Helping Local Charities During the Holidays
By Katherine Kama‘ema‘e Smith
Holiday giving is an American tradition. Sharing the harvest at makahiki time is also a Hawaiian tradition. For this reason, many Maui nonprofits plan their annual appeals and fund raising events in the days leading up to Christmas.
It seems that Maui’s economic recovery is lagging behind the mainland. Our nonprofits continue to struggle too, as grantors cut the number of grants and award amounts. At the same time, sustaining funds from community donors are well below pre-recession levels. Volatility and uncertainty abound.
With these factors in mind, Ke Ola magazine decided to look for some charities with limited resources or setbacks who are working hard to help people in need. Their events might not come up on major lists, so sharing their stories is our way of giving to our Maui community at the holiday season.
Haleakalā Waldorf School’s Holiday Faire: Tuition Assistance for Students
Haleakalā Waldorf School is a private K–12 program that offers a practical, active learning experience integrated with the arts. Students represent a broad cross-section of our Maui community because the school offers tuition assistance and scholarships for many families who cannot afford full tuition. Every December, Waldorf School administration, faculty, and parents put together a Holiday Faire to raise thousands of dollars to assist these families. All private schools must raise funds to make up for the gap between tuition and the actual cost to educate each student. The Holiday Faire is Haleakalā Waldorf School’s way to help kids from lower income families.
The December 6 event begins with the childrenʻs Elf Parade at 9am. Splendid campus grounds dressed in holiday dècor welcome visitors all day long with food, entertainment, games, holiday crafts and homemade baked goods. Many booths allow children to make their own handcrafted gifts. The Gnome Moss Garden—mosses planted on driftwood or special rocks and decorated by the children—is a hit with moms. There is even a gift shop for kids with inexpensive items they can afford. This fair sells lovely wreaths made from fresh upcountry greens, so be sure to visit this booth early in the day, before the wreaths are gone.
Children have fun playing games and competing on an obstacle course at the athletic field, while tūtū (grandparents) enjoy a cup of herbal tea and fresh baked goods, by the piece or packaged to go. Event organizers recommend wearing comfortable shoes to get around their large campus. Parking is available at the Kula Community Center, a short walk from the school entrance. Shuttle vans are also available for mothers with small children, and those who have trouble walking.
If you have never experienced this upbeat Kula tradition, or if you are looking for a way to help lower income Maui children get an excellent education, then visit this event December 6.
Donations may be made by credit card at WaldorfMaui.org, or mailed to the school office at 4160 Lower Kula Road, Kula HI 96790. 808.878.2511.
Prayers and Packages: Care Packages for Overseas Military
In 2004 Lola Ledbetterʻs son was getting ready to deploy to Iraq. She began supporting her son by sending care packages stuffed with extra socks, helmet liners, CDs, and snacks. “Then I started sending packages to his platoon, then 50 boxes to his unit, and during the surge, a few friends helped me send 300 boxes to his entire company of 300.”
The economy was strong, so funds and gifts to stuff the boxes came in from everywhere. “Everything scaled back in 2008, of course, and we began fundraising, through our church, Kumulani Chapel at Kapalua,” recalls Lola.
As an outreach ministry of the church, she runs bake sales to raise funds and other volunteers solicit donations of items to send. “The soldiers tell us what they need, and we try to get it. For example, Green Beret Special Ops soldiers don’t want candy, they love body-building supplements from BodyBuilding.com.”
Lola said that during the height of deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, hotel amenities like shampoo and body lotion were in demand. “We donʻt have much call for them now. Ground troops say fragrances make them more ‘detectable’ by the enemy.”
Socks, playing cards, surf magazines, and CDs are popular. Lola shops garage sales for CDs. “We always put in things from Maui—that touch of home in every box—arare, li hing mui mango, and teriyaki snacks.”
Also in demand are protein bars, protein whey powder, insoles for boots—and pads of paper, pens, note cards, dental floss, toenail clippers, and moleskin for blisters.
“Maui hotels are great supporters. Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel recently did a one week appeal for items for the troops. On Veterans Day, Kumulani Chapel had a Prayers and Packages Appeal,” said Lola.
When people bring her the APO address for a loved one overseas, Lola adds them to her list. When extra donations come in, she gets names from AdoptASoldier.com, so long as they are stationed in foreign countries.
She accepts PayPal donations through Kumulani Chapel at KumulaniChapel.org; just type “Prayers and Packages” on the memo line. If you wish to drop off a carton of CDs or your collection of surf magazines, call Lola at: 808.280.8572.
