By Cathy Cruz-George
Recently, along the shoreline of Halepaʻo, Hawaiʻi Island, more than 60 kamaliʻi and ʻohana participated in a two-night camping trip hosted by Liliʻuokalani Trust (LT).
This was not your typical weekend at the beach. This was H.O.P.E. Camp, a compassionate program for children grieving the loss of a loved one – through death, incarceration, or other circumstances.
The annual camp is part of a broader H.O.P.E. (Helping Our People Emerge) initiative, where families across the pae ʻāina can come together to grieve, strengthen pilina with one another, and collectively heal.
Over the past year, LT has regularly hosted H.O.P.E. group meetings in person and on Zoom, one of many services and programs for kamaliʻi to develop healthy coping skills. LT supports babies, children, and youth ages 0-26.
This year’s H.O.P.E. Camp theme, “ʻO ʻOe Kuʻu Lama: Light & Legacy,” was inspired by a lyric from the Queen’s Ke Aloha O Ka Haku, written during her imprisonment at ʻIolani Palace in 1895. Campers focused on this “light,” on which the Queen relied during her darkest hours.
As part of the theme, the campers crafted paper lanterns adorned with the names of their loved ones. The lanterns were illuminated at sundown, creating a soft glow throughout the evening to honor cherished memories.
They also practiced kapu kai, immersing themselves in the ocean five times to spiritually cleanse and promote healing. A parent (name withheld for privacy) who participated in the kapu kai shared her manaʻo. “Seeing everyone here be steadfast, onipaʻa, through their own challenges was incredibly inspiring,” she said. “I gained a new ʻohana I never knew I had.”
Another participant felt rejuvenated after the kapu kai ceremony. “It was not easy to come to spaces with what you carry,” she says. “My kids reminded me to release everything and take care of myself. That burden was lifted.”
Other activities elicited laughter from the children – kūkui top spinning, tug-of-war on the sand, and a giant inflatable water slide. Meanwhile, the adults participated in grief support groups and bonded over lau hala weaving and lei-making.
A camper (name withheld for privacy) felt a renewed sense of purpose, after experiencing a prolonged period of grief and emotional pain. “I felt the mana being here, which helped me to come out of my shell,” they shared.
It was a sentiment expressed by many.
As the weekend ended, the families felt united in their shared trials and healing practices. “This connection was a beautiful way to lighten our burdens,” said a participant, reflecting on the experience. “ʻOhana is everything; treasure ʻohana.”
To learn more about Liliʻuokalani Trust and the H.O.P.E. program, please call the Mālama Line at 808-466-8080 or visit onipaa.org.
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