

Keiki Day makes highly anticipated return

BY KYLE GALDEIRA

As Keiki Day returns after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the “friend-raising” opportunity mirrors a familiar motivation: To celebrate keiki and the importance of bringing the community together, as it truly takes a village to raise children, build strong communities and inspire bright futures.

Over the past three decades, Keiki Day has helped Parents And Children Together remain ingrained in the community — the “secret sauce” that helps the nonprofit organization serve Hawaii’s communities and remain dedicated to providing a wide range of innovative and educational social services. Keiki Day has highlighted the complicated issues facing families and youngsters in Hawaii since 1990.

While funds generated through Keiki Day are vital for one of Hawaii’s leading advocates for children, the awareness generated within the community through the annual event is priceless. The special Keiki Day edition of Honolulu Star-Advertiser brings awareness to PACT, a Hawaii-only family service agency established 55 years ago that assists more than 15,000 people annually. The annual Keiki Day event includes some of Hawaii’s notable personalities who

donate their time to hand out special editions of Honolulu Star-Advertiser for free this year.

Since the onset of the pandemic, the PACT team has observed an increase in children and families experiencing hardship including a demand for help with food, shelter and mental health services. However, the primary goal of Keiki Day is to uplift and amplify the voices of young people, and any aid raised through the Keiki Day newspaper will help youth realize their aspirations and ambitions.

PACT, a private nonprofit organization, strives to provide Hawaii’s children with a peaceful and safe environment in which they can grow through 20 crucial programs. Families and individuals across the state are assisted in the fields of early childhood education; domestic violence prevention and intervention; child abuse and neglect prevention and

(Back row, from left) Charis Pettiford, Noah Sumikawa, Dianne Marie Cabico, Zora Maurer, Jheanna Carlos. Middle: Ashley Yu, Makena Holm, Aliyah Kurian, Thomas Abbe Bloem, Ronan Newton, Peyton Linder, Sena Vought, Kayley Yu, (front row, from left) Rylie Shelton, Mia Dipingeni, Kainoa Kanakanui, Noa Termini, Marvin Jamin Kilafaken, Zora Liao, Chloe Yu, Harper Matsuyama and Wilhelm Manumua. ANTHONY CONSILLIO PHOTO

Inspire Hawaii’s Future

The return of Keiki Day is a cause for celebration! After a three-year hiatus, Parents And Children Together and Honolulu Star-Advertiser are proud to present this special Keiki Day edition. This year also marks Parents And Children Together’s 30th Keiki Day! The event brings together our entire community to honor all of Hawaii’s keiki while serving as a reminder of the vital role we play in ensuring that every child has an opportunity for a bright future.

“Inspire Hawaii’s Future,” the theme of this year’s Keiki Day creativity contest, invited students to reflect on their sources of inspiration and their vision for Hawaii’s future. As we viewed the entries, we were struck by the depth of thought and passion conveyed through the work, revealing a common thread — keiki are proud of their home. They are inspired by the beauty of Hawaii, the unique local culture, the diverse flora and fauna, and the people and communities. And they are also concerned about keeping safe and protecting the environment and the communities they cherish. Working together with Hawaii’s children, individuals and families to create safe and promising futures is our mission. We believe that every child deserves to grow up in a peaceful, safe and vibrant community where they can pursue their aspirations and realize their goals.

We extend our gratitude to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and the numerous community organizations, local businesses and individuals that support Keiki Day. Their generous support allows Parents And Children

Together to continue doing our best work for Hawaii families. By cultivating and fostering a network of critical relationships that matter most in a child’s life, we are able to provide valuable tools and resources for keiki to achieve anything they dream.

We hope you are inspired by the voices of our keiki as expressed in the original artwork, essays and poetry featured in this special edition dedicated to them.

