Ahava ‘Aina is hosting a free Health and Wellness Fair for the Puna Community from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday at the Pahoa Community Center.
As a recipient of the Puna Strong grant funded by Hawaii Community Foundation and Hawaii County, Ahava ‘Aina will be addressing the mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health needs for everyone impacted by the 2018 Kilauea eruption.
“The Kilauea eruption impacted us all, it was a trauma we endured both individually and as a community,” said Rabbi Rachel Short, founder and leader of Ahava ‘Aina.
“This was a slow moving natural disaster that kept us in a constant state of unknowing. It was a totally unique experience; there are consequences to that. Our roads are being rebuilt and so many other needs that arose as a direct impact of the eruption are being met, but our health and wellness has yet to be addressed.
“My intention is to help remove the stigma surrounding our mental, emotional, spiritual and in turn, physical health, so we can begin healing. We have to bring these issues to the forefront so we can begin to heal, as individuals and a collective. We as a community need to come together to do our part to address our trauma and heal ourselves, which then, heals our world. The mission of Ahava ‘Aina is Tikun Olam, or, healing the world. This begins with our community.”
This is the first of a series of events Ahava ‘Aina plans to host focusing on health and wellness.
Equality HI, Girls to Women Hawaii, Al-Anon, Puna Rising and Puna Community Medical Center, are just a few organization that will be participating at the event.
For more information or to contact Ahava ‘Aina please visit www.AhavaAina.org.