‘Ohana Day at Tūtū and Me in Pāhala December 4, 2013

With support from Partners in Development Foundation (PIDF), the Tūtū and Me Hawai ‘i South Team held ‘Ohana Day in Pāhala. This first-ever recruiting event was great fun!

We set up a typical Tūtū and Me Day at the Pāhala Community Center on a beautiful Saturday morning and invited our current families, alumni families, and the whole community of Ka‘ū to come see and experience just what Tūtū and Me is all about.

What a festive day! As far as a “typical” Tūtū and Me Day…well, it was that — but with a few fun additions!

Families enjoyed listening to live music provided by Uncle Jojo and Uncle Chase, whose music added to the festivities and who also shared their sound system for pule and announcements! Thanks to PIDF, a plethora of resource materials and giveaways were available to all who attended. We served a hearty snack of chili and rice which was enjoyed by all, and held a raffle at the end of Second Circle, before singing A Hui Hou and Hawai‘i Aloha!

What was so amazing about this event was the support we received from the communities of Ka‘ū. Small, local businesses donated generously to our raffle and the wonderful things we heard from the community as we were soliciting prizes for the raffle and the thanks we received for offering this program to the keiki and families of Ka‘ū filled us with hā‘ahā‘a and aloha.

We are grateful to Aunty Keamalu Waltjen from Hui Mālama Ola Nā ‘Ōiwi , Aunty Leina‘ala Enos representing Queen Lili‘uokalani Children’s Center and Aunty Lynne Fukuda from Pāhala Elementary Preschool for joining us. They took time out of their weekend to offer information and activities. Ms. Fukuda even helped to man the sign in table. Two volunteers from a local nonprofit organization called ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou also came and helped us set up and break down tables and tents.

We hope that this event will prove to be the catalyst for more members of the community, especially here in Pāhala, to become part of our Tūtū and Me ‘Ohana by enrolling their keiki and utilizing this wonderful Program. Ka‘ū is a rural area that does not offer many opportunities for families and their young keiki. We are blessed to serve this community, and send our mahalo to PIDF who supported us in this effort to recruit more families for our Pāhala site.