Help Krystine fund her Pageant

Aloha all,

 

My name is Krystine, and I am running for Miss Hawai'i Asian America in March 2023. I understand this is a bit away, but I wanted to start fundraising now because it is better to prepare as soon as possible. I feel honored for this opportunity and to be competing amongst powerful women. If selected as the next queen, my goal is to advocate for mental health. I assist clients in crisis at my job, which gives me a sense of purpose. Due to my love for this work, I am pursuing a Master's in Social Work and focusing on behavioral health as my specialty. Some of the initiatives that I intend to organize are yoga & meditation events and workshops on developing and recognizing one's mental health. I also want to work closely with a homeless organization like the Hawai'i Health & Harm Reduction Center.

 

Mental health, homelessness, and addiction are intertwined. Addiction to drugs and alcohol has been a way for individuals to cope with their pain, which can often lead someone to lose their friends, family, and workplace because it becomes out of control. In my volunteer work in Hawai'i, I have organized clean-ups at the Wa'ahila Ridge. These clean-ups were possible due to Clean Water Honolulu providing me trash bags and gloves and the Hawai'i Health & Harm Reduction Center providing me sharp containers for any syringes that I find. At Wa'ahila Ridge, many homeless communities used to live there but have long abandoned this place after the university kicked them out. Although they left a long time ago, a ton of trash was left behind.

 

As of March 2022, my team has cleaned 1,250 pounds of trash and picked up several syringes. While the work I have done to beautify this location has been great, it causes me to reflect on the more significant issues of Hawai'i. Several homeless people here are Native Hawaiians, and it saddens me to see that they are struggling with finding a place to live within their land. I want to utilize this platform to bring awareness and find more opportunities for long-lasting change.

Note: Any additional funds I receive will go towards supporting my education.

 

Mahalo all for your support,

 

-Krystine