Keiki Youth Resource Fair 2023
Contributed by Katie Lyn Makaokalani, Hawaii State Department of Health. Photos courtesy of Hawaii Department of Health.
Lanai had its very first Keiki Youth Resource fair on June 10, 2023. Put together by the Department of Health Public Health Nurse Ciera Eguia who worked alongside her assistant, Katie Makaokalani, and Lanai’s very own Lanai Community Health Center. This event was a hit! We’ve never seen such a great turn out with over 500 community members who came together to see what resources this little island has to offer our keiki.
Everyone who attended was given a stamp card. Instructions were to get a stamp from visiting all booths, and once completed, visit Ciera and Katie to be entered into the raffle prize drawing and receive food tickets to get a hotdog, chips and a drink. Heidi Allencastre with Hooikaika Partnership and Maui Family Support Services handed out 200 backpacks full of school supplies, diapers, baby wipes, youth hygiene kits and Aloha slippers for all ages! Everyone wanted in on that! They were cleared out before the fair even ended.
Maui Police Department former SRO officer Sergeant Carl Eguia displayed vapes/e-cigarettes that were confiscated at Lanai High & Elementary School. Lanai Adventure Park handed out some Adventure Park gift cards and explained which keiki activities they offer. Halakahiki Montessori had such a cute set up! They showed what Montessori is with hands-on displays and pictures along with face painting for the keiki done by the guides (teachers). Community Children’s Council of Hawaii, Child & Family Service, State of Hawaii Department of Education and Maui Educational Opportunity Center all came to Lanai to participate in the fair and share their resources.
We hope to have this event every year! Thank you to all the sponsors, volunteers, organizations and all who contributed to make this Keiki Youth Resource Fair happen!
Special thank you to the following:
Paul from Friends of the Children’s Justice Center for sponsoring a portion of the event.
Heidi Allencastre along with Hooikaika Partnership and Maui Family Support Services for sponsoring food and majority of the prizes. She also brought over the backpacks filled with school supplies, hygiene kits, dental kits, books, diapers and wipes.
Kamehameha Schools for donating 200 pairs of slippers.
Expeditions for donating two boat trips to bring over all the supplies.
Kamaka Air for donating a flight to bring over the hot dogs and buns.
Pulama Lanai for donating the tables, tents and chairs.