The University of Hawai‘i at Manoa Department of English selected the 2021 Word of the Year for Hawai‘i as “care,” in a Wednesday announcement.
“Care is at the heart of everything that has transpired during the last year, whether in health care because of the pandemic or the kind of care for one another that various social-justice movements have called for,” said S. Shankar, professor and department chair.
“We have had to make sure we engage in self-care even as we care for one another. We have had to be both careful and caring,” he said.
Communities throughout the state have been resilient throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, not to mention the everyday challenges that all have endured in 2021, states the announcement. With different situations have come a need for additional levels of compassion and support.
Everyone at some point sometimes needs that extra helping hand, whether it is from a food or clothing drive, or helping to take care of a family member or supporting businesses. Those are some of the reasons “care” was chosen as the word of the year.
During 2021, UH displayed extraordinary care, from providing the most up-to-date health-care guidance to its community to establishing various funds to help students financially during the pandemic to providing a world-class education despite students, faculty and staff having to navigate through pandemic challenges.
On Kaua‘i, despite having been closed most of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021, the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort &Spa went in characteristic grand style with giving in the 2021 holiday season, states a release from the Po‘ipu property.
“It is great to be able to give back to our community in so many different and meaningful ways,” said General Manager Dan King. “Our staff appreciates that organizations are able to help friends and neighbors in our community.”
During Thanksgiving, the Po‘ipu resort delivered lunches to lifeguards and firefighters at the Po‘ipu lifeguard stations and the Kalaheo and Koloa fire stations.
The hotel’s culinary team prepared turkey and all the sides and desserts to feed 350 people at The Salvation Army Hanapepe Corps annual Thanksgiving meal, served in a drive-thru format in consideration of the pandemic.
The Salvation Army
purchased the food and the
resort’s culinary team donated the time and expertise to cook and prepare the meals.
During Veterans Day, Hyatt employees placed lei on graves at the Kaua‘i Veterans Cemetery in Hanapepe to honor those who served the nation. The gesture was done in the COVID-19 environment where the annual tribute service was canceled. The cemetery is in the process of upgrading.
Hyatt employees became “angels” to 50 keiki, kupuna and ‘ohana by providing gift cards through The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program to make the holidays a little brighter by allowing families the opportunity to shop for what they need.
“The icing on the Christmas cookie came with the presentation of a check for more than $18,000 to the Kaua‘i United Way,” said Diann Hartman, the Hyatt marketing director.
According to UH, the 2020 Hawai‘i Word of the Year was “resilience.” Merriam-Webster selected “vaccine” as its 2021 Word of the Year.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
