This past Sunday, May 2nd, 2010, JETAA Hawaii volunteered at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii’s Children’s Day event, Kodomo no Hi: Keiki Fun Fest Going Green! The annual event featured a variety of events and activities including performances showcasing Japanese culture, arts and crafts for young and old, and some booths educating attendants on living more “green.”

We represented JETAA Hawaii with our usual daruma-making table, helping children unleash their creative skills and set some goals, as well. The children were given only one (googly) eye to begin with and were told to make a wish or set a goal; when that wish comes true or they achieve that goal, they can draw in the other eye. Although some children had to get used to the idea of having only one eye on their daruma, most went at it, had some fun, and put together a great daruma that they could be proud of and show their parents. Check out our flickr site for more photos!

Thanks to all the JETAA Hawaii members and friends who came out to volunteer: Davin, Jeff, Mark, Kori-jo, Reid, Joyce, Kelsey, Bartek, Darryl, Lindsey, and Olivia! As we close for now, we leave you with a couple of excerpts from the children’s daruma wishes and encourage everyone that you’re never too young or too old to set some good ole goals or make some wishes:

“I wish to be healthy.”
“I wish for it to be summer.”
“I wish for all my dreams to come true.”
“My goal is to not waste electricity or water.”