A LETTER FROM DR. DERAUF

To our KKV ʻOhana, 

As we enter this season of reflection and thanks, with the cool weather and blustery trades keeping us indoors and giving us a much-needed chance to reflect on the past year, we are especially grateful for your love and support!  

And as much as we would like to put the last two years behind us, we also know that taking time to reflect on this period is also critical. What did we learn? How can we grow from the pain of loss and separation that we all experienced?  

One thing we have rediscovered at KKV is the profound wisdom of our founders and “Super Aunties and Uncles” over the years. They taught us the importance of Pilinahā: Our connections to one another, the land, our gifts, and the past, present, and future generations. 

These are all at the core of who we are and how we carry out our mission each day. And though these connections were strained by the need for social distancing, the covering of our smiles, the inability to meet face to face, the difficulty of travel, still we found that something as simple as picking up the phone to ask, “how are you?” and “don’t worry, you are not alone” was all that it takes.  

We grew from seeing the generosity and resilience of our neighbors and coworkers in the face of adversity. We began to see how capable we all are when called upon to shine. We saw our young future Super Aunties show up with sleeves rolled up and ready to work for our community. We saw the abundance of our land, growing food, medicine, hearts, and minds. Still, loss, pain and sorrow are present with us. We know that we must not rush to put these aside but instead take the time to let them heal and help us grow. 

I wish you all the health and joy of this season. May your connections be made stronger! Thank you for being a part of our lives and helping grow an abundant and loving community. 

With love from all of us,