KEKAHA — Trini Naea, activities director for the Kekaha Housing Project, was anxious about the turnout for her first event Friday. “This is the first time we’re doing this,” she said nervously in the parking lot of the project’s multi-purpose
KEKAHA — Trini Naea, activities director for the Kekaha Housing Project, was anxious about the turnout for her first event Friday.
“This is the first time we’re doing this,” she said nervously in the parking lot of the project’s multi-purpose room. “But, when I was on the Big Island, we did this and it made the papers.”
Naea, who has been in her position since March, created the Mother’s Day flower contest and the Father’s Day poem contest for children in the project to creatively express feelings about their parents.
The results were announced before a gathering of families in the multi-purpose room and overflowed onto the lanai area due to the sweltering Kekaha heat.
Naea said about 15 to 20 children show up for routine activities, and based on this response, is already excited about creating a summer program that will encompass not only children, but families and seniors as well.
Kaua‘i mayor Bryan Baptiste judged the flower contest and was on hand to enjoy prizes and food provided by various community sponsors.
“I’m so grateful to these sponsors,” Naea said. “They have a lot of people that are always asking them for things, but they could find it in their hearts to give us something.”
A specially decorated cake from Safeway drew the attention of the children, who made up the vocal, jittery majority of attendees. Other donated goods included Ishihara Market gift certificates, roses for mothers from Flowers Forever, food from L&L Drive In, clothes for dads from Red Dirt Shirts in Waimea and dessert from Omoide.
Jaslin Aquino was the big winner of the evening, earning top honors for her Mother’s Day flower and runner up for her Father’s Day poem.
“I love my dad because he is the bestest dad because he cooks for us, washes our clothes and buys a lot of things we need or want,” Aquino wrote of her father.
Naea said a lot of children have strong feelings for their fathers because they do a lot of things with the children.
Chaz Kohatsu’s hibiscus — a colorful expression of his feelings for his mom — took second in the Mother’s Day flower contest.
“This is just like Chaz’s mother,” Naea pointed out. “She wears a hibiscus in her hair every day.”
Shea Kohatsu, Chaz’s sister, was third in the flower contest.
Erin Naea topped the Father’s Day poem contest, followed by Aquino and R.J. Garania.
Naea’s role as director of the housing project is shaped by experience.
She grew up in a similar project and, through the help of a self-sufficiency program, finally moved her family into their own home.
Baptiste was also a significant part of her life before he was elected mayor. As a flower shop owner, Baptiste ordered the flowers for Naea’s wedding, but when she picked them up they were the wrong color. Baptiste remained calm, and had the issue resolved before the wedding.
“It was almost one in the morning,” she said. “But he changed the flowers and they became the most beautiful thing I remember.”
That led her to bring the Mother’s Day floral entries to his office for his staff to judge.
Roni Ayau, the project’s manager, and Scott Cabral, the project’s housing specialist, had a lot to do with turning things around, Naea said.
“This could just be a project,” she said. “But it’s our community. Through a program of families helping families, we all can have a brighter future. We’re not going to lose.”
Naea said Ayau and Cabral also provided each winner with additional prizes.
Ayau, in addition to overseeing the Kekaha project, also works with housing programs in Waimea, ‘Ele‘ele, Port Allen and Koloa, Naea said.
Her first-time event apprehension had long since wafted into the Kekaha wind as Naea welcomed guests to the gathering.
“By their showing up at this event, it shows they want a (better) future,” Naea said.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
