HANALEI — Lahela Chandler Correa and Ann Hettinger know what aloha means.
They wrote a book about it and that book has found a following on the Big Island — and it came back many times over to Kauai.
“Aloha: What it Means to My ‘Ohana and Yours” is used at many elementary schools on Kauai and also at Holualoa Elementary School on the Big Island.
Shaula Tualaulelei, kumu at Holualoa, was teaching the lesson “Aloha is Hope” from the book when flooding devastated Kauai’s North Shore and Koloa. When Holualoa students heard about the flood on Kauai, they wanted to do something.
The kindergartners decided to share their aloha with keiki at Hanalei School by making heart-shaped clay magnets with “Aloha” written on them. The older kids cut the cards and bagged them so they could be sent to Kauai.
“We received 150 aloha hearts to be disbursed,” Hettinger wrote. “I received a phone call from Leona Grace and she asked me what do they need in Wainiha and Haena.
“She was incredible, so loving, so full of aloha,” Hettinger wrote. “I got in touch with Lahela in Haena and she gave me the list of things needed. I relayed this to Leona, she wrote down the list of items and then the community jumped in to help purchase the needed supplies for those affected by the flooding here on Kauai.”
Kahikolu Church, the Grace ohana and Tualaulelei collected donations such as mops, rags, sunscreen and laundry soap. They also collected supplies for the satellite school in Haena.
Darrel Grace, part of the Grace ohana, is a pilot for Big Island Airlines. He contacted Hettinger and flew to Lihue Airport with the supplies and help of the Signature Flight Support ground crew, loaded 30 boxes onto Hettinger’s truck.
When Hettinger opened the box that contained the aloha heart magnets, the feeling was overwhelming.
“I could just feel the love and caring of all of the students who made these beautiful aloha hearts,” she wrote. “They truly put aloha into action. It is so inspiring to see young people taking action by showing their aloha and compassion for others.”
Hettinger contacted Tahara‘a Stein, Hanalei School principal, and shared what the Holualoa Elementary School kids had done.
Stein wanted to share this with her school, too, so she went to Hettinger’s house early Tuesday and picked up 40 magnets for the students at the temporary school in Haena, along with the supplies.
“The kids were so stoked knowing a Big Island school was concerned about them,” Stein said. “They were blown away by that.”
With the help of Joel Guy and Moku Boy Chandler, the remaining supplies are being delivered to Haena.
The additional 110 aloha heart magnets will be shared at Hanalei School to “spread a little aloha.”
“From Holualoa to Hanalei and Haena the aloha is amazing and flowing,” Hettinger wrote.