Mahalo, Ryan Kusumoto

President & CEO Parents And Children Together

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

John

Whalen, Chair

Wai‘ale‘ale Sarsona, Vice Chair

Nicole Rino, Secretary Craig Warren, Treasurer Mihoko Ito, Past Chair

Cappy Fasi

Elaine Fujiwara

Lisa Furuta

Reid Hokama

Josie Howard

Ku‘ulani Keohokalole

Patricia Kim

Shelee Kimura

Wade Kodama

Pomai Moniz

Mike Moses

Dana-Ann Takushi

Kelly Ueoka

Shaun Ushijima

WE ARE GRATEFUL

to our media partners, community organizations, local businesses and volunteers for creating hope, opportunities and bright futures for our keiki and everyone in Hawaii.

MAJOR SCHOOL SPONSORS

Hawaii Dental Service

Hawaiian Electric

APRON SPONSOR

Atlas Insurance Agency Foundation

PLATINUM SPONSOR

ALTRES

GOLD SPONSORS

EnviroServices & Training Center

First Insurance Company of Hawaii Charitable Foundation People Strategies Hawai‘i

SILVER SPONSORS

eHana Kleintop & Luria, LLP

Maui Land & Pineapple Company

BRONZE SPONSORS

Cappy Fasi

Elaine Fujiwara

Leigh Morrison and Fritz Johnson

Kaho Otake and Johnathan Walk

Kamehameha Schools

WhiteSpace Architects

Shelee Kimura

Ryan Kusumoto

Norma Spierings and Hugh O’Reilly

Margaret Takahashi

Mihoko Ito

Lara Won

Mahalo for 30 Years of from all of us at

KALAULANILAWAPUNI:

A permanent home for bright futures and a better Hawaii

For more than fi ve decades, Parents And Children Together has worked with Hawaii’s children, individuals and families to create safe and promising futures. From its humble beginnings as a single program at Kuhio Park Terrace in Kalihi, PACT has grown into a multi-faceted social services agency, offering essential services that support early childhood education, behavioral health, child abuse prevention, domestic violence prevention and intervention, and community building.

In 2020, PACT was honored to be selected to steward Queen Liliuokalani’s land for future generations. PACT’s new home in neighboring Kapalama serves as the central point for PACT services. The campus houses PACT’s Family Peace Center, Early Intervention Family Strengthening (child abuse prevention) and Intensive Support Services (mental/ behavioral health) programs in addition to its administrative offices.

“It’s been a vision and a dream for so long for PACT to have its own space,” says Mihoko Ito, past chair of PACT’s Board of Directors. “Having this new campus has been amazing. It’s brought new energy to the organization, and we are excited to see how it is growing and evolving every day to support both PACT and the community.”

Honoring Queen Liliuokalani’s Legacy to Strengthen Communities and Care for Keiki

In naming orphans and destitute children the primary beneficiaries of her estate, Queen Liliuokalani established a legacy of care and compassion that continues to inspire today. She believed in the importance of education as transformative and established a trust to ensure her estate benefitted children and families of Hawaii.

“It’s a place that was entrusted to us by Queen Liliuokalani through her Trust and it allows us to continue to do the good work that we do. It’s also in line with the mission that she had for Hawaii, which is to care for the keiki, to care for the people who need help to be able to survive and thrive here in Hawaii,” says Ryan Kusumoto, PACT president and CEO. “We are very fortunate to be able to continue PACT’s work in this place at Kapalama and to provide a resource to the community.”

Kalaulanilawapuni

To honor the queen’s place of refuge, protection and rehabilitation, the name of PACT’s first purchased property was gifted by Kahu David Kaupu in 2021. Kahu Kaupu was chosen for two key reasons. Firstly, he had blessed the property when it was constructed by Queen Liliuokalani Trust. Secondly,

Renowned artist Sig Zane and his son, Kuhao, created a design that embodies the meaning of Kalaulanilawapuni, for PACT.

“I wanted to do something for Parents And Children Together because I was really happy to know that it’s found a home,” Sig says. “I thought about what kind of proverb I wanted to write. ‘Muo ka muo i ka la’ really speaks about place because it used to be Muolaulani and, at the same time, ‘muo’ is the poetic term for a child.”

