A free youth concert, “Lokahi: You Are Not Alone,” is Sunday, March 12, from 1 to 6 p.m., at Kilohana Plantation in Puhi.
“Our youth requested that they have the chance to gather together in a safe environment to celebrate youth, and at the same time have an opportunity to address issues that they feel are of relevance to their peers,” said Nannie Apalla of The Kaua‘i Resilience Project.
“In working with the Kaua‘i District Student Council, they informed us of the two areas they selected to focus their efforts on for this school year — anti-bullying and mental health. With that in mind, our KRP team sent a call-out to our community partners and local artists, with the result being this free youth concert.”
The Kaua‘i Resilience Project, Innovative Giving Enhancement, and Groove Productions present the concert open to all high school students.
Registration is open for the concert, featuring Aldrine Guerrero, Bronson Aiwohi, Paula Fuga and others. Opening acts and Hawaiian cultural programs will be presented by local youth and adult artists.
For tickets, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lokahi-you-are-not-alone-free-youth-concert-tickets-547971436317.
A completed parent or guardian waiver form is necessary for all under the age of 18, available at https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/w/pqc4yjckzbxifrwjws1e39/web/.
Free shuttles at Kapa‘a, Waimea and Kaua‘i High schools will bring youth to and from the event. The event is intended to inspire youth in grades eight through 12 to better consider their relationships with others, and set right problems among peers.
Bullying is a major public health concern, with substantive consequences. Hawai‘i youths have long struggled with the issue of bullying on and off campus, KRP said. In 2019, some 19 percent of public high school students reported being bullied on school property, and 15 percent were electronically bullied. Forty percent of Kaua‘i students feel that bullying is a serious issue at their school.
In answer to these numbers, Lokahi was conceived and driven by student leadership in their continuing efforts to address relational aggression.
Negative outcomes of bullying may include depression, anxiety, involvement in interpersonal violence or sexual violence, substance abuse, poor social functioning, and poor school performance, including lower grade point averages, lower standardized test scores and poor attendance.
KRP said youths who report frequently bullying others, and youths who report being frequently bullied, are at increased risk for suicide-related behavior. “Too often, our youth feel isolated and alone in consequence of bullying. Coming together in community will convey to them that our Kaua‘i island ‘ohana is with them, always — ready, willing and able to provide consistent, loving support. All of Kaua‘i’s kids are your kids.”
