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WRITTEN TESTIMONY
Support for the Puakalehua Celebrate ʻOhana Fes?val
Hawaiʻi County Council | Wednesday, August 5, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. | Kona Chambers, West Hawaiʻi Civic Center
MEASURE
Resolution No. 630-26
INTRODUCED BY
Council Member James E. Hustace
SUBMITTED BY
Jesse Lucas, Kumu for Kamehameha Preschool - Kohala
POSITION
STRONG SUPPORT
Aloha Chair Inaba, Vice Chair Onishi, and Members of the Hawaiʻi County Council:
On behalf of the Puakalehua Early Learning Consortium (PKL), of which I am a member, I submit this testimony in
strong support of Resolution No. 630-26, which would award $2,500 in Contingency Relief funding to Friends of the
Future, fiscal sponsor of PKL, for our 4th Annual Celebrate ʻOhana Fes?val.
The festival will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Queen’s Market Place in Waikōloa. It is a free, family-
centered event that brings together early learning organizations, community service providers, local businesses, and
ʻohana from across West Hawaiʻi. Families take part in educa?onal, cultural, and play-based activities while connecting
directly with the programs that support young children’s learning, health, and well-being.
The festival is held in Waikōloa, within Council District 9, and draws ʻohana from across South Kohala, North Kohala,
and North Kona — communities where families often travel considerable distances to reach early learning programs
and family services. Bringing those providers together in one place, on one day, removes that barrier.
Funds under this resolution will help cover the event venue and keiki activities. Combined with the companion
resolution before you today, the County’s $5,000 investment supports essential event costs and keeps the festival free
and accessible to every family, regardless of income. .
The past three festivals delivered clear community benefits:
• Approximately 300 children, parents, grandparents, and caregivers were served in each festival
• 10 to 25 community organizations and early learning partners engaged, strengthened their networks and provided
helpful information to the community of Early Learners and their families
• At least 10 hands-on learning opportunities that promote school readiness, literacy, creativity, family
engagement, and positive parent-child interactions were set up and utilized by the scores of ‘ohana and keiki in
attendance
As a preschool counselor serving six preschool sites across North and West Hawaiʻi—and a proud PKL Consortium
member—I’ve had the joy of attending all three past festivals. Every year, I watch over 50 or more of the keiki I work
with directly, dive into the activities, learn through play, and light up with excitement. They leave with wonderful
memories and helpful resources, and so many ‘ohana ask me months later if we’re going back again the following year.
County support strengthens more than just this single event. It strengthens the network of organizations serving North
and West Hawaiʻi keiki and ʻohana, and creates a welcoming place where families build pilina (rela?onships), learn
where to seek support, and experience the shared kuleana (responsibility) our community holds for young children.
PKL Celebrate ʻOhana Fes?val — Hustace Companion Resolution | Page 1
Mahalo to Council Member Hustace for bringing this funding forward, and mahalo to the full Council for your
consideration. I respectfully urge your support of Resolution No. 630-26.
Me ka mahalo,
Jesse Lucas, M.Ed.
Kamehameha Preschools - Kohala
Puakalehua Consortium Member and Participant
PKL Celebrate ʻOhana Fes?val — Hustace Companion Resolution | Page 2