Muo ka muo i ka la

In the warmth of the sun

In the warmth of aloha

Our children will grow forth

- SIG ZANE

The design entwines the concept of the royal’s leaf with the vision and mission of PACT and Queen Liliuokalani to serve all people with compassion in the spirit of abundance and plenty. The different layers of the design represent the programs and environment PACT strives to offer and “the center is a representation of the child that is supported . . . and has the opportunity to bloom,” says Kuhao.

Kalaulanilawapuni serves as a critical launching point for PACT as it advances its statewide mission of a future for Hawaii as a peaceful, safe and vibrant community with opportunities for all to fulfill their dreams.

“We are grateful to Queen Liliuokalani and the Liliuokalani Trust today and every day for providing a historic and blessed estate that serves as a central home for PACT services, allowing our team to accelerate our life-changing work and deepen our statewide impact in perpetuity,” says Kusumoto. “We’ve been here for 50 years and are laying the foundations for the next 50 and onward into the future.”

in accordance with the Hawaiian culture, Kahu Kaupu lives in the same ahupuaa as the designated area.

Kahu Kaupu considered PACT’s shared legacy with Queen Liliuokalani’s and also acknowledged the differences between the two organizations. After careful deliberation, he proposed the name “Kalaulanilawapuni.” Kalaulani speaks to how PACT’s vision and mission is a leaf from the same life-sustaining royal plant nurtured and established by Queen Liliuokalani.

PACT’s commitment to the well-being of Hawaii’s children and families shares common roots with the Queen’s commitment to improve the present and future of destitute orphaned Native Hawaiians. “Lawa puni” literally means “enough for all.”

PHOTO COURTESY PARENT AND CHILDREN TOGETHER

Renowned artist Sig Zane and his son, Kuhao, created a design that em-

Kalaulanilawapuni The royal leaf entwines the vision and mission of PACT and Queen Liliuokalani to serve all people with compassion in the spirit of abundance and plenty.

Kuhao and Sig Zane

PHOTO COURTESY PARENTS AND CHILDREN TOGETHER

Kalaulanilawapuni, Parent And Children Together’s permanent home.

PHOTO COURTESY PARENTS AND CHILDREN TOGETHER

Keiki Day celebrates years of tradition

intervention; behavioral health support; and community-building and fi nancial capability development.

In addition to chronicling the day’s top news articles and features readers have come to rely on from Honolulu Star-Advertiser , each Keiki Day edition contains information and tips for parents, teachers and children such as original stories, artwork and poetry from students who entered the Keiki Day Creativity Contest. Children from grades K-12 submitted responses related to this year’s theme, “Inspire Hawaii’s Future.” Judges selected submissions from hundreds of entries, following a tradition that began nearly a quarter century ago with the Honolulu Advertiser and continues today.

“We are eager to see the creative responses to the theme ‘Inspire Hawaii’s Future,’ as they will help steer our work forward,” says Ryan Kusumoto, president and CEO of PACT. “We hope this theme highlights the reactions of

our young people, to showcase their strengths and resilience after confronting and persevering through the obstacles posed by the pandemic. By learning about their perspectives expressed through their art and essays, we can better target our work to support their development and successful transition into adulthood.”

Kusumoto adds, “We are incredibly excited for the return of Keiki Day. At PACT, our youth give us hope for a promising future and inspire us to work for a Hawaii where everyone can realize their dreams and thrive. We are grateful for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser ’s partnership to showcase our youth through the Keiki Day special edition.”

In addition to the newspaper being distributed in downtown Honolulu, businesses and schools also donate funds to get newspaper copies into classrooms. Teachers use the information included in the Keiki Day insert as part of their lesson plan and recognize winners of the creativity contest.

Since its inception in 1968 as a single

program based in Kalihi, PACT has grown into a statewide organization that positively impacts the lives of countless families every year. It offers services on Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Hawaii Island, and features various facilities such as family centers, domestic violence shelters and transitional housing.

While PACT receives funding from federal and state contracts as well as generous private gifts and grants, the funds raised as a result of awareness from Keiki Day provide the organization with vital fl exibility to address the needs of Hawaii’s children.

