By: Benjamin Ah Sing, Hoa’āina/Farm Operations Specialist at Ho’okua’āina
Ho’okua’āina as an organization holds community outreach in the highest esteem. From school groups to community work days, we cover a wide variety of programs and have loads of fun doing it! We enjoy sowing the lessons we teach here into the lives of the people that come to work with us and the reciprocal relationships that unfold are what make this wahi pana special.
In particular, our pilina with Habilitat holds unique significance. Known for its outstanding success rate in substance addiction and rehabilitation, Habilitat helps residents to grow in self-esteem, self-worth, and self-discipline. Our partnership has developed over the years through support from Ka’iewe Davidson, former resident and now Community Outreach Coordinator. Our team has had the honor of working alongside the Habilitat crew during monthly workdays at Kapalai, as well as attending open house events where residents showcase the inner workings of the program that they are a part of.
Incredible is an understatement and inspiring is the best I can do to capture what I witnessed. Through accountability, honesty, and respect, residents have an opportunity to live in a community of like-minded individuals that kako’o one another in an uphill battle. Instead of viewing oneself as a failure, the underlying narrative focuses on transformation from the inside out. As residents progress through the program, they take on mentorship roles and step into positions helping to run the home they all live in. The cultivation of purpose and skill are an essential part of recovery. Residents have access to an education and career center, as well as employment opportunities in construction, landscaping, culinary fields and much more.
The crew from Habilitat that comes down to the lo’i to hana with us are what we like to call “hammahz!” These folks “giiiive uhm!” Their work ethic and dedication to making life improvements are enough to get me moving in the morning and work right alongside them!
My personal takeaway is summed up in the ‘ōlelo no’eau of ‘a’ohe hana nui ke alu ‘ia “No task is too big when done together by all.” It takes a healthy community of like-minded individuals to accomplish any goal in life. Ho’okua’āina fully supports Habilitat’s mission since we are dedicated to the virtues of excellence, grace, commitment, purpose, and pilina. In life there are struggles. It takes tremendous courage to ask for help and even more gusto to choose to get back on your own feet and try again. I’m blessed to be connected with such an outstanding organization. My pule goes out to all of those residents who commit to the journey of healthy change. I am excited and enthusiastic about continuing to build this pilina well into the future of both our organizations!
We have much to learn from folks like Habilitat! Me ke aloha pumehana!
A word from Ka’iewe Davidson, Community Outreach Coordinator at Habilitat:
“My name is Ka’iewe and I am a proud member of the Habilitat family. Habilitat is the place of change where people who are lost & broken come to find a new path in life and truly become the strongest best version of themselves. I am such an individual. While on my journey I came across Ho’okua’āina and met Uncle Dean & Makana. As a Kanaka Maoli, I felt instantly connected to their purpose and could see the value of what they were doing. I believe that mālama ‘āina is part of every individual’s kuleana and helps each of us find our higher purpose. My experience there has been nothing short of amazing and has motivated me at the highest level to thrive on my path to recovery. Uncle Dean and the ‘ohana at Ho’okua’aina provide us with an experience of what it was like to experience old Hawai’i where family, hard work & a good time is of the utmost importance. Habilitat is proud and grateful to be in partnership with Ho’okua’aina and looks forward to what the future has in store. Mahalo Nui for all that you folks do for our ‘ohana and the community. Your work is truly inspiring.”
