NUKOLI‘I — In about two weeks, Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. will become a grandfather, he said Thursday. Carvalho, in addressing the 4th annual Na Keiki Aloha O Na ‘Ohana Conference, said in his role as mayor, he needs to
NUKOLI‘I — In about two weeks, Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. will become a grandfather, he said Thursday.
Carvalho, in addressing the 4th annual Na Keiki Aloha O Na ‘Ohana Conference, said in his role as mayor, he needs to look for ways to support the kupuna.
“Grandparents step up to the plate to help raise children, and a conference like this one helps provide resources to make a difference for the families,” he said. “I was raised by my tutu to where I am today, and we will do whatever it takes to reach out and help the kupuna.”
Vickie Simonelli of Child and Family Services said 45 agencies that have resources to help kupuna were present to offer information, counseling and answer questions from the grandparents in the community that are charged with raising young children.
“I was at a Meth 360 workshop, Wednesday, and one of the trends they spoke of was how grandparents (raising children) are exploited by young people looking for drugs,” Simonelli said. “There are a lot of grandparents who help with raising young people, and this conference, a collaboration of several agencies, helps them by providing resources they can use.”
Jalene Huff of Child and Family Services said the Thursday conference was the fourth one put together by several agencies including the Queen Liliuokalani Children’s Center, Child and Family Services, the county’s Agency on Elderly Affairs, and Alu Like.
Huff said she was thankful a late grant enabled them to host the conference at the Hilton Kaua‘i Beach Resort because the kupuna could enjoy themselves instead of having to sort through information in a meeting hall.
“This gives them a break from child care,” Huff said. “Otherwise, they are too busy working and raising the children to come out and enjoy themselves.”
J. Michael Ratcliff of the Seniors Law Program, a keynote speaker at the conference, said his topic encompassed how grandparents have ways to have legal control over the children they raise.
He was joined by Brother Noland Conjugation who presented the “Values of Aloha.”
Carvalho said caregiving of young people by grandparents are spread out across this island and this is an area the county needs to provide support where it can.
“This is an exciting time for me,” Carvalho said. “I will be a grandparent like you. I will become a grandfather myself in about two weeks. I was part of my three children being born, and I will be part of my first granddaughter’s birth.”