“Keiki Day represents the community coming together for a common cause: the well-being of our keiki,” says Norma Spierings, chief development offi cer for PACT. “It’s amazing to see the community united to celebrate our keiki. They are our future, and their voices are important. The Keiki Day newspaper is an incredible platform to share their thoughts and have their voices heard.”

Ultimately, the goal of PACT is to

establish and build strong and lasting relationships through its programs that will allow participants to find and follow a positive, productive path in life.

“Keiki Day is a celebration that brings us together to recognize and honor the youngest in our community,” Kusumoto says. “The main objective is to amplify the voices of young people who may not have had the opportunity to publicly express their thoughts and ideas. By giving them a platform, we can better understand their concerns, hopes and dreams for them and their communities — places where our children can thrive and grow, and where they can contribute to society.

“Our youth will be the leaders of society in the next 50-plus years, so we need to give priority to their needs and help them fulfill their aspirations. Keiki Day is a call to action for every member of the community. It’s an opportunity to collaborate on ways to support the youth in our society as we must invest in their education, health and well-being and create spaces where they feel valued and heard.”

Keiki jump for joy at one of PACT’s many programs. PHOTO COURTESY HAROLD JULIAN

(Back row, from left) Ronan Newton, Noah Sumikawa, Zora Maurer, Mavin Jamin Kilafaken, (front row, from left) Mia Dipingeni, Dianne Marie Cabico, Wilhelm Manumua, Kayley Yu, Harper Matsuyama and Noa Termini.

ANTHONY CONSILLIO PHOTO

All across Oahu, students representing kindergarten through 12th grade have been working hard to express what this year’s Keiki Day theme of “Inspiring Hawaii’s Future” means to them. From countless submissions, judges have chosen the following essays, poems and artwork as winning depictions of the importance of sticking together. As you’ll see here, they all deserve a round of applause.

ARTIST: Wilhelm Manumua

ARTIST: Kainoa Kanakanui

ARTIST: Rylie Shelton

Kindergarten Winner

Kindergarten Winner

First Grade Winner

ARTIST:

First Grade Winner

ARTIST: Harper Matsuyama

Second Grade Winner

ARTIST:

Second Grade Winner

“My friends inspire me. We have fun together and they make me want to be a good friend, too.”

-Anya, Grade 4

Get to PACT

Get to PACT

“Community inspires me because it’s all about helping each other and working together. “

-

KD,

Grade 9

When Hawaii Dental Service (HDS) was established 60 years ago to serve the oral health needs of local children, we partnered with dentists who shared the same goal of making dental care accessible Today we're proud to partner alongside organizations like PACT Hawaii, who provide parents and their children support services so they can create safe and promising futures, helping them Live Well, Smile More

Our Oral Health Initiatives for Families

DENTIST BY ONE

HDS encourages parents of children under a year old to take their baby to the dentist once their first tooth erupts or by their first birthday

SEAL AWAY DECAY

Children between the ages of 6 and 12 are eligible for sealants, which are thin, protective coatings applied to the back teeth to prevent cavities Parents can ask their child's dentist about sealants to prevent cavities from forming

Parents and children deserve to Live Well, Smile More That's why HDS provides tips and resources to incorporate good oral health practices and habits, in addition to the oral health initiatives we have in the community

Behind every smiling family is a strong foundation.

ARTIST: Mia

Third Grade Winner

“My Own Passion”

My very own passion is to be a gardener. I would water grass, trees and plants. I could plant seeds in the grass. It makes my heart love and joy. It really make me calm and happy. I would care for Mother Nature Earth. When I grow up, I talk and love plants as a gardener.

When I become a gardener, I start to feel warm and cozy. I would rather be happy and cheerful. It makes my body beat to the rhythm. I could feel the light inside shining. I could feel happiness growing to myself. It really makes me smile to my face. I could really enjoy while I am gardening. And that’s how I get my own passion to myself.

