HomeMy WebLinkAboutLucas, Jesse
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 625-26
INTRODUCED BY
Council Chair Holeka Goro Inaba, Ed.D.
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 625-26, 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.
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 scores of ‘ohana and keiki in
attendance
As a preschool counselor serving six preschool sites across West and North 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 if we’re going back again the following year.
County support for this festival strengthens more than just this single event. It strengthens the network of
organizations serving West Hawaiʻi keiki and ʻohana, and creates a welcoming place where families build pilina
(relationships), learn where to seek support, and experience the shared kuleana (responsibility) our community holds
for young children.
Mahalo to Chair Inaba for bringing this funding forward, and mahalo to the full Council for your consideration. I
respectfully urge your support of Resolution 625-26.
Me ka mahalo,
Jesse Lucas, M.Ed.
Kamehameha Preschools - Kohala
Puakalehua Consortium Member and Participant
PKL Celebrate ʻOhana Festival — Resolution 625-26 | Page 1