Aloha United Way’s Day of Action event brings together people all across our community to kōkua local nonprofits like ours. At sites around O’ahu, community members showed up to lend their time and talents in service to causes that uplift and support those most in need.

We are grateful to build connections and community with every one of our volunteers. Mahalo to all Day of Action volunteers, your aloha reaches far beyond the task at hand, and we’re honored to have worked with you.

The wooden skirts at the base of the walls and the walls themselves were replaced, wall insulation was added, and glass windows were installed.

“One of the main reasons we installed the glass windows was that all the zippers of the old zippered screen windows had torn over time and were just flapping in the wind,” said Ka Paʻalana Program Manager Terry Nakamura. “The glass windows will not present this problem and will last much longer.”

Ke Kama Pono’s Project Director, Mike Kahue, oversaw the renovations. Young men and staff from our Ke Kama Pono Safehouse program also assisted.

Ronnee Stewart, a Parent Educator with Ka Paʻalana, led some of the preschool parents in sewing curtains for the windows and will be installed soon.

Mahalo nui to our staff and program ʻohana for their kōkua in carrying out the renovations!

For the last four years, We Are Oceania (WAO) has put on an annual summit bringing together Micronesian youth from across the state. It has been a way to bring middle and high school students together to get them college ready and help them to embrace their culture.

WAO’s Micronesian Youth Summit has helped hundreds of youth reconnect to their diverse heritages, prepare for future success, and just enjoy time with one another. 

“The Micronesian Youth Summit is a space that was created to allow the students to be free of discrimination and be free of whatever struggles they experience in their school,” says Josie Howard, WAO’s Program Director. 

The Summit offers networking opportunities between the youth and local Micronesian college students, community leaders, and professionals. The 2019 Micronesian Youth Summit featured keynote speakers like Kandhi A. Elieisar, the Consul General for Micronesia in Honolulu, and 

Relley Araceley was another one of this year’s speakers. Relley currently works for the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and previously worked for the mayor of Oʻahu as a Community Relations Specialist.

“I think it’s probably the biggest thing for Micronesian youth,” says Relley. “To be able to say with pride who you are. I think that’s the biggest thing for any youth regardless of where you’re from.”

Austin Haleyalpiy is a Bachelor’s of Social Work student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and was the emcee for the 2019 Summit. He previously volunteered at the Summit as a chaperone, and says that he is always proud to go to events like the Micronesian Youth Summit. 

“We need more Micronesians in higher education to be filling these positions, to be more aware of the situations, the issues that we’re facing so that the next generation coming up can do something about it,” says Austin. 

“I just want to hopefully ignite something in somebody to get them motivated to want to make change or be a part of change instead of settling or being complacent.” 

The Summit is made possible by the generous contributions of WAO’s partners and sponsors like Matson, the Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work, the U.S. Department of the Interior, the East West Center, Micronesian United Oʻahu, the Marshallese Consulate office, Marshallese Education Day, Micronesian Cultural Awareness Program, and the Micronesian Health Advisory Coalition. 

We mahalo all of the sponsors, partners, volunteers, and WAO staff that ensure the quality and success of every Micronesian Youth Summit! We look forward to the next summit on Saturday, March 7, 2020. 

For more information, contact We Are Oceania at (808) 754-7303 or visit their website today. 

The community meal happens at St. James Episcopal Church in Waimea every Thursday evening. Anywhere from 300 to 500 meals are served to the people who come, as well as delivered to the elderly and home-bound in the area.

Meals are organized and sponsored by individuals and groups, as well as corporations and other organizations. The Tūtū and Me alumni sponsorship was an idea cooked up by former Tūtū and Me parent Kelly Barrick, who believed the meal would be a great way to both reunite the keiki and serve their community.

Sixteen year-old Malia McKendry was one of the Tūtū and Me alumni serving at the meal, and said that the event helped her rediscover the bonds she made with her peers while attending the Traveling Preschool.

“Tūtū and Me was a place where I could build the skills I needed to enter the world of school, skills like communications, being comfortable around other kids my age as well as adults, and a love of learning,” she said.

Her mother Fiona McKendry echoed the importance of the program and the wonderful experiences her two keiki had there — with their age overlap, she and her ʻohana attended the program for seven years!

