Community leaders Kū Kahakalau and Elisapeta Alaimaleata will answer parent questions
HONOLULU, July 29, 2021 — Even in Hawaiʻi, children of all ages are treated differently because of their race or ethnicity. At a free, virtual event next week, parents can learn how to help their children understand and heal from those experiences.
The event, on Tuesday, August 3, “Helping Your Kids Heal From Racism,” will feature a panel discussion with community leaders Kū Kahakalau, Ph.D. and Elisapeta T. Lesatele Alaimaleata.
“Parents might wonder what they should do if their children experience incidents of racial bias — or hear about racial incidents in the news affecting people like them,” said Deborah Zysman, Executive Director of Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network. “We’re grateful to Kū and Elisapeta for sharing their wisdom with families struggling with these deep questions.”
Research shows that children as young as three months old can tell the difference between people of different races. By three or four years old, children start identifying themselves and others by race.
Dr. Kahakalau has been involved in Hawaiian education and research for over 30 years, and is currently Executive Director of Kū-A-Kanaka.
“The more keiki know and celebrate who they are, the stronger their sense of identity will be—and the less others will be able to make them feel inferior,” said Dr. Kahakalau.
Alaimaleata’s career has been dedicated to the preservation and propagation of Samoan language and culture; she is currently the Executive Director and Founder of the Le Fetuao Samoan Language Center.
“It takes a whole village to raise a child. And the village is us: the community,” said Alaimaleata. “Native families live in big families, therefore learning about their identity begins from the ʻohana, then it transfers to the community.”
Registration is free. This event is a part of Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network’s Keiki Talks series, the leading forum for issues affecting Hawaiʻi’s children. The public can register at https://www.hawaii-can.org/keikitalk_healing.
Contact: Ryan Catalani
[email protected]
(808) 531-5502 ext. 4
About Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network
Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network (HCAN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the only one in the state of Hawaiʻi solely committed to advocating for children. We address the root causes of poverty and inequity and develop public policies that help children and their families. For more information, visit www.hawaii-can.org.