Huliau: Challenge to Change November 9, 2009
In the spirit of laulima, Ka Pa‘alana Preschools, a program of Partners in Development Foundation, in collaboration with service providers and the City & County of Honolulu, will be sponsoring the third annual Huliau at Kea‘au Beach Park. This year’s theme is Huliau: Challenge to Change. The date is set for Thursday, November 19th, from 9 a.m. til 1 p.m. This event also falls within Homeless Awareness Week.
Huliau was initially started by Barbie-lei Burgess of Ka Wahi Kaiaulu – Wai‘anae Neighborhood Place. The intent was to create awareness of services available on the Leeward Coast for families in need and to allow agencies an opportunity to network and collaborate with each other while servicing their clients.
Last year, Huliau was held at Kea‘au Beach Park and it was Ka Pa‘alana’s first time participating as a service provider. A total of twelve partnering agencies that serve the homeless community set up booths offering information about health & wellness, education and housing/shelters. In addition, families that live on the beach had access to basic needs supplies such as hygiene products and clothing, and a free hot lunch prepared by a professional chef using WIC items.
This year, Huliau is using a different approach to assist families living at Kea‘au Beach Park. Since most of the residents at Kea‘au already know who the service providers are and what they have to offer and the last thing they need is to have program information forced upon them and someone telling them how to fix their problems, this year’s event offers a challenge for families to change from within, and to individually decide what it is that each person should change.
The traditional concept of mālama ‘aina can be incorporated in a beach clean up to reconnect people with who they are and where they came from. In the reciprocal relationship of caring for the land, people can also demonstrate mālama for each other. As a result, pride could be restored to a place that often seems without hope for the future.
The beach clean up will not only include those who live on the beach, but service providers and volunteers as well. Of course, after the work it’s customary to celebrate with pā‘ina. A free hot lunch will be available with a chance for families and volunteers to talk story about their experiences and to enjoy each other’s company. Entertainment will be available and an outreach center will be open so people can help themselves to free clothing and personal hygiene products.
Coincidentally, each year Homeless Awareness Week is scheduled the week before Thanksgiving. Indeed, this theme can be used to remind us that we all have much to be thankful for. By incorporating the use of Hawaiian values such as Aloha, Mālama, Laulima, and Pono, we’re confident that this event will be a success.
For more information about Huliau or how you can volunteer call 596-8711 or click on the related link to download the event flyer.