KAPA’A — A steady stream of family members flowed through the campus of Kapa’a High School that was dotted with tents Saturday. “This is really good,” Cathy Shanks of PATCH (People Attentive to CHildren) said as she kept an eye
KAPA’A — A steady stream of family members flowed through the campus of Kapa’a High School that was dotted with tents Saturday.
“This is really good,” Cathy Shanks of PATCH (People Attentive to CHildren) said as she kept an eye on children working on creating puppets at her table in one of the Family Resources tents.
Mary Williamson of the American Cancer Society said she had children decorate luminaria for their upcoming Relay For Life event.
Children flocked through the various offerings housed under the village of portable canopies, while Lady Ipo Kahunaele-Ferreira kept things flowing with her microphone work.
The “village” at the Third Annual Celebrating Kaua’i’s Families event was grouped by categories, with representatives of various community groups being placed within their respective categories.
Health, education, young children, family resources, faith-based programs, youth activities, and Hawaiian resources areas all featured representatives of numerous community agencies who offer services within these categories.
Education and awareness programs were effectively camouflaged by the free activities, many geared toward keiki, that abounded along with food and entertainment.
Francesco Garripoli of Kahuna Valley retreat noted that he had spent some time talking with owners and operators of restaurants from Kapa’a to the Northshore, for contributions to this event.
That effort paid off, as a steady stream of patrons representing the various exhibitors enjoyed the diverse menu offerings.
Entertainment was provided by students from the All Saints Preschool, the Hanalei and Kilauea Schools Ukulele Group, the Kapa’a Middle School Chorus, and Na Hoaloha.
During the Saturday-afternoon event, it was noted that it takes a village to raise a child, and volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Kapa’a High School Earth Club, JROTC, and National Honor Society, the Rotary Club of Kapaa, the Kauai Community Correctional Center inmates, Hale O Kapa’a, and the Princeville Resort culinary team made sure the family summit went smoothly.
Daniel Hamada, state Department of Education Kaua’i area complex schools superintendent, was touring the event, as was Kaua’i Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste.
In addition to the wide variety of community resources, special workshops on Internet crimes, gang presentation, and identity theft were available for patrons to attend.
Similar summits are being planned for other areas of the island, said event organizers.
Bridget Arume headed up the committee that included Dory Farias, Melanie Furugen, Francesco and Daisy Garripoli, Ku’ualoha Ho’omanawanui, Monica Ka’auwai, Junie Lawrence, Anna Peters, Diana Puahala, Sue Saldana and Janet Teves.
The event was sponsored by officials with the County of Kaua’i, Office of the Mayor, Kaua’i Planning & Action Alliance, state Department of Education, Kapa’a High School Title 1, and the Parent Community Resource Center Program of Kaua’i.