ARTIST: Zora Liao

Fourth Grade Winner

ARTIST: Marvin Jamin Kilafaken

Third Grade Winner

School: Kalihi Waena Elementary School

Teacher: LAURALEE DICE

School: Manoa Elementary School Teacher: CARA MURAOKA

30

Years of

PROGRAMS PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY

Parents And Children Together serves more than 15,000 parents, children, individuals, and families annually through its statewide programs in five areas of focus.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Early Head Start and Head Start provide early childhood education and support services for pre-qualified parents with children on Oahu and Hawaii Island. Early Head Start offers services to prenatal parents and infants from birth to three years. Head Start serves parents with children ages three to five years.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION

Intensive Support Services Programs are offered on Oahu, Maui, and Kauai for families and youth with serious behavioral, social, and emotional challenges.

• Family Peace Centers – Oahu, Maui and Lanai

• Ohia Domestic Violence Shelter – Oahu

• Family Visitation Centers – Oahu and Kauai

• Lehua Transition House – Oahu

• Hale Ola – Oahu

• Trafficking Victim Assistance Program – Statewide

To learn more, visit our website at ParentsAndChildrenTogether.org or call us at (808) 847-3285

EARLY

INTERVENTION AND FAMILY STRENGHTHENING

Every child in Hawaii deserves to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment. Parents And Children Together offers comprehensive programs on Oahu, Maui, and Lanai that promote positive parenting and healthy child development.

• Hana Like Home Visitor Program – Oahu

• Hoomau Home Visiting Program – Oahu

• Ulupono Family Strengthening Program – Oahu and Maui

• Comprehensive Counseling and Support Services – Oahu

• Voluntary Case Management – Oahu

• Lanai Integrated Services – Lanai

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT

Parents And Children Together offers an Intensive Support Services program on Oahu, Maui, Molokai, and Kauai for families and youth with serious behavioral, social, and emotional challenges. Services provided are customized for each child and family.

COMMUNITY BUILDING AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES

Dedicated to building strong and healthy communities, Parents And Children Together fosters social, economic, and cultural well-being for individuals and families in need through its programs on Oahu.

• Family Centers

• The Family Economic and Opportunity Center

• Community Teen Programs

• Poverty Prevention

Sometimes it takes a crisis for people to nally wake up. Like when jet fuel contaminated my neighborhood’s water. At rst the Navy said that it was still OK to drink the water, but then people started getting sick.

Then the army went into action, they set up showers, water distribution stations, and for months we had to go ll up jugs of clean water from water tanks the Army brought in. We would also boil the water and use a camping shower system to take daily showers.

The average person’s body is 60 percent water, which is divided among our brain, blood, heart, bones, muscles, liver, and kidneys. If there is anything I’ve learned is that water is a vital resource for all living things and that is why we need to protect our water so that people can enjoy Hawaii for generations to come.

Newton

Maybe solar farms will harvest the sky Far above the rainbows. Maybe electric cars will roam the land That people try to control. Maybe shooting stars or meteors Will crash on all our crops. Maybe they’ll shoot into the ocean Or even hotel parking lots.

Maybe dogs will do hula. Maybe cats will play ukulele. Maybe grass will sing along While the trees innocently sway. Maybe Hawaii will again be free. Maybe we’ll even have a monarchy. Maybe we’ll build new castles In honor of Queen Liliuokalani.

A thousand maybes could be said Like the thousands of colors after red. But unlike the rainbows high in the sky, We cannot just sit around and watch time go by.

School: Christian Academy

Teacher: LINDA KIM

ARTIST: Ronan

Fourth Grade Winner

Fifth Grade Winner

“Maybe…”

- David, Grade 11

“I’m inspired

positive and meaningful change in our community”

- Diego, 17 years old

Across Down

“I like seeing what we can do when we come together to support and motivate each other.”

One person can make a di erence. But how? I believe this statement means that you do not need to work in a big industry or have a lot of money to make a di erence. All you need is yourself, an idea and dedication to your task.

