KVIBE is Home

In September, KKV’s Youth Coordinator Rona Mangayayam and KVIBE Community Liaison/ Outreach Worker Benoit Setik made a presentation focused on what makes KVIBE a unique and culturally responsive program that nurtures and supports Kalihi youth.

Below is the text of Benoit’s presentation: 

Aloha Everyone, Ran alem! 

My name is Benoit Setik, home for me is Chuuk, Micronesia and the place that offers a space for young men and boys from different ethnic groups to come together and cry, argue, be creative, build bikes, learn, vent, and to be the best version of themself is KVIBE. An ancestor I would like to bring would be one of the boys - Franson.  

Just to tell a little story of my journey at KVIBE. I came out to Hawaii in 2017 for one goal, to play football. I came and was introduced to KVIBE by Aunty [Rona] and my cousin during KVIBE’s annual community dinner. I was amazed by how this community came together to share one meal and it reminded me of back home.   

When I first came in, I felt like I’ve been part of KVIBE for so long. As I fell in love with the space, the staff gave me an opportunity to be a junior intern. This taught me how to listen and learn from the senior intern as our mentor. After being a junior intern, I got moved up to senior intern, where I had the opportunity to learn, listen and teach as I worked with the junior interns and the other youth who came in to KVIBE for help.  

As I graduated from high school, I became an outreach liaison for KVIBE. This gave the opportunity to build that deeper connection with the young men and boys who come in and has given me a way to build trust. This means, if I call on them, they respond and believe in my calling. KVIBE allows the youth to share anything - whatever they are feeling - because of the trust that we build with them. This is unique and special.  

KVIBE keeps all of us busy and makes us think before we act. I remember a time when I came in and the boys were all over the place fixing bikes. One of our best youngest mechanics said “I like fixing bikes and helping my brothers out because it gives me a purpose in life.” KVIBE gives us a chance to make those mistakes and speak our mind. There is no other place like KVIBE. As I said, I came to Hawaii to play sports, but now KVIBE is my sport.