“I have a big appreciation for Tūtū and Me and recommend the program to everyone with young children,” Fiona said. “We all loved our varied experiences and the kids were well-prepared for their entry into kindergarten.”

Both Fiona and her two keiki talked about how the Tūtū and Me curriculum was supportive of their early childhood development. The range of activities provided by the staff ensured that every child’s developmental needs were met, and allowed the parents to grow with one another, too.

Several of the parents from this cohort kept in touch following their children’s graduation from the program. The closeness of the community meant that despite attending different schools, the kids have been able to grow up together and enjoy each other’s company from keiki to teen.

When asked if they would again come together to do something for their community, keiki and adults alike responded with a resounding ‘yes!’

“Ultimately Tūtū and Me was a big part of all of our lives,” continued Fiona. “It has made a huge difference to the families in our community… we are so grateful to have gotten the benefit of a funded quality preschool for our children during a time in most of our lives when income was limited.”

Her 14 year-old son, Caleb, agrees.

“Overall Tūtū and Me was a great experience. It gave me lasting friendships and great memories.”

We at Partners in Development Foundation are thrilled that this group of keiki and their caregivers came together to impact their community, demonstrating the full cycle of the impact of our programs. We look forward to hearing more about their future successes!

Are you an alumni of one of our programs? Do you have any stories to share of how the program has helped you or you community? We want to hear about it! Contact our communications office by calling 808-595-5290 or email communications@pidfoundation.org.

The ASB volunteers and their families helped to lay pipe in the diversified crops area, cut lau in one of the nurseries, amd paint the foundation for a new farm mural, to be painted by 808 Urban.

Located on the Windward side of Oʻahu, Kupa ʻAina seeks to help develop sustainable food production models for Hawaiʻi nei.

The project utilizes a combination of Korean Natural Farming techniques and indigenous Hawaiian methods to create a practice that is uniquely Hawaiian and respectful of the land.

We mahalo ASB for their spirit of volunteerism and for continuing to be a valued partner to our efforts serving Hawaiʻi’s families and communities!

“Nelson Mandela International Day was launched in recognition of Nelson Mandela’s birthday on July 18, 2009 via unanimous decision of the UN General Assembly.

It was inspired by a call Nelson Mandela made a year earlier, for the next generation to take on the burden of leadership in addressing the world’s social injustices when he said that “it is in your hands now.”

It is more than a celebration of Mandela’s life and legacy. It is a global movement to honour his life’s work and act to change the world for the better.”

Source: Mandeladay.com

For several hours Ka Pa‘alana Staff waved signs and stretched out fish nets for cash in support of the Hawai‘i Foodbank. Many volunteers were involved in food collection, food sorting, registration, and clean-up crews.

Mahalo to everyone who volunteered and donated their time, money and food items. If you missed the food drive but want to donate, click on the link below to donate directly to the Foodbank.

FIGHT HUNGER!

One such student was Rachel Radona, who took time away from her spring break to volunteer at the preschool. At such a young age, Rachel has a huge heart and maturity beyond her years. The keiki and ‘ohana at the Pai‘olu Kaiāulu shelter and Kau‘iokalani Public Housing enjoyed having Rachel at the preschool; she spent her time reading to the children and interacting with them at different learning centers. She also donated gently used books and healthy snacks. When asked if she would come back to volunteer, she held her 2 thumbs up and replied “Yes!” Mahalo nui loa Rachel for spending your spring break with us! A hui hou.

American Savings Bank considers community service an essential part of its corporate culture. Each year, ASB commits time and effort to various schools and community organizations through their Seeds of Service program.

Jan Dill, PIDF President and Chairman of the Board said, “We are truly grateful to know that American Savings Bank sees the value in encouraging its employees to be part of the solution.”

Volunteers helped with landscaping, light remodeling and painting of Hope Shelter residence rooms, and food preparation.

Aaron Mahi, PIDF Hawaiian Cultural Specialist Assistant, spoke about wahi pana (the significance of this place) within the larger ahupua‘a of Honouliuli. “We like to capitalize on every opportunity, by expanding the community’s understanding and knowledge of the culture and history that is significant about each place” said Mahi.

“There is no doubt that the needs in our state are many, but the generous and overwhelming support of the ASB ‘Ohana makes it possible for our programs to continue their mission.” said Dill.