 Hi, welcome to Seymour's World on Think Tech Hawaii. We have a terrific show today, but I do want to answer all the emails and texts I got. What happened with our last show? Well, what happened was quite simple. We didn't have a last show. I missed the last episode because my son Aaron was getting married. And just to prove that he was getting married, we're going to have some photographs of his wedding. It happened at our house. It was absolutely a wonderful day. You could see this is our deck. And there's my son Aaron and Ashley, who is now Mrs. Kazemurski. And guess who was officiating at the wedding? That's me in a tie. Most of you haven't seen me in a tie in a long time. But that was me in the tie, and I was the justice of the piece. It was just amazing. The weather was magnificent. The ceremony finished. And then the clouds opened up. The rain started, and everybody went into the house. And then a double rainbow came over, exactly that picture that you see. And everybody ran out to take pictures. So I'm sorry that I did not inform you that we weren't going to have a show. But it was for a very, very good cause. So let's talk about today's show. Today, this is something very, very close to my heart. Kids Hurt To Hawaii. As you know, I'm involved in a program called You Are In Charge. It's a mentoring program for foster kids. And this is under the umbrella of Kids Hurt To Hawaii. And I wanted to bring them on the show because so many new, exciting things are happening at Kids Hurt To Hawaii. And who best to describe what's happening is Patria Weston Lee, correct? And you are the new executive director and hero Ito, who I've known for I guess three or four years, five years, maybe five years. Five years since our show started. And it's really been wonderful because when you first came on the show, we were just beginning the whole You Are In Charge program. That's right. We brought James. Yes, exactly. And now the program has really taken off very well. And Kids Hurt To is going through a wonderful change with Patria coming on board. So Patria, I'd like you to introduce yourself to our audience and tell us a little bit about who you are, where you came from, and how lucky we are to have you at Kids Hurt To Hawaii. Go ahead. Hey. Well, Aloha. I'm Patria, and I'm really pleased to be here today and talk about what we're working on. I first met Hiro and Cynthia. Those are the two who started Kids Hurt To Hawaii about 15 years ago. I met them eight years ago when I was working at the time for Consuelo Foundation, which is based in Chinatown, and that's where I've been for the last seven years working for a foundation that partners with the Native Hawaiian community. And through doing that work, I learned about some of the best things happening in Hawaii that is being, that you would say is healing work in the community. And I was exposed to some incredible programs that cultivate healing relationships with land and with children and families. So when I heard that there was a transition and an opening at Kids Hurt To Hawaii, it was a fit when I thought about the work that they do and what they've started and what I'm excited to perpetuate in that role. Patria, I've seen just, it's only a month or two, right, that you're on board as the executive director. I've seen tremendous changes already. Cynthia was a fabulous leader. She did an excellent job. Her main focus was in helping grieving children, children who have lost their parents, who have lost relatives, who have really been lost in this whole social program that we have here. Obviously our focus is on the homeless in Hawaii. That's what you see on television. But what Kids Hurt To Hawaii has done and what you are perpetuating is how do we help the kids? How do we help grieving children? How many are there? How many kids do you work with? Right now we have evening groups that happen throughout the year and the number of children that come consistently to our groups are about 150 with their families. And we have different groups on different evenings of the week where we host families and have dinner together and then break into various groups for the caregivers, for the young children, for the youth. And during that space of time, that's us creating the conditions for nurturing space that kids can tell their stories, they can express themselves however they'd like to. They can meet other kids who are going through similar challenges and they really start to build relationships with other families and they're able to express themselves maybe not just through talking but through art and music and a variety of mentoring activities that Hero and Cynthia have put together over the years that have proved to be really impactful for kids and families. So a typical evening for us is hosting families and making space for a variety of kids to come in and feel safe and feel like they can process some really deeply difficult challenges that kids are facing. When they lose a parent to foster care system or to divorce or to separation because a parent was incarcerated or a parent dies, that's such a defining moment in a young child's life and many children need to come away from being isolated and so we want space where those kids can connect and feel like they belong to a community who wants to hear their story and understand. And over the years, it's been thousands of children, Hero, you've been the program director basically for everything that's happening right for kids or two and it's amazing when I walk upstairs and I see all these kids playing little instruments or doing all this kind of stuff, it just makes me realize that these children have been forgotten for a lot of reasons in our social network and kids are too is one of the few organizations that really helps it. Tell us a little bit about the programming, what you do. Okay, so Patria talked about already groups in the nighttime. So on the top of the groups, weekend and sometimes weekdays, weekday night, and then we do that mentoring program. So we work with different