KAPAA — Kaylynn Drake, an 11th grader at the Kamehameha Schools, Kapalama campus, wants there to be no more suicide in the world.
For the third year, Kaylynn, the daughter of Michael and Lyah Drake, is hosting an event where she asks others to join her and her personal foundation to stop suicide.
Kaylynn is spearheading the free, third annual KekuaAloha Foundation Keiki Fun Day and Fitness Challenge on April 14, starting at 10 a.m. at the Kapaa Beach Park.
“I just want to bring the community of Kauai together,” said Kaylynn. “We can showcase how physical activity can lead to stronger mental health and a stronger community.”
Building on her previous two events, the KekuaAloha Foundation Keiki Fun Day and Fitness Challenge will feature a full slate of entertainment as well as crafters, food trucks and several fitness courses set up in the Kapaa Beach Park, including the foundation ice cream truck which helps spread the word of the Bible. Resources available for suicide prevention and wellness will also be set up.
A portion of the proceeds from the day’s events will be donated to the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, Hawaii chapter.
Entertainment will include Mary Lardizabal and the Kapaa Middle School Choir and Ukulele Band, who recently earned double gold medals at the Worldside Music Festival in Anaheim, California. Kaylynn was among the first students with the choir.
Other entertainment features the Joyful Noise taiko ensemble, Da Breezes, Kid Fit Crew, Homestead Band, Candice &Co., and more.
What does a hero
look like?
Kaylynn said the KekuaAloha Foundation, an organization she formed several years ago, is seeking contributions to a photo contest. People can submit a photo — no larger than 8 by 10 inches — and a brief description of why the subject is a hero.
Entries can be mailed to KekuaAloha Foundation, P.O. Box 158, Anahola, HI 96703, Attention: Hero. Winners will be announced following the Siva Afi competition at the fun day and fitness challenge. Winners must be present to win.
“We will feature guest speakers who will speak on suicide and the impact it has on their lives,” Kaylynn said. “We will have more crafters, more food truck offerings, and we have a lot of youth helpers, and more youth groups coming to help. There will be a lot of jumparounds. It’ll be like a little carnival.”
As the sun goes down, the first Burn Out Suicide fire knife competition will light up the evening.
“This year, Kaylynn’s brother Emmsley, an award-winning fire knife dancer, will be lending his talent to create the first fire knife competition,” said Lyah Drake. “There are no fire knife competitions on this island right now.”
Emmsley, who currently does the fire knife performances at Smith’s Tropical Paradise luau, said fire knife dancing is popular, and once available on Kauai through the Polynesian Festival several years ago.
“People who want to show their skill have to travel off-island for competitions now,” Emmsley said. “We want to have an avenue for Kauai people who want to learn or practice the art, to have a place here at home.”
He is hopeful that Kaylynn, herself a fire knife dancer after learning from her father and Emmsley, will show her skill with the fire knife.
“I don’t know,” Emmsley said. “The event is pretty busy. Maybe if she can find the time, she’ll do an exhibition, too.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