In fourth grade, my class completed a change-making project. We were tasked with nding an issue in the world and working to address that issue in our community. I chose climate change. The carbon dioxide causing the warming of the Earth could be absorbed at a faster rate if we had more trees on the planet. Our school previously used a lot of paper, which resulted in more trees being cut down. I created an initiative to add reuse bins to each classroom so paper that was partially used could be used by others instead of throwing it away. This helped our school reuse more and waste less paper.

In Loren Eiseley’s The Star Thrower, a boy is on a beach lled with star sh that washed on shore. A man sees the boy trying to help and tells him that he cannot make a di erence because he will not be able to save them all. The boy picks up a single star sh, throws it back into the water and says, “I made a di erence to that one.” The changes you make do not have to be big to be valued. You can make a di erence by being there for a friend when they need someone to lean on or by doing something small you do every day, like putting your dishes in the sink. Even the smallest action makes an impact.

Even though many people have heard that they can make a di erence, many still do not believe this statement applies to them. All you need to do is help a friend carry their books or help them understand a concept in math. Working with others, sharing and listening can be signi cant. Always remember that the things you think to be insigni cant may be exactly what someone else needs.

ARTIST: Thomas Abbe Bloem

ARTIST: Lara Nicole Mongkeya

ARTIST: Kayley Yu

Sixth Grade Winner

Sixth Grade Winner

Seventh Grade Winner

“Animals are an inspiration for me because they are fun and playful. And love you for who you are.”

- Leyana, 9 years old

HAPPY KEIKI START WITH HAPPY EMPLOYEES.

LET'S TALK STORY.

“Elves, they make toys and gifts for kids and inspire me to make something, too!”

- Aiko, 4 years old

Pettiford

Once, there was a star, Burning brightly far away. A single, shimmering pinhole of light, That worked hard to shine each day.

Even when the morning came, And it was outshone by the sun, It still shined as bright as it possibly could, Though its e orts were seen by none.

In the darkness of the night, Its presence was made known. Though surrounded by many of its kind, It still felt quite alone.

How can something as small as I Make a di erence whatsoever?

For there are many other stars in the galaxy, Stars that shine much brighter.

If one day, I stopped glowing, Would anyone even care? Would anyone stop to look, to think, And realize… I wasn’t there?

The star wondered and it worried, Pondered and contemplated, So much so it failed to realize It was part of a constellation.

With a collage of other stars, It formed a picture in the sky. Which had guided people across the sea, Inspired folktales, amazed curious eyes.

Even when you feel alone, When you’re always left behind, Even when the many struggles of the world Make the light hard to nd.

When you feel unnoticed, When you’re afraid of the unknown, Even when it seems hard to believe, You will always have a home.

There are millions of people on this Earth, Yet no one can truly take your place. Both in the world, and in other’s hearts, A mark of which can’t be erased.

You are never truly alone, Though sometimes it can feel that way. Never forget that someone cares, No matter what the lies may say.

Even if you’re not ready to shine, To be the brightest you can be, There will always be people by your side, Waiting patiently.

You matter to someone, somewhere in this world, Those you have and have not met, There are people waiting to see your smile, People whose lives you’ve yet to a ect.

You are so important, Valuable and irreplaceable, Never stop being your true self, Know that you are loved and able.

ARTIST: Peyton Linder

ARTIST: Charis

Seventh Grade Winner

Eighth Grade Winner

Eighth Grade Winner

“The kindness of others inspires me to want to be kind and help everyone, too.”

Spot the Di erence

Find 10 di erences between two images

“I’m inspired by knowledge and learning new things.”

