KS preschoolers walk laps and raise money in honor of Ke Aliʻi Pauahi

Keiki at Nā Kula Kamaliʻi ma Heʻeia took part in the preschool’s first-ever Pennies for Pauahi and Walk for Pauahi events.

Dec. 18, 2022

Cool morning makani and the towering Koʻolau mountains provided a beautiful backdrop for a touching tribute to Ke Aliʻi Pauahi earlier this month at Nā Kula Kamaliʻi ma Heʻeia. More than 100 kamaliʻi dressed in pink attire joined kumu and representatives from the Pauahi Foundation in the preschool’s first-ever Walk for Pauahi. The keiki gave pule, performed mele, danced, and walked several laps around the school’s parking lot. Bubbles from a bubble machine greeted the kamaliʻi each time they started another lap.

The Walk for Pauahi was part of a series of events at the windward Oʻahu preschool meant to provide keiki hands-on lessons in the values of kahiau (generosity), and lawelawe alakaʻi (servant leadership).

Besides walking, each classroom also collected donations for the Pennies for Pauahi fundraising event. “We’ve received buckets upon buckets of pennies. Some parents dropped off huge bags of pennies. So we’re just so grateful for their donations,” said Hope Poʻo Kumu Andrea Waiaʻu.

The Walk for Pauahi and Pennies for Pauahi events were the brainchild of Papa Lauaʻe lead teacher Melissa Kapu. Her haumāna walked laps while wearing adorable pink capes. “Our aliʻi are our superheroes and we wanted to celebrate them. So we decided that we were going to be ʻsuperheroes for Pauahi’ and honor her in that special way. And they loved it,” said Kapu.

The kamaliʻi also took part in a spirit week with each day devoted to things Ke Aliʻi Pauahi loved, like horses and tea parties.

“To see it go from beginning to end was amazing, a little stressful because you never know how you’re going to get 120 kids to do things. But all in all, I’m super pleased. I sincerely hope that we made Pauahi proud.”

Pennies for Pauahi fundraising events also took place at KS preschools in Nanākuli and Molokaʻi. The total amount raised for the Pauahi Foundation is still being tallied, but there is a much deeper meaning than just dollars and cents.

“Think about what kind of world we’d have if we could each help at least one person the way Ke Ali'i Pauahi has helped us! To see the youngest beneficiaries of Princess Pauahi’s legacy learning the importance of giving through Pennies for Pauahi reminds us how important our work is in fostering a thriving lāhui,” said Pono Maʻa KSK’82, KS director of Advancement and executive director of the Pauahi Foundation.

In this season of giving, if you’d like to help build upon Ke Aliʻi Pauahi’s legacy through educational scholarships, please consider making a donation at Pauahi.org.

See more keiki pics in our Pennies for Pauahi photo gallery.

Pono Maʻa KSK’82, KS director of Advancement and executive director of the Pauahi Foundation, Papa Lauaʻe lead teacher Melissa Kapu alongside kamaliʻi ‘superheroes for Pauahi.