“Journey to Make Pono” set for April 6, at 4th annual ‘Ohana Fest’
The Ho‘oikaika Partnership will host the 4th annual ‘Ohana Fest “Journey to Make Pono” on Saturday, April 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens. The event is designed for families who are eligible for services offered by partner agencies. It promises a day of fun-filled activities, valuable community resources, music, and giveaways.
Highlights of the event are to include: Native Hawaiian cultural activities, games, book giveaways, and raffle prizes. Information booths featuring 25 local agencies. Entertainment by Sweet & Salty, the Baldwin High School Drumline, Uncle Wayne, and Halau Hula Keola-Ali’i O Kekai. A proclamation ceremony for child abuse prevention month by Mayor Bissen at 10:30 a.m., organized by Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui.
This year’s theme revolves around the children’s storybook, “Kalo Boy’s Adventure to Make Pono: He Huaka‘i ‘Ohana,” authored by Ho‘oikaika partners and illustrated by award-winning Native Hawaiian artist Solomon Robert Nui Enos. The story emphasizes the importance of family and friends working together to overcome challenges. The book is part of an ongoing public education campaign to promote protective factors, reduce the stigma associated with seeking help, and foster early literacy.
“Our theme, A Journey to Make Pono, aligns perfectly with Child Abuse Prevention Month,” Heidi Allencastre said, ho‘oikaika’s community engagement committee Co-chair and family navigator at Maui family support services. “Healing on physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual levels is part of the journey, especially in households where abuse has occurred. After the August wildfire devastation, our island community is on a collective journey to make things right, especially in Lahaina.”
As Maui continues to recover, the event is aimed to provide families with an opportunity to heal in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere, according to the The Ho‘oikaika Partnership.
“Collaboration is key to this journey,” said Euconfra Meekhof, Maui family peace center program supervisor and Ho‘oikaika leadership hui representative. “Ho‘oikaika Partnership brings our community together to reaffirm our commitment to our ‘ohana and the ‘āina. We are a multicultural collective dedicated to supporting, inspiring, and motivating all individuals we encounter.
Established in 2008, the Ho‘oikaika Partnership comprises community organizations, individuals, county, and state agencies united in preventing child abuse and neglect in Maui County. The work of Ho‘oikaika Partnership is made possible through the generous funding from our donors including the Maui Strong Fund, administered by the Hawai‘i Community Foundation. For more information about Ho‘oikaika Partnership, visit their website (https://www. hooikaikapartnership.com/) or contact Coordinator Deb Marois.
Fliers for the event schedule can be found at : https:// www.hooikaikapartnership. com/ohana-fest-2024/.