LAHAINA – During these uncertain times, the West Side community is gathering forces and launching a Lahaina Strong Keiki Kafe on Facebook.

The goal is to engage and educate our youth to give them a break away from Xbox, TikTok and YouTube.

Jen Mather is the volunteer Kafe coordinator. A mother of two, well-known Lahaina Strong community leader and executive assistant for West Side County Councilwoman Tamara Paltin, Mather has the skills and the will to strategize the success of this five-star collaboration.

“Our keiki are in unchartered waters, and I think it’s important for them to use the writing, researching and creative skills they’ve been blessed with through the safest means available to us: the Internet.”

To kick-off the opening of the Keiki Kafe Facebook page, our students are challenged to answer this question in 100 words or less: What makes Lahaina Strong?

Different grade levels will compete: pre-kindergarten to second grade; third to fifth grade; sixth to eighth grade (Intermediate); and ninth to 12th grade (High School).

Pre-K to second-graders can choose to compete and submit drawings.

There is also a Most Creative category.

There will be plenty of prizes. The Grand Prize and Most Creative winners will each receive a $100 Amazon gift certificate.

Other awards will include Made in Maui Chocolate from Maui Ku’ia Estate Chocolate, online free art lessons from a feather artist and free online ti leaf lei-making instructions.

Finalists will be selected and published in the Lahaina News. The deadline to submit is April 30.

“Assuming we are allowed to safely meet/socialize at some point in the future again, the award ceremony will be held at Maui Ku’ia Estate Chocolate Factory Ku’ia Pavilion, located at 78 Ulupono Street, Suite 1, which is across from Star Noodle,” advised Krishna Narayan, vice president and general manager of Maui Ku’ia Estate Chocolate.

Entry submissions can be sent to wearelahaina@gmail.com or http://fb.me/wearelahaina.

“We are hoping this will just be a fun way to incentivize our Lahaina keiki to take part in some critical thinking and writing as well as creating another outlet for them to showcase their talents. Please join us at the Kafe. We eagerly look forward to your creations,” Mather concluded.