Meet a Few of KKV’s Women Warriors
Dilyuns Michael, Returning to Our Roots Kako’o
Mui Kong, Chief Operations Officer
Left to right: Wenana Angang(Eligibility Outreach Worker), Gemma Ramones(Medical Intake Specialist), Carrie Toguchi (Medical Intake Specialist), Jennifer Clemente (Medical Intake Specialist), and Cynthia Punefu (Medical Intake Specialist).
Left to right: Kaui Onekea (ROOTS Mobile Market Specialist), Christen Oliveira (ROOTS Community Food Systems Planner), Bernice Musrasrik (Hooulu Aina Operations Manager),Kiara Arakawa, Izzi Miranda
Kuulei Freed, Research Analyst and Program Assistant, with her two young boys
Dr. Alicia Turlington, Pediatrician
Kaiulani Odom, Director Returning to Our Roots
Silent Warriors by Innocenta Sound-Kikku
Innocenta Sound-Kikku, Coordinator of KKV’s Pacific Voices and NieiRek
Mama
a silent warrior
a familiar and comforting
voice I often hear
as my mind travels back to a time
when her tales of many
silent warriors
are as vivid as her voice in my head
Silent warriors
speak and whisper names of mother ancestors
who carry virtues of love,
loyalty, respect and honor
Silent warriors
bravely enduring
birth of a new
generation of nations
Silent warriors
breathing and weaving
core values, beliefs,
cultures, customs and traditions
identities of their race
Silent warriors
heartbeat of a clan
key keepers and holders
of honor in the land
Silent warriors
peace makers and builders of strong, brave
honorable champions
Silent warriors
wind blowers of language,
songs and chants that drum
to the beating of the island waves
Silent warriors
storytellers of tales and legends
about ancestors who
demand never to be forgotten
Silent warriors
hope and wisdom of a better community
teach
respectable characters of a tribe
Silent warriors
sacrifice
life for another life
Silent warriors
planters and nurturers of a future
yet to be seen but dreamed of faithfully
Silent warriors
fragrant and aromatic peace
warming the heart of her men
Silent warriors
all (Chuukese) women
young and old
who understand and hold these
roles and responsibilities
wholeheartedly without a doubt
always are silent warriors
