LIHU‘E — Cherish Yama-Gokan, a core teacher at Kaua‘i High School, is drawing on her own personal experiences as she steps forward to help students whose parents, or family members, are scheduled to be deployed to Iraq. Yama-Gokan said that
LIHU‘E — Cherish Yama-Gokan, a core teacher at Kaua‘i High School, is drawing on her own personal experiences as she steps forward to help students whose parents, or family members, are scheduled to be deployed to Iraq.
Yama-Gokan said that her dad was away while she was going to school, and her own experiences while growing up helps her understand what Kaua‘i High School students are going through while their parents or other family members are away training in Texas for eventual deployment to Iraq in February.
Stepping forward, Yama-Gokan has consented to be the advisor for a recently organized, student-initiated group whose members ask for community help as they attempt to bolster morale and uplift the spirits of soldiers when they report to their new base following the holidays.
Some of the soldiers of the Hawaii Army National Guard’s Company A, 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry Regiment will start arriving home Monday, Dec. 20 from their training in Fort Bliss, Texas, and following about a week at home, will be leaving for their final training stations before being deployed to Iraq.
Yama-Gokan said that one of the first things she did for the group was invite her dad, a retired veteran, to come and speak to the students. This was a very touching time for everyone, Yama-Gokan said. “He said they all should get medals for what they do,” she said. “And, he called their family members ‘heroes.'”
Additionally, she said he offered them tips that would help keep their family members alive, an example being not to exaggerate, or lie, about a problem, which would lead to having the soldier worry more about his family than himself.
The group of seven students could’ve spent their lunch hours with their peers, but instead chose to meet with Yama-Gokan to hammer out details of their Project Makana.
One of the students explained that while the soldiers are away from home, their morale needs bolstering, and Project Makana is designed to do that before they are transferred to Iraq.
“They’ll be in a new place before going to Iraq, and we just want to surprise them,” the students said enthusiastically.
“We know that they’re fighting for our country, and we want to do something in return. We miss them,” the students said emphatically.
The goal of the students is to create a total of 150 care packages which will be shipped to the soldiers using the military-transport system.
Where the community-help comes in is in the supplying of items that will be included in each of these packages. The students need help, and are reaching out to the community to make their dreams a reality.
Since discussing their ideas with Yama-Gokan, the support has grown from within the circle of seven students to include other school-based programs such as the Key Club, where one student is a member. Another member belongs to the Academy Of Hospitality and Travel, and to demonstrate their support for the student, AOHT leaders have also pledged their support.
Another student belongs to the Immaculate Conception Church youth group, whose members have also pledged their backing of Project Makana.
During their lunchtime meeting, the students discussed letters of help that will be mailed out to businesses and groups within the community, asking for cards of support for the soldiers, notes, as well as items that can be packed into the packages.
These items include commonplace items like sample-sized toothpaste, baby wipes, hand sanitizers, and local-style snack items like li hing mui products, ika (squid), cuttlefish, and other items relished by locals.
To date, the group has received “Kaua‘i Loves You” stickers from the mayor’s office, and students from some of the classes have written letters of support.
Tentatively, the students have scheduled pickup and drop off dates of Jan. 8, 15, and the week of Jan. 17-21, for contributions for the packages.
Packages will be created and packed on Jan. 22-23, with everything scheduled to be shipped on Jan. 24.
Due to confidentiality issues, Yama-Gokan said she knows there are several other students who have family members involved in the deployment, but she cannot approach them.
