2018 'Eddie Would Go' Essay Contest Judging Session
Each year HAIP members are invited to volunteer as judges by the Board of Directors of the Eddie Aikau Foundation and the Aikau Family for the annual "Eddie Would Go" Essay Writing Contest. Students from public and private schools from grades 7 thru 10 participate in writing essays. Essays submitted are in both English and Hawaiian. Over 300 essays were submitted this year. Here was this year's topic:
Eddie Aikau was a legendary surfer and lifeguard who loved his Family and his culture. He put the needs of others before his own on a daily basis. Throughout his life, Eddie always felt that it was his kuleana (responsibility) to kōkua (to help) those in need. Provide examples of how you feel the Hawaiian values of kuleana & kōkua were reflected in Eddie's life & his actions.
One of the biggest concerns for our community today is the problem of homelessness, which has a terrible impact on the lives of children. E kōkua i nā kānaka hale ‘ole is the Hawaiian phrase meaning to “help the homeless”.
What issues do you think contribute to people becoming homeless and how would you use the values of kuleana & kōkua to address these issues? Provide examples.
HAWAIIAN TRANSLATION
He kanaka he‘enalu kaulana a he kia‘i ola ‘o Eddie ‘Aikau i aloha nui i kona ‘ohana a me kona mo‘omeheu. Ua mālama ‘o ia i ka pono o kēlā kanaka kēia kanaka ma mua o kona pono i nā lā āpau. I kona ola, ua mana‘o ‘o Eddie, nona ke kuleana e kōkua aku i nā kānaka i pono ke kōkua. E hā‘awi mai i nā la‘ana e hō‘ike ana i nā mēheuheu Hawai‘i o ke kuleana a me ke kōkua ‘ana i hō‘ike ‘ia i ko Eddie ola a me kāna mau hana.
‘O kekahi mea e hopohopo nui ai ko kākou kaiaulu i kēia au nei, ‘o ia ka pilikia me ka lawa ‘ole o nā wahi noho no nā kānaka he nui, he pilikia nui kēia i nā ola o nā keiki. “E kōkua i nā kānaka hale ‘ole,” ‘o ka mana‘o o kēia, ‘o ia ho‘i, “Help the homeless.” I kou mana‘o, he aha nā mea nui e ho‘opilikia ana i nā kānaka me ko lākou wahi noho? Pehea ‘oe e ho‘ohana ai i nā mēheuheu, ‘o ia ho‘i kuleana a me kōkua, e mālama ai i kēia mau pilikia? E hā‘awi mai i nā la‘ana.