So many holidays and opportunities to celebrate and bring joy to others! Anyone who knows me, knows I love Christmas (and Halloween), and while I did grow up with the secular version of Christmas, the characters of Santa Claus, Rudolph, The Little Drummer Boy, and Frosty didn’t prevent the deeper spiritual aspects of life that came later. Truthfully, I am incredibly grateful for the brief moment in time when the magic of the holidays could outshine the challenging times of childhood. Throughout life, I’ve grown to believe prayers for our fellow neighbor, Secret Santas, paying it forward, or other good deeds are driven by the desire to improve the lives of others or make people happy. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what our faith, beliefs, or customs may be if we can collectively stay focused on what is right with the world. 

With this in mind, I have been reflecting on my journey with Anaina Hou. The four years I have been with the organization have provided an immense amount to reflect upon. My first year was the first year without Porter family support and my new role came without a strategic plan. The pandemic quickly followed, ripping away 90% of our revenue and any idea of what would come next. COVID-19 created scorched earth, but it also allowed a Phoenix to rise. With dedication from our Board of Directors, my wonderful staff, and community members who wanted to see us succeed, a plan was born, researched, and is currently in the initial steps of implementation. Anaina Hou will always be a place that helps you slow down and take time to play with your keiki, tap your foot and listen to some great music (don’t miss Paula Fuga & Amy Hānaialiʻi this month), or send you home with healthy food from the farmers market, but our future also holds The Kauai North Shore Resilience Hub (which you will begin to hear more about in early 2023). 

To be the best we can be in education, entertainment, and public health & safety we in part have to rely on our community. For success, we need to make sure that we have equal measure ticket sales, grant funding, and private donations to be able to continue to provide a place that brings people together and brings happiness and health into people’s lives. If you value us as a place that creates joy in your life, please consider making a generous, end-of-year gift to Anaina Hou Community Park this holiday season. There is so much more for us to do.

I wish you the love of family, friends, and good health because with this, anything is possible!

Happy Holidays to You & Yours,

Jill