organizations, like collaborating, Nakamakai, South Rider Spirit Session, and we used to do lion dance and I still work with the UH, you know, like Hawaiian study department, Loi, and we do Seeds of Love with the Dinsuke, our both members and we do quite a lot of events, ukulele, you know, the practice, we participate in ukulele, you know, competition, and we have a self-team and, you know, so we do, if children want, you know, do something, I try to make it happen and help from the people in the community. Not just in the local community, Hero just for your edification is very involved in Japan. Hero has been one of, Hero and Cynthia actually, go to Japan together, on behalf of kids her too, to help those children who have been in a grieving situation because of the earthquake. Yeah, from the 2011, we had a big earthquake. How many kids? About, I think about 20,000 people died, so we've been going over there and trying to train the local people and we provide grief and trauma services and trying to do the groups for the children who lost, you know, a lot of things. So we just had, we brought them, you know, for the first time this March, last March, and then 44 children, you know, a lot of children, 10 of them lost, you know, like both parents and, so we, 44 plus local children, like the KK, you know. We're going to meet the KK in a few minutes. So about 62, three children, we did a grief and trauma campaign. I'm not sure, you know, this, you know, last March. So, Patria, this is obviously such a necessary part of our community. It's something that we have to do all the time. We have to fund it. How do you fund this? We have a few different sources of funding and we rely completely on donations and grants and also some revenue that's generated because Cynthia and Hero are in demand to train about what they've created over the years and their expertise. So that's where our revenue comes from. The work is free. Like families don't have to pay anything to be involved with the program. So when we look, when we crunch the numbers, there's probably, we could say that one child for a year looking at all the different pieces that we can offer is about $900 for one child to have access to all the activities and the supplies and all those different things that they receive when they are part of the program. So we are constantly looking for funds. And we're going to talk about Gala that you are sponsoring in the second half of the show. I think one thing that everybody has to understand is this is a 24-hour, seven-day program for these children. Whenever they are hurt, they can pick up the phone. If they're grieving about something, if something is affecting them, all they have to do is call and you guys are there for them. And I know Hero, you and Cynthia, for the last few years, this is your family. These children, 400, 500, 600, I mean, think of all of them over the years that you have helped. I see it in our foster youth program, which we'll again talk about in the second half. I see how much these kids need one word, space. They need to have a space where they can come and feel comfortable, where they're not worried about whatever is ailing them, whatever they're grieving for, space. And you give that to them. I see these kids sitting on the floor and playing or drawing or doing things like that. And I realize that they can't do this at home because there's too much turmoil, there's too much commotion, too many things are going on. They need that space. And kids are too. Safe space. Pardon me? Safe space. Safe space. Yes, yes, I agree. Now, can I introduce Lee Keke? Are we ready? Oh, look. Now, which one is Lee Keke? Go ahead, Lee Keke. Introduce yourself. Hello, my name is Lee Keke Nakachi Isaacs. I live in Wamanalo. I am going to Wilmore Community College right now. And I've been with kids are too program for about nine years. And how old were you when you started? I started when I was nine. I started when I was nine and a half. Yeah. And I just recently came back to help out. And so you're giving back now to the organization that helped you? Yeah. So tell me about it. When you started there, do you mind sharing a little bit about your past and your history? Of course. So for me, it was kind of hard because that year was kind of chaotic. That year, my dad passed away. I'm dealing with loss of death. That's one of our groups that we have. And that same year, I got diagnosed with leukemia, ALL. My mom had a really hard time. My brother too, he was little at the time. And it's like, he already lost a father and he didn't want to lose a brother. Wow. And then how did kids hurt to help you? How did you fit into their plans? It was kind of hard because I was going through treatment at that time. I felt very lazy. I had this big doll buddy named Holly. And it's just I stayed there. I rested. And a hero checked up on me. He was with me the whole time. And I appreciate that. Thanks, Eric. Yeah. After the opening cycle, children go to the free play and then DKK just come under the chemotherapies and sometimes he doesn't have a head and he just come to the group slowly, hailed. And then what he did was, he just lie on the top of the Holly doll. He's like a six foot big, the doll. And he just loved him so much. So he come to the group every time, instead of staying home resting. And what he did was, after the opening circle, he just lie on the top of the Holly. Then I sit next to him and just talk story. Then that's what he did during that time. I was like, oh, so amazing time. I spent time with you then. And now can you, do you feel the KK that you could give back to the younger kids who are coming into kids' hurt too? At the time, I didn't feel like I could, but now I could say I could because hero has done a lot for me in Cynthia. And they did so much for me that it's unspeakable. They did. Yeah, so. The KK, hold that thought. We have to go to a break, but I would like to discuss it with you a little bit more because as difficult as it is, it's important for people out there to know how they