Smiles and laughter were plentiful as 39 keiki from Pahoa were treated to an afternoon on the water off Kawaihae Saturday with For Children to Flourish, a nonprofit connecting local youth to the ocean.
“We connect the community to nature, accelerating healing and tap into hope some of these kids never had,” said FCTF founder Kelsey Waliszewski. “I found healing in the ocean. It can be a wonderful tool for healing.”
She said many of the kids have never been on the ocean, and for many this was their first or second time on the west side.
Tessa Ady, captain of Adventure X Boat Tours, said, “We were so honored to be able to take such a great group of kids on this boat trip and work with a wonderful nonprofit. We loved being able to share with them our passion and love for the ocean.”
One of the youth volunteers helping with the flotilla, Alyson said, “Every single group of kids were telling their friends that their boat was the best.”
One of the kids on the boat said, “It was my first time snorkeling! I saw a blue fish!”
Virginia, one of the volunteers said “They all had a blast.”
One of the girls on Pua ka Ilima, a sailboat, said, “I was in my backyard. I would love to take out my dad who is fighting cancer.”
Ron, a volunteer, noticed that this girl was truly in her element sailing out on the ocean. Renee, the project coordinator for For Children to Flourish, noted what one of the teens said, “Looking at the scenery is so much better than being in my bedroom.”
Waliszewski said the nonprofit works with local businesses to be able to provide the boat rides.
“It’s very collaborative,” she said.
They provide free boat trips for children, families, school groups, and nonprofits to enhance their programs and deepen their ongoing relationships. Community leaders, social workers, and first responders are also offered free trips.
Waliszewski said they understand the importance of respite, and how that will directly and positively impact families and the community.
FCTF partners with commercial boats that donate a portion of their trip to give back to the community. FCTF covers wages of captains and crew. On Saturday, Kohala Divers, Da Whale Boat, Pua ka Ilima, Adventure X Boat Tours, and Hawaii Boat Clubs launched from Kawaihae Harbor for a 2 hour flotilla with hopes of seeing dolphins and whales.
“The purpose of this flotilla is to expose our kama‘aina kids to the ocean where we believe hope can be found and healing can begin. Blue Space Therapy is powerful, and we have seen it positively impact keiki lives,” said Waliszewski. “Since we started in 2021 we have taken out almost 500 local kids for free on boats.”
Robert Wilson, youth leader at Solid Rock Pahoa brought a group of kids to Saturday’s adventure.
“A good portion of them have never been on a boat, with some kids never having been to a youth function,” he said. “It is so good to see everyone enjoying the island they grew up on but never saw.”
Waliszewski is also planning on bringing the healing ocean therapy to victims of the Lahaina fire.
“We started our Maui project Nov. 18, and will be taking out teachers and their families who lost their homes December 16 with more trips to come,” she said.
For more information, to donate or become involved, visit forchildrentoflourish.org