Three Anahola teenagers were remembered during the 8th annual Thanksgiving Luncheon hosted recently by Hui O Na Makua Ho‘okahi O Kaua‘i. “Usually, Thanksgiving is a day where people are thankful for their families, friends, jobs and more,” said Marilyn Mohler,
Three Anahola teenagers were remembered during the 8th annual Thanksgiving Luncheon hosted recently by Hui O Na Makua Ho‘okahi O Kaua‘i.
“Usually, Thanksgiving is a day where people are thankful for their families, friends, jobs and more,” said Marilyn Mohler, the founder and executive director of Hui O Na Makua Ho‘okahi O Kaua‘i, in an e-mail. “But at this Thanksgiving Day Luncheon, it was a day where the Anahola community had to reflect on why three beautiful teenagers ended their earthly lives in suicide, leaving their families with a lot of unanswered questions.”
Mohler, who was born and raised in Anahola in a single-parent home, said, “Mothers are about life giving, supporting and nurturing their families, but some of us may fall short. The question is, how can we, as a community, help the other teenagers who are left behind who might be contemplating doing the same thing.”
The annual community luncheon was made possible through the efforts of the three churches in Anahola who helped with the luncheon. These include the Anahola Baptist Church, Island Worship Center who also provided the event with songs of hope in times of despair, and the Hui‘ia Protestant Church.
The Hilton Kaua‘i Beach Resort and the ResortQuest Kaua‘i Beach at Maka‘iwa helped roast the turkeys for the event.
Mohler said Hui O Na Makua Ho‘okahi O Kaua‘i, an organization that supports single families, also appreciates individuals in the Kaua‘i community who came together and gave of their time to give hope to the hurting families who lost their teenagers to suicide.
Ed Ka‘ahea served as the event’s emcee and Mayor Bill “Kaipo” Asing made an appearance to show his aloha and support for the families who are hurting by the tragedies they suffered.
Hui O Na Makua Ho‘okahi O Kaua‘i is a grassroots nonprofit that has been serving single parents since 2000. For more information, people can call Mohler at 639-1070.
