Welina mai, Ethnomads - Keili here!
Appears to be that the holidays are upon us yet again and that makes me a happy girl. Growing up, my parents were always careful to make the holidays an eventful time for us. As soon as November rolled around there were always warm and yummy smells coming from the kitchen accompanied by the sounds of my mothers old music box which sang the same Christmas melody on a little harp over and over until one of us excitedly switched out the record for our next favorite.
People always ask if it’s a bummer living in Hawaii for the holidays. Personally, I grew up in California so it’s honestly the same in my eyes. It gets a little cozier, and a lot more rainy - I love it. The wind and the rain makes you feel so alive! And it’s not just me being crazy - my therapist actually confirmed that dipping in cold water or going out in cold weather can actually reset your nervous system and pull you back into the moment. So if you have been feeling like you’re in a trance, get in a cold shower or run out into the rain! Doctors say it works, and I’m walking proof.
Anyways, because we have not been out on ʻAʻĀ due to the weather I thought it would be fun to talk about generosity. Holidays always get everyone in the giving mood - but this year especially I feel moved to contribute to the good of my community. Is it because I’m old now?
Having worked in a non-profit I often fall into a bit of a cynical view of 501c3 orgs. It is so easy for them to become disorganized, corrupt, and misuse funds. That being said, I think we are in a state that we truly need our non-profit organizations more than ever before. The only way we can ensure that the work they are doing is sound is by joining them, speaking up and contributing towards the future we want to build
I know a lot of people may feel paralyzed by all the needs of our homeless, underprivileged, and damaged ecosystems.
But - don’t fear! Here are some easy ways and places to help out. I included some orgs that focus on my values personally, but please do research on a cause that means a lot to you and share your favorite non profit in the comments!
Places I that I think are doing the lords work:
Na kama kai: Nā Kama Kai which means “children of the sea” was founded in 2008 by pro-surfer Duane DeSoto. Nā Kama Kai is a true fruit of his labor, a non-profit that teaches kids ocean safety, conservation, and stewardship, they their ʻoiwi knowledge to strengthen community and kids connection to the ocean.
Ahahui malama: Ahahui Malama i ka Lokahi is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) Hawaiian conservation organization whose mission is to practice and promote a modern Hawaiian conservation ethic. They do this by working to ensure the preservation of our native ecosystems and Hawaiian traditions alike through education, active stewardship, and research.
Kupu: Their mission is to empower youth to serve their communities through character-building, service-learning, and environmental stewardship opportunities that encourage pono (integrity) with ke Akua (God), self, and others.
Sea shepherd: Sea Shepherd’s SOLE MISSION is to protect and conserve the world’s oceans and marine wildlife. They work to defend all marine wildlife, from whales and dolphins, to sharks and rays, to fish and krill, without exception.
The ocean cleanup: For over ten years, The Ocean Cleanup has been researching, extracting, and monitoring plastic pollution in oceans and rivers globally – with millions of kilograms removed to date.
Ways that you can be generous:
Volunteer! Some places listed are a bit more physically demanding than others, but many of them you really just need be there. Interested in helping the homeless? here you go. Interested in protecting wildlife? here you go.
Give! There are of course monetary donations which is not only helping a cause but can be a tax deduction to help you too! You can also host a food drive, blood drive, or any donation drive to help an organization like IHS provide resources to those in need. There are even marathons that you can run to raise money like this one and this one. - Side note: There are even places that have cute Christmas gifts that you can buy and 100% of the proceeds go to that org. So you can do your Christmas shopping at the same time.
Spread the good word! Many of the orgs listed advocate for important things like human rights and protection of our natural resources. So follow them and share any opportunities that people can take to testify, sign petitions, and raise awareness for issues that you care about.
Honestly, we cannot rely on just a few people to make all the right decisions for our planet. If you really care about something, then put in some work to fight for it! Many of these things take sooo little time but of course you can leverage it as much as you would like. Who knows, you might end up becoming a community leader or ʻāina warrior
-Keili
As always, mahalo ke akua and mahalo to all of those who are too busy to sow into their community but do it anyway. All of my posts are dedicated to my mother, Illa McEvilly who gave and received all blessings happily.