Family. Community. World. For 25-year Anahola resident Manulele Clarke, that is the progression of community service. “It has to start here,” Clarke said. When three teenagers in the tightly woven community of Anahola committed suicide last October, Clarke was outraged.
Family. Community. World.
For 25-year Anahola resident Manulele Clarke, that is the progression of community service.
“It has to start here,” Clarke said.
When three teenagers in the tightly woven community of Anahola committed suicide last October, Clarke was outraged. Rather then allow horror to cripple her, she and a handful of volunteers hit the streets of their community banging on doors.
“We spent 12 hours going door to door talking to people,” she said. “I am pulling everyone into this effort.”
Anahola residents received a letter requesting the blessing of their kupuna, an invitation to a showing of the movie “Whale Rider” and a short survey about ways to support the community.
The concerned citizens met for the first time November 23. Since that first meeting, the newly formed K-KOA Foundation, Kukulu Kumuhana ‘O Anahola, translated “Building together self-identity through cultural values” has hosted two family events at the Anahola Homestead Park pavilion. Through private donations they provide a rented inflatable movie screen for a show and serve attendees hot-dogs and popcorn. At their first movie they drew 50 keiki and teens and 30 parents. On Feb. 28 K-KOA will host its first of four benefit concerts to raise money for monthly gatherings for their community.
“This money will get us through the next few months of activities,” Clarke said.
The monthly gathering is just the tip of the iceberg for the foundation though. There are three phases to the project according to Clarke. The first of which is uniting the community through the children. Having reared her daughter in Anahola, Clarke saw first-hand the crisis teens were experiencing.
“There was nowhere for them to go,” she said. “They’d hang out here at my house. I’d overhear them talking about what 14- year old was pregnant. Who is back in the boy’s home or in jail. I thought, we’ve got to do something.”
That was 20 years ago and Clarke was like many parents with multiple jobs and little time for anything outside her own family. Today though, she is semi-retired and taken on the mantle of teen advocate.
“Phase one is finding out what the kids want,” she said.
At the first gathering she asked the children what they wanted and their blank faces said it all.
“They just stared at me and said, huh,” she said. “They don’t even know what they want.”
Clarke is bent on providing the children of her community with memories they can look back on with a smile.
“First they need to be exposed to new things. The goal is to give them new experiences,” she said. “How many Kaua‘i kids have been whale watching on the Napali or taken a kayak trip? Too few I promise you that.”
Having worked as an entertainer and Realtor, Clarke is very sensitive to the business aspect of the venture. Phase one includes not only reaching out to the community but the process of becoming a non-profit organization, applying for grants and finding the best candidates for the board of directors. Clarke’s past experience as a member of multiple boards has provided her insight on the pitfalls and strengths of a well-intended group.
“A healthy, honest and productive board of directors is the secret to success,” she said.
Phase two of the K-KOA mission is to create a gathering place for Anahola kids.
“No television. I picture it as a place with instruments all over the place,” she said. “Playing music provides discipline, self-control, time management and relaxation.”
The gathering place will include classes on life strategies like how to balance a check book, manage money and cook Hawaiian food. The third phase is to build a school. Clarke described it as a military school with Hawaiian values. Her time-line for this project is over five years.
Meanwhile, K-KOA is reaching into as many Anahola households as possible to bring families together and hopefully provide a model for other communities on Kaua‘i.
“Consistency and regularity are important to gain confidence in what we are doing,” Clarke wrote in an e-mail. “Too many projects begin and dissolve, leaving our kids disappointed … We have planned to provide on the third week of every month something fun for the kids.”
On the agenda are activities like card playing, fishing and even a pizza making night.
“The universal gods have been blessing us so far. Everything is moving smooth and fast,” she said. “Let’s love this journey. I refuse to stress out. It needs to be loving and joyful, not just for the kids but for us too.”
Tickets to the Kupaianaha benefit concert are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Tickets are available at the following outlets: Hanalei Video; Paradise Music, Princeville and Bounty Music, Kapa‘a. For more information or to volunteer call Manu, 821-1698.
Want to go?
What: Kupaianaha benefit concert
When: 7 p.m. Feb. 28
Where: Church of the Pacific, Princeville
Cost: $25 advance / $30
at the door
• Pam Woolway, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681, ext. 257 or pwoolway@kauaipubco.com
