Pearl Harbor
Kokua
When Governor Poindexter declared a state of emergency, he asked the Hawaiians to help out in any way they could. Islanders, including children, responded immediately by volunteering. Their willingness to help was rooted in kokua, meaning “assistance” or “a good deed.” Helping others without expectations is part of the culture of Hawaii.
The day after the attack, children from church groups, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and the Junior Red Cross showed up to work. They went to hospitals, first-aid stations, evacuation centers, canteens and offices. They delivered supplies and ran errands. They cooked, served food, and cleaned.
As the war continued, so did the volunteers. Older children would look after younger children while mothers volunteered for the war effort. Kids made cards and cookies for wounded soldiers. They knitted socks and sweaters for military members around the world. Children of all ages helped at the United Service Organizations, or USO. The USO provided entertainment and relaxation to those serving in the armed forces. Civilians put on shows, dances, and dinners to help boost morale.
Even Japanese American college students who were refused enrollment in the army still wanted to help with the war effort. They formed the Varsity Victory Volunteers. They helped rebuild the Schofield Barracks, dug ditches, built roads, and worked in the quarries. Because so many men head off to war, there was a desperate need for people to perform demanding physical tasks.
Volunteers, mostly made up of children, organized drives to collect materials for blood drives. Regardless of how they helped, many young people worked long hours, continuing to volunteer even after school went back in session. Their dedication and hard work stemmed from their sense of aloha and deeply held belief in kokua. Their experiences changed their carefree island way of life forever.
Nanea’s Story
As Nanea, Donna, and Lily walk over to Auntie Rose’s yard, they see she has dye out. Auntie Rose explains that since there’s no more tourists, the lei sellers don’t have customers. But Uncle Sam has decided to ask them all to make camouflage netting. They’re going to use them to cover buildings, equipment, and soldiers. This way enemy planes can’t see them from the air.
Nanea asks if they can help, and Auntie Rose hands each of them a stout stirring stick and shows them what to do. Nanea stands in front of a tub filled with olive-green water. She begins to stir the murky liquid in a figure-eight pattern. Donna stirs brown, and Lily black. They stir and stir and stir.
Auntie Rose carefully fishes out the wet fabric pieces and hangs them on shrubs around her yard to dry. Then, she begins to tear lengths of fabric into strips, and then into smaller bits. She’ll use those to weave into netting. Lily picks up a strip of fabric, saying it’s easier than stirring.
Nanea tears the pieces as fast as she can. She accidentally rips one piece too small. When she goes to throw it away, Auntie Rose stops her, saying there is no piece too small because the good nets are made with lots of different fabric scraps.
Nanea’s heart flutters. No piece is too small. That means no helper is too small.