can make a difference. And you know, we're calling the show the difference starts with you. So you are a messenger. And as a messenger, I want you to tell people why they can make a difference just by doing simple little things like what you're talking about. We're gonna take a short break. We'll be back on Seymour's World with kids hurt too, Hawaii, in a minute. Hi, I'm Steven Phillip Katz. I'm a licensed marriage and family therapist here in Hawaii and I'm the host of Shrink Wrap, Hawaii, which is on Tuesdays at three o'clock. Have a great summit. Take care of your mental health. Aloha, I'm Chantel Seville, host of the Savvy Chick Show on Think Tech, Hawaii. This show is for you. It's all about inspiring and empowering girls of the future to do what they love, get out there and be healthy, fit, and confident. If you're up for that, 11 a.m. every Wednesday, I'll see you there. Good day, lassies and laddies. This is Angus McDuck here on Think Tech, Hawaii and I have my favorite show, Hibachi Talk with my good old buddies, Gordo the Tuxara and Andrew the Seguni guy. Please join us every Monday. No, it's Friday, every Friday from 1 p.m. to 1.30 p.m. here on Think Tech, Hawaii and you can also find us on YouTube, Hibachi Talk. Hello. Hi, welcome back to Seymour's World on Think Tech, Hawaii. As you can see from the beginning of the show, how important it is for all of us to give back in whichever way you can, but I have chosen my group called, my mentoring group called You Are In Charge because I felt I could help these foster kids who are aging out of the system here in Hawaii and bring them into a mentoring group where I can help them see the light at the end of the tunnel and it's all because of these three people here that I can do that, Patria and Hero who work at Kids Her 2, Hawaii and of course, Lee Keke, who is our star today, Lee Keke. Why? Because you are the one who has been the recipient of what Kids Her 2 has been able to do and now you're gonna be also the one who's gonna be giving to Kids Her 2 by helping others. So we ended just before the break with you telling us that you want to give back, you want to do something. How are you going to do that? So right now, tomorrow, we're gonna be starting our facilitating trading and I'm gonna be a part of that. When I came back a couple months ago to help out Hero, I started shadowing him in the different groups. He invited me to come to not just the loss of death, but divorce, loss of separation. And foster children's group. You also participated in the camp, Hukulele, this March. You see, that is all part of what I believe making a difference is all about. By helping other people, you are gonna make a difference and you know the old adage where if you drop a rock in a lake, what happens? It just spreads like that. That assistance that you give will be the key to helping others as well. It's really important. Now, Patria, we talked about money and money always comes into the picture when it comes to non-for-profit organizations and I think that Kids Her 2 does a wonderful job with helping all these thousands of kids over the years. It's incredible, but so few people know about it. So what is Kids Her 2 doing about it this December? So our board is wonderful and has taken the lead to plan a fundraiser that's happening on December 4th. It's going to be a gala event at the Ko'olau Ballrooms, Kanyoheside. And it's going to be 5 p.m. to 9 and there's gonna be live entertainment. There's going to be dinner, a silent auction. And this will be a big event that we're hoping will attract a large group of people who want to hear more about the program and understand what we do and then hopefully be able to share and give back in that way by attending the fundraiser. Go ahead. I think this fundraiser is a critical issue to help Kids Her 2 enact more programs, get more people like Lee Keke to come back and help those kids because to me, Lee Keke helping other kids is stronger than you or me helping those kids because they have a direct relationship with them. I see it in our foster kids program where when the kids are talking to each other and they're helping each other, it's very different for me trying to tell the kids how to do something. That direct relationship can't be bought. It's something that has to happen. Go ahead. I was just gonna say that healing and all development happens in the context of relationships. So what you just talked about is the magic, I think of Kids Her 2, the fact that we want relationships to build and a family-like atmosphere and not feel like it's a transaction. A lot of times in social services and human services, we lose a personal connection and it feels transactional but we really want to have, share a true genuine life connection with each other and with the kids. So we, this photo of surfing, yeah, that's what happens on some weekends. Oh, Lee Keke, that's you on the back, yeah? Yeah, it's a year. But that's what you guys do. You give these kids hope. And it's so important for our community to understand that, that we have to help organizations such as yours. So one of the strengths of the organizations is hope, being able to give to all these children, hundreds and hundreds of children. And yet one of the weaknesses is in fundraising. So I'm gonna put up, if I may, put this up. Can you get a picture of that, Zuri? Okay, and this is our Gala fundraiser, December the 4th. You can contact either Patria or me or hero, anybody at Kids Hurt 2 if you want to participate. And there's something there about me. I don't know, Patria. Yes, can I say that we're gonna be honoring Seymour at the event, said special recognition of him as a humanitarian and entrepreneur. He's dedicated himself for several years now with Kids Hurt 2 and providing really incredible connections. You've brought personal connections and professional connections into what's happening. You have an individual interest that you take in children and youth and connect them with opportunities. You share generously your time and energy