Hot chocolate was provided for the keiki and coffee for the adults, along with a myriad of sprinkles, marshmallows, and other toppings to decorate. Ka Paʻalana provided different Christmas and holiday-related activities for the families, including a ‘gingerbread’ house using graham crackers and fruit.

As the families went caroling to their neighbors at the veterans’ home and transitional housing units, the Starbucks staff brought in Santa Claus himself with presents for the keiki. Each keiki received a gift, a stuffed animal, and got to pose for a family photo with Santa.

Mahalo nui loa to the Starbucks ʻohana and Ka Paʻalana staff for helping to make the season merry and bright for our families!

The gifts will be given to in-need and underprivileged families in our Tūtū and Me ʻohana and distributed in time for the holidays. Such efforts are especially valued during this time of year, when many of our families may not have the resources to make the holidays special for their keiki.

Mahalo nui General Manager Drew Crocker and the Hula Grill team for helping to make Christmas special for our preschoolers!

The holidays are a time of holidays, of reconnecting to family and loved ones, and charity. This last year, we were so blessed to receive numerous contributions from partner organizations and individuals across the state.

Aloha United Way and PetSmart Donate 100 Plush Toys

Aloha United Way, the Hawaiʻi office of national nonprofit United Way, partnered with PetSmart to collect 100 plush toys for our Ka Paʻalana Homeless Family Education Program. The toys were distributed to the keiki at the December holiday parties.

Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana Throws Thanksgiving

Near the end of November, Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana held its annual Thanksgiving luncheon. They provided meals to the dozens of Waimānalo families who came to the site at Blanche Pope Elementary School. The Nā Pono team even brought in a shaved ice truck!

“It’s really a very important time for us because we thank the families for being part of our program,” says Nā Pono’s Project Director, Lora Perry. “It’s heartfelt, and they are heartfelt… we couldn’t have this program without them. We are blessed, and that’s what Thanksgiving is all about.”

Leeward Community College’s Toy Drive

In the first week of December, Leeward Community College’s library facilitated a toy drive for Ka Paʻalana families. They collected new, unwrapped toys for keiki under 5 years old.

Tūtū and Me – Kauaʻi Raises Over $1,300

Our Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool Kauaʻi-East team completed their yearly fundraiser on Friday, December 7. The coffee, bake, and rummage sale raised over $1,300.

“We are truly blessed for all the help and donations from our school families and friends,” said Site Manager Michelle Curammeng.

American Savings Bank: Mahalo Mail & Kahiau Giving Campaign

On December 12, we received some ‘Mahalo Mail’ from American Savings Bank (ASB) – Hawaiʻi. We are fortunate enough to be part of their Kahiau Giving Campaign, an annual teammate program that supports select community organizations.

The mail consisted of letters, cards and notes, handwritten by ASB employees expressing their ‘mahalo’ for our work serving Hawaiian families across the state.

Kamehameha Schools Provides Critical Items

Sheryl Kahue, a teacher at Kamehameha Schools (KS), facilitated a large donation of toys, books, backpacks, and hygiene items. KS students participated in the drive by helping to collect items that are necessary to our program families, but not as frequently donated.

Zumbathons Collect Toys for Keiki

Two ‘Zumbathons’ were put on by Nisi and Friends and Pomai and Friends. The Zumbathons collected toys for Ka Paʻalana keiki, which were given out at the various holiday parties put on by our program staff throughout December.

For several years, Pomai Akiona (a former Parent Educator with Ka Paʻalana) hosts a Zumba class where she does not charge attendees cash for participating. Instead, she asks attendees to bring a toy to donate to the families of Ka Paʻalana. This year, over $1,500 worth of toys was collected for the keiki!

Cricket Donates Needed Supplies to Ka Paʻalana

Joy, Patrick and Natasha from Cricket Wireless brought much-needed donations of household items to Ka Paʻalana on December 13. The items included boxes of diapers, packs of wipes, and infant teething rings.

The kind donation will go to the unsheltered families with infants that the Ka Paʻalana outreach team encounters living on the Leeward Coast of Oʻahu.

NASW Delivers Doughnuts to We Are Oceania

The National Association of Social Workers – Hawaiʻi (NASW – Hawaiʻi) is currently running a campaign called ‘tell NASW why you need donuts’. The campaign is meant to reward the hard work of registered NASW members, and We Are Oceania was the first winner!

Project Director Jocelyn Howard and the rest of the We Are Oceania staff worked tirelessly for weeks to ensure their constituents were able to sign up for health insurance during the open enrollment period. Everyone welcomed the respite of doughnuts!

Wyndham Vacation Resorts Donates Toys, Books

Every year, Robert Nelson and Kathy Goo with Wyndham Vacations and his team help organize donations for Ka Paʻalana families. This year they collected over $1,700 worth of toys and books!

Hula Grill Waikiki Gives Gifts to Over 50 Keiki

On December 19, Hula Grill Waikīkī’s General Manager, Drew Crocker, and Community Relations Coordinator Kaitlyn Taketa paid our office a visit. They had coordinated with our Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool and home visiting programs, and our Ka Hana Noʻeau mentorship program, to organize gifts for over 50 children and youth across the islands.

We were blown away by these generous presents, as so many of our families are just scraping by and do not have the resources to make the holidays special for their keiki. Drew and Kaitlyn said they are excited to organize this drive again next year, and collect gifts for even more keiki.

Program Keiki See Snow and Santa Claus

Several of our Tūtū and Me and Ka Paʻalana program sites across the state held holiday parties, from Christmas to the traditional makahiki.

The holiday parties included thematic activities and games created by our staff, from homemade holiday playdough and real snow to visits from Santa Claus. The keiki also received wrapped gifts from our staff, partners and from the many donations received over the holidays.

To see more photos of our programs’ holiday activities, click here.

Mahalo nui loa to all of these amazing organizations, foundations, partners and individuals, and of course all our wonderful staff, for making the a season of giving for our families in need!