What the Day of Action told us - UPDATE


Oct 02, 2008 | By James Koshiba

** Original Post 9/30/08... Updated 10/2/08


There is no way I can adequately sum up Saturday's National Day of Action in this post.  I can't think of any other time when a group of people this diverse and dispersed was so united in spirit and in action.

Three weeks ago today, we asked the Kanu Hawaii community to reach for a lofty target: 750 of us turning out together for a "Day of Action". To get this many members with so little time was ambitious, we knew.  But, we had faith that members of Kanu Hawaii would answer in force.

This past Saturday, Kanu members did just that.  While the final numbers are still being tallied, just counting the members who RSVP'd online, plus dozens who showed up spontaneously, the number of action-takers exceeded 750 by a comfortable margin.

And as Andrew said in his pre-valuation, the count isn't what truly counts.  The work we got done, the spirit in which we did it, the change we made for people and communities in need -- those are the things that matter.

Project after project received an unprecedented number volunteers. Our members, joining with volunteers through ServiceNation and Volunteer Hawaii, cleared trails and cleaned beaches; built parks and gardens with restorative power for neighborhoods; harvested food and fed the needy; raised awareness about issues from the environment and voting to AIDS; and donated thousands of hours to causes and organizations strapped for resources.

Our combined action spoke louder than words ever could, of the aloha and kuleana that sustain these islands.  It sent a clear message to leaders in Washington and across the country that Hawaii believes deeply in investing in service.  And we have some ideas to ensure that this message resounds in the months and years ahead.

We have said it before and we'll keep saying it until we are blue in the face... island style activism starts with ourselves, but it doesn't end there.  This Day of Action was the first coordinated campaign by the Kanu community and it was a sign of what is to come.

This past Saturday, we learned that Kanu Hawaii is more than a collection of good hearted, like-minded individuals doing our part.  We are more than that.  We are people whose strong desire for change is matched with an equally strong willingness to work for it.

Imagine what we can do when hundreds become thousands and then tens-of-thousands; imagine what change we'll see when we seize on a problem, search our island intellect and wisdom and values for answers, speak with one voice, and take action together as we did this past weekend.

It was a great start!  Mahalo to everyone who took part in the Day of Action.

Here are just a few of the images and stories:


Walking Path in Waimea

On Hawaii Island, Peoples Advocacy for Trails Hawaii (PATH), organized by Laura Dierenfield got 123 volunteers, including a number of Kanu members, to help clear a new walking path for Waimea Trails and Greenways.


AIDS Awareness

The Life Foundation (led by Kandice Johns) teamed up with Divas Doing Good (led by Tanna Dang) at The Wedding Café.  They asked for enough volunteers to make 1,000 AIDS awareness ribbons by 2:00pm. By 12:30pm, so many had turned out that they had finished 2,000 and still had more in production.



Tanna Dang and Kandice Johns



Volunteer ribbon makers outside the Wedding Cafe


Honu Guardians

Geralyn Camarillo tells the story of this event and shares amazing photos (which is what happens when a bunch of artists decide to volunteer) on her blog.  Read about the newest people to be trained by Kanu member Patrick Doyle to protect Hawaiian green sea turtles, including Kanu members Arna Johnson, Casey Isabelo, Alyson Grace, Dave Miyamoto, and Michelle Guda.



The newest Honu Guardians, photo courtesy Geralyn Camarillo


Millennium Peace Garden

The "largest turnout ever" showed up at the Leahi Millennium Peace Garden – a tranquil piece of land planted with native and endangered species to promote peace, reflection, and cultural understanding.  There were so many volunteers at this event, organized by Kanu Board member Kylee Omo, that work on weeding, trimming, maintenance and invasive species removal finished an hour early.



Kanu members Kylee Omo, Jennifer Hong, Carri Morgan, Cathy Kawano-Ching, Terry Yamamoto-Edwards, and Jane Koshiba at the Millennium Peace Garden.


Graffiti Wipe Out

At the TAG Graffiti Wipe Out, members worked to clean walls, bus stops, and signs stretching from University to Kalakaua Avenue.  Long-time TAG volunteer and new Kanu member Jim Carpenter said, "Sometimes we're lucky if we get a dozen people. Today we have hundreds."



Student volunteers from Washington Middle School and Jim Carpenter (holding ladder)


Kokua Kalihi Valley  (Update 10/2/08)

Did you know what Kanu members David Derauf and others from Kokua Kalihi Valley are leading over in Kalihi Valley?  Approximately 40 people came out to help at the Nature Park, cleaning, mulching, planting and more.  This unbelievable community resource will improve the health and spirit of people for generations to come.



Day of Action work crew coming down from the area that they helped to clean out, mulch and plant



Solomon Enos leading Kanu members Mathias Maas and Aito Steele (From the Tough Guys Who Care 'Bout the Environment group) up to the planting area with 'uala (sweet potato) clippings


Kau Kau Wagon  (Update 10/2/08)

Olin went to visit the Kau Kau Wagon event in Downtown Honolulu and he said he was totally blown away by the pure spirit of aloha on display.  One Kanu member brought a box of clothes on her own initiative.  Others fed hungry individuals and families and spent quality time getting to know each other a little better.



Volunteers serve food as they have done every Saturday for 20 years.



Kanu member Cynthia Abbot lays out clothing she brought to give away to others



Kanu member and AIG Hawaii employee Leanie Amante passes out books


We are gathering many more photos and stories and will keep updating this post.  Send us your experiences and reflections.

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