The Haku Baldwin Center: Using Horses to Help Veterans with PTSD
The Haku Baldwin Center has established an equestrian and animal center for the therapeutic treatment, education, and nurturing of challenged individuals. Their “Free Horsemanship Training for Veterans” is a six-week course on how to groom, care for, and communicate with a horse. It allows veterans to connect one-on-one with a single animal, establishing a trust relationship. This type of interaction with intelligent animals has proven to be therapeutic for patients with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
The Horsemanship for Veterans Program is open to all US military service members, including active duty, disabled, and retired veterans. Men and women of all ages are encouraged to apply. No riding is involved, so any level of disability will be accommodated. No prior horse experience is required. The horses are gentle, and six weekly 40-minute sessions take place in a safe, private environment at the Makawao facility. There is absolutely no cost to veterans.
Harriett Haku Baldwin started the center 20 years ago to help a disabled friend. Horseback riding was therapeutic for physically challenged patients, improving confidence, and balance. Today the center named for her has grown to assist many disabled patients and veterans. This fall, Tropical Storm Ana caused Haku Baldwin Center to cancel its October fundraiser. To help them make up the shortfall, tax deductible donations via PayPal, may be made at HakuBaldwinCenter.org or send a check to Haku Baldwin Center, 444 Baldwin Avenue, Makawao, HI, 96768. 808.572.9129.
Wounded Warrior Wave Riders Association (WWWRA): Teaching Veterans to Surf
Every morning at 7am, former US Marine Captain Dave Fletcher sets up his paddleboards on Cove Beach in Kihei and waits for veterans who will accept his offer to teach them wave riding. Reaching out on a shoestring budget is difficult, but Dave hopes to be able to get enough traction so he can scholarship veterans from the mainland to fly to Maui and experience the healing that comes with learning to surf and paddle.
He will teach any veteran how to ride a paddleboard: prone, sitting, kneeling or standing, depending on their physical ability. As they become absorbed in learning the skill of the sport, they experience the freedom and peace that only wave riding gives. Physically challenged and PTSD veterans experience healing. For many veterans, it is the very first time they have experienced joy or smiled since they were injured.
Dave’s custom-designed paddles with a 94-inch shaft and large blades allows amputees to generate enough speed to catch waves without assistance. Once trained, veterans can navigate around Mauiʻs shores, build confidence, and continue to benefit from this encounter with the nurturing sea.
On the Wounded Warrior Wave Rider Association website you can see a video of one amputeeʻs successful ride seated on a soft-top paddleboard. To help Captain Dave extend this therapy to more amputees, please make a tax deductible donation via PayPal at WWWRA.org, or call Captain Dave at 808.633.4938.
Ka Hale A Ke Ola Resource Center: Homeless Families in Need at Christmas Time
For many years the Tree Lighting Ceremony at Ritz Carlton Kapalua, a heavily attended community event, supported Ka Hale A Ke Ola Resource Centers (KHAKO), Mauiʻs shelter and resource center for homeless families. These sustaining funds were an important part of the charityʻs operating budget.
Recently financial pressures forced the hotel to cancel its outreach events. “We are so grateful for all that Ritz Carlton did for us through the years—their annual gift at Christmas, and also providing a Christmas dinner for all our client families and staff, said KHAKO CEO, Erin Fleming.
Clifford Nae‘ole, Cultural Advisor at the Ritz Carlton, solicited the Sheraton Resort and Spa at Kā‘anapali to provide Christmas dinner for all our homeless families on December 10, and Ikaika Blackburn will donate entertainment.
Unfortunately, there will be no big Christmas donation coming in, and yet the needs remain: physical, social and economic challenges crush families every day; strategies to resume a normal life are costly and take time. KHAKO gives families a safe place to find the time and resources to heal and get back on track.
Erin explains, “Homelessness can happen to anyone. Each one of us has the capability to help homeless families get on their feet. Our approach is to provide individualized help to relocate, find medical care, transition to a new job or battle addiction. I encourage everyone to explore ways you can become involved, as a donor or a volunteer.”
The homelesss shelter first started in Pu‘unene in 1986. In 1993, they built the current facility in Wailuku, which offers life skills classes designed to break the pattern of homelessness: budgeting, parenting, and communication. As a full resource center, they provide emergency shelter, transitional housing, training, counseling, primary medical care, child care, and coordinate with other agencies to provide Head Start for homeless preschoolers.
A retaining basin on property was recently turned into a community garden that grows fresh produce for the kitchen, and teaches children sustainability skills. Says Erin, “We have a great team with a lot of heart, a lot of patience and commitment. This is a safe place of nurture where our clients have the space to reach out for what they need.”
The holidays are a great time to help homeless families. Tax deductible cash donations may be made via PayPal at Khako.org or by check to Ka Hale A Ke Ola Resource Center, 670 Waiale Road, Wailuku, HI 96793. The center also receives donations of food, clothing, lawn furniture, small appliances, household items, and toys. Wrapped Christmas gifts for children help families who cannot provide holiday festivities for their kids. Call 808.242.7600 for details.
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Of course these are only a few of the many wonderful charities on Maui. Make this holiday season special by making charity giving a family activity. Pass on our wonderful cultural practice of sharing to the next generation.
Mele Kalikimaka!
Contact writer Katherine Kama‘ema‘e Smith