- DJ, Grade 8

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- Khyleigh, Grade 3

Ninth Grade Winner 10th Grade Winner

School: Kaimuki Christian School

Teacher: JOANNA FONG

At Waimea Bay

A 20-foot wave forms high above the surface of the water in the middle of winter

Many people come to see these huge, extraordinary waves

As a man walks to leave, he picks up a plastic bag tumbling along the ground and disposes of it

Though this may seem small, this is a start to saving our ocean of pollution

At Kaimana Beach Park

The sand shimmers in the sun like how a diamond sparkles under a light

A Hawaiian monk seal lies on the beach to rest after a long day of swimming

Someone sets a border around the seal to protect the animal and the people around it

An act done by an ordinary person that takes care of our ocean’s beautiful creature

At Diamond Head Beach

From the top of the lookout you can see the surfers, so far away they almost look like specks

A surfer sees an abandoned board close to her in the water with a surfer swimming after it

She grabs the board and pulls it over the waves and to the surfer

This small act that can impact that person to do the same for another

At Waimea Bay, Kaimana Beach Park and Diamond Head Beach

Regular people are doing small acts to help maintain our ocean and take care of others

Like how every wave starts as a ripple but can turn into something big and powerful

These acts can also turn into something impactful when you do your part to add onto them by Keeping our ocean clean, its creatures safe, and our society kind As the symbol of Hawaii.

School: Kaimuki Christian School

Teacher: JOANNA FONG

The keiki see the hatred of crimson re. What could we say that could possibly inspire, To fuel the youth’s budding desire To learn from, to help, to save generations prior?

The keiki look outside and see people, sad, alone in the winter rain.

With signs that read “Hungry and sick. Will work for loose change!”

Will they feel dread, depression, will they go insane, Or will they know that they can be the answer to the pain?

The keiki watch the nightly news, full of fear in the air. What can we say to make them care, Looking them in their tear-drenched faces, quivering lips, confused stares,

To tell them that these problems will always be there?

We can tell the keiki, be tough like the earth, Show them compassion and aloha, to be the birth Of hope and a future when the world seems to be at its worst, Show Hawaii, the whole country, this world what they are worth.

The keiki can pray, with hope that abounds, They will sing, creating a melody of sounds That turn the skies of our islands to blue all around And rise on the wings of eagles, miles o of the ground.

For now, I see the joy and jubilation, hear the laughter of the little boys and girls, Whose bright smiles and innocent words tell me there is hope for this world.

I once saw the spirit of ohana, as a sister giving her beloved toy to her brother, What if we all acted like that, with empathy and kindness, to each other?

“From the Ocean to the People”

“The Elements of the Future”

ARTIST: Ashley Yu

10th Grade Winner

School: Roosevelt High School

Teacher: SIANG CHYN LIM

ARTIST: Jheanna Carlos

11th Grade Winner

School: Waipahu High School Teacher: JOYCE BRUMBLE

ARTIST: Aliyah

“Inspired to Connect”

From mom to keiki, Connected to inspire. Her mom approaches the bedside of another elderly woman, And timidly, the young girl watches, Slightly distracted by the distant whistle of the birds, Which generously serenade the care home residents.

She is intrigued by the slow, but joyous smile displayed by the senior, And timidly, the young girl watches. Red, orange, and pink petals in the tall vase light up the dull room, And re ects this kupuna’s face, still lled with hope.

Calmly, cautiously, And timidly, the young girl watches. She notices her mom reach out her hand, While she kindly starts to talk story.

The girl observes, Then following her mom’s example, Asks the woman’s name, While her small delicate hands envelop the woman’s soft and wrinkled ones.

The older woman answers, And like an opening door trying to go unnoticed, The keiki’s heart slowly creaks a little more open, Though not obvious to anyone else.

The girl listens, Noticing the ease with which her mother’s tongue speaks, Like the canoes that glide across the beautiful turquoise sea at Kailua Bay. Continuously, She observes the genuine love and care in her mother’s eyes.

The older woman grins, And the girl is given a greater peace about being in this somber ambience.

Inspired, With all credit due her mom’s brave spirit, She eventually asks the kupuna to recount memorable stories from her life.

The girl laughs, Through every unique experience retold. She starts to believe that maybe, Maybe, she, too, could be an inspiration. She, too, could give the gift of aloha to others. From keiki to kupuna, Inspired to connect

School: Moanalua High School

Teacher: JEFFREY FUJIMOTO

School: Kaimuki Christian School Teacher: JOANNA FONG

ARTIST: Dianne Marie Cabico

11th Grade Winner

12th Grade Winner