Wai'anae, Hawai'i
June 25, 2014

This summer, 18 year old Abreen Padeken has got a lot on her plate. For starters, she sells garlic fries every Saturday with her family at the Waianae Farmer’s Market. On top of that, a large portion of her time is spent as Student Body President at Waianae High School. To add the icing on the cake, Abreen is occupying the rest of her time and efforts to helping a local candidate.

“My family has been involved in sign waving and pep rallies and we will be doing phone banking and then going from door to door trying to get one on one person interaction.” Abreen said.

At around the age of six, Abreen was exposed to politics and the importance thereof. Her father, Daniel Padeken Jr., is a passionate advocate for teen involvement in the voting system.

“See, if there’s a big push in the high schools leading up to the 18 and 19 year olds about voting and the importance of voting and making a difference in your community...people would find it important so when they come 18 years old they look at it like, ‘Wow, I finally can vote!’” he said.

According to The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement fact sheet, less than one third in the islands between the ages of 18 and 29 voted in the last Presidential election.

This was by far the worst youth turnout in the country.

“People should know who’s going to be in the government, who’s going to be working for what they value, who’s going to be fighting for them.” Abreen said.

Organizations like We Vote Hawaii, are contributing to drive the fight towards civic education.

“The public schools do not have a program of civic education...if you really understood that who you and what you voted for made a difference in your daily life now, not in the future, I think more people would vote,” said the We Vote Hawaii founder Lyla Berg.

This program helps the students by educating and registering them at 16 instead of 18. The hope is to prepare them for the democratic process.

“I believe our young people are the leaders of today not just in the future and if you could make your voices really heard through the voting process...I think adults are going to pay attention and we certainly can learn a lot from you.” said Lyla Berg.

A lot needs to be done to turn the page on a new chapter in Hawaii. Between assisting her parents at the Farmer’s Market, helping out a candidate, and working on her responsibilities as Student Government President, Abreen knows there’s still tasks that need to be worked on at Wai’anae High. As the Student Body President, she would like to talk to the students and various clubs, resolving their concerns.

“I care. I care about everything that’s going on,” Abreen said.

Wai’anae, HI

August 29, 2014

For Wai’anae High School Senior Mylea Saga-Moore, making her favorite afternoon snack is not as simple as it used to be. She sits among her peers, each with their food of choice - fast food, lunchables, and school lunch. Unfortunately, Mylea doesn’t have much freedom when it comes to food. She’s not alone in the in her struggle, though - approximately one in four teens are fighting the battle of diabetes every day.

Approximately twenty thousand teenagers in the United States are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is primarily caused by poor eating habits. For many teenagers, such as Mylea Saga-Moore, it was easy to get carried away with the junk food.

“I LOVE to eat fast food. That was, it’s a weakness. I think everybody needs a little handholding on the way up and I think sometimes the adolescents don’t get enough of somebody that really cares enough about them,” she said.

Fortunately, there is a solution in Wai’anae. Waiola Clinic, a medical office designed specifically for teens, is going to become available. Visitors are kept confidential, and students can seek guidance, therapy, education, and general wellness at the clinic. The teen clinic is expected to open before the end of the year, offering services beyond health care, such as computer access, counseling, and an overall safe environment for teens to hang out. It’s easy to access and available during all days of the week.

“Not all teens have a strong network of people that they feel comfortable talking to and if they had a place they could go to where they felt that they were respected and that their views were going to be kept private, they would maybe be more willing to seek the care that they need. That they deserve,” says Vija Seghal, director of pediatrics at the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center.

Until then, Mylea will rely on the support of her peers to help her manage the disease one blood test at a time.

“Now we’re at a point in time where I’m learning about it now, I know what I need to do right now, and what I need to do to fix things and I can’t really take back what I did.”

Wai'anae, Hawai'i
July 25, 2014 - Kauai, HI

Paana [Sunshine, in Hawaiian] and Koua [Rain, in Hawaiian] are two old dogs whose puppy love has grown into a mature relationship. Ever since they were born they’ve been inseparable. Though they don’t have any children of their own, their owner, Esther Rivera, has been an addition to their family since she was 17 years old. With the passing seasons of life, came memories and joy.

“They fight over whose friend is walking by because they don’t bark at other dogs, they bark at each other,” Esther Rivera said.

As family members, they not only raised Esther but also her nine year old daughter, Jaysie-Jean, as well. For Jaysie-Jean, they are just like another set of parents who spend quality time with her and show their dedication through love. While they can never have a verbal conversation together, they constantly show an interpersonal relationship when communicating.

“Ai! Where that maka-pia-pia come from?” Jaysie-Jean said, wiping Koua’s eyes.

From ups and downs and experiences that shake the core of the foundation in a family, this past year, the Rivera’s spotted a storm that was coming for Sunshine and Rain. Though the actual storm wasn’t similar to the slow and deadly force of a tsunami, underneath the surface, held a gust of wind that took the family’s breath away.

“We weren’t really sure what it was. Then we took him to the doctor and they said that it would possibly be cancer. And then I noticed a couple of months later that she had a few blister spots.” said Esther Rivera.

Unfortunately, Paana and Koua were both diagnosed with different forms of cancer. As head of the household, this left Esther with a very difficult decision to make.

“To put down or not...I just don’t want them to suffer,” Esther said.

However, because of everything they’ve been through, not everyone was on the same page when it came to the well-being of Paana and Koua.

“We’re not putting them asleep,” Jaysie-Jean said.

Several surgeries and a few months later the cancer is currently in remission. However, the family is still weathering the storm.

“It was a learning experience and it was, you know, very emotional,” Esther said.

“They’re like the most important thing of almost everything except my parents,” Jaysie-Jean said.

On the road from remission, they know it’s not going to be stroll in the park. For now, this couple is going to enjoy whatever time they have left.

“Just...crossing our fingers that it doesn’t come back,” Esther Rivera said.

Even if it does return, this family will stick together come rain and shine.