They have been coming to our Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool for 15 years. Vaughn and Rosemary Tokashiki, retired educators, have brought all five of their grandchildren. Their oldest, Skylin, was in one of our first Tūtū and Me classes back in 2003 and is now a student at Arizona State University.

Watch the video below to hear how Tūtū and Me helped Skylin to develop some of the skills she needed to succeed, and about her goal to become a neonatal nurse.

The 7th annual Ka Paʻalana Health Fair took place at the KROC Center in Kapolei last week. Two dozen vendors came out to support our Ka Paʻalana Homeless Family Education Program families. 

The purpose of the Health Fair is to provide vital information and resources to our Ka Paʻalana families. Besides pamphlets and flyers, participants can receive free eye exams, flu shots, dental exams, and much more. 

One of the most talked-about aspects this year was the focus on nutrition. Different booths allowed keiki and caregivers the opportunity to learn more about the foods on their plates, and how to make better dietary choices. 

Ka Paʻalana parents Rano and Selestina Fetui were attending the Health Fair for the first time. They said just hearing about healthy habits motivated them to be better role models for their two young keiki. “It’s an eye-opener for our kids to eat healthy,” said Selestina. 

Besides information about physical health, there were also professionals present to talk about mental and emotional health. The Catalyst Group offers extensive psychological services ranging from treatment of depression and trauma to martial counseling and psychotherapy. 

Caregivers were invited to explore the booths at their leisure, and stamp cards were passed out to encourage interaction with the vendors. 

“It’s a nice way to bring the families to the resources,” said Kelsey La Cuesta, an Assessment Specialist with Ka Paʻalana. Many of the families struggle to make appointments around their keiki. Not only does the Health Fair provide resources for families, but the Ka Paʻalana staff also organize a preschool in the morning to give the parents a chance to really take in the booths and activities.

Mahalo nui loa to all of our partnering organizations and sponsors who made this year’s Health Fair possible! We can’t wait to have everyone back next year.