and really wanna help kids be able to talk about their vision for their lives and then help them take the steps to reach that vision that they see. So I mean, your few years of service has made a deep and lasting impact on Kids Hurt 2. Thank you very much. The whole idea though is this is about Kids Hurt 2, not about me. And I'm honored and very humbled to be given this award. But I have to say, I get much more pleasure out of working with kids like Lee Keke. You know, the kids in the program that we have had and we're gonna meet them at the gala. We also have music at the gala. We have two of our wonderful groups from Make Him Smile. Taz Vegas is coming. We've got the Hawaiian heavyweights that are coming to play. So we'll have tons of, we also have a silent auction. And we have a live auction going on. So it is December the 4th at the, it's at the Koalau Ballroom, starts at five o'clock. You can buy tickets or you can buy a table, whichever you like, just contact Kids Hurt 2 and we'll try to make sure that you guys can get there. But it'll be a lot of fun. That's for sure. Now, Hiro and Lee Keke, I want to get back to more of what you do with the kids, Hiro. I know that your Japan trips, you have brought into my group these people from Japan who are learning. So you're not only helping the kids, you're teaching others like the pebble in the ocean. You're teaching others to be able to do what you do. Yes. So you wanna talk about what you did, you know the camping stuff? So at camp, what we did was, we had a fun time, of course, with the people who had lost their parents, more than one parent, because of the tsunami that hit. The language barrier was kind of hard to understand. We had one translator in each group. Afterwards, we broke up into our groups, we had five groups, was it? Five groups and it equals over the age. And then afterwards, we did have our talks, as well as talking about like death, of course. Various activities. Various activities. And some of them had a hard time going near the ocean because the tsunami. Oh, that's yes. Well, one of the girls, you know, a teenager, she cannot even wash her face, because after the tsunami for a long time. So she wouldn't go close to the water because the reminder of the ocean, the tsunami, was the death of her parents. That's what she associated with it. Oh my gosh. So some children cannot even go, but I saw the two older children just in a jacket of all. And then if you lose, get closer to the ocean. If you lose, get closer to the ocean. I was wondering, what are they doing? That's what they are doing, you know? So they figured out a way of doing it. It's funny how sometimes the lesson is learned from the student, not from the teacher. And then the DKK just, you know, he's so Hawaiian. So he just invites everybody and he's welcome. And he was like a big superstar. It's just like an amazing interaction. And they didn't have to have a long Japanese vibe. Just have some deep connection because they all lost somebody in their lifetime. Mainly the father figures for you, you know, for them, just some of them lost their children. Yes, yeah. And since I was dealing with the older kids, some of them could speak a little bit English, but still the certain barrier was kind of hard, but we kind of have a gist of what each other was talking about. We had lots of fun. We actually, I think my group had a really emotional connection. We had a talk story like we do in Kitsa too, in every group. So you guys did it with the kids. And did you give trophies or were there prizes? We got a lot of donations from the Hydro 8, and then we made, everybody got the Hydro, not Hydro, local, you know, Hydro 8. Hydro Flask, Hydro Flask. Yeah, Hydro Flask. And then everybody made a Hydro, I don't know. Oh, look at this, look at this picture. Hero, yes, bleeding up to our recent surf event, Hero had made trophies for all the soul surfers who were participating in the event that day, and the kids were thrilled to have that, receive that gift. What you guys are doing is just phenomenal. And I think it's, for me, it's a pleasure to be part of it. I'm thrilled that my program, my mentoring program, is part of Kitsa too, because I see like, guys like Lee Keke now can come into our foster kids program and help those kids understand you've had your troubles, you've had your problems, both health problems, and of course with your dad, and now it's time for you to get them to see the light at the end of the tunnel too. So to all of you, Patria and Hero and Lee Keke, I really thank you so much for coming, and for helping our audience understand that there was a lot of kids who need help, and Kitsa too is one of the best venues, if our audience wants to help, they should help with Kitsa too. A lot of children need support, you know? Especially good things about it is peer support, so little children can support little children, children can support children, teens can support each other, and parents can support each other. That's what's happening, what's happening in a group night, and then also mentoring programs. Wonderful, Patria, I wish you the best of luck in your new position. I know I've worked with you for the last month, and it's been fantastic because I love that you push my buttons, and you know, you make sure that I do things that I'm supposed to do, and we had a meeting the other day, the three of us, a very frank meeting about, you know, our program, to make sure that it stays, and make sure that we have kids who are coming, and kids who understand, and we all know how beneficial it is for them from the foster youth program, but it's, the main thing is that our audience will now support Kitsa too, and hopefully we'll come to our gala. Hopefully yes, thank you Seymour, and everyone who watched this, thank you. Thank you very much. I thank you Lekeke, Hero, and Patria, and to you, our audience, I hope you've enjoyed a very, very important message that we have sent you for Kitsa or to Hawaii. We'll see you in a couple of weeks, Aloha from Seymour's World.