Former Naval Officer Shares About His Experiences in Foster Care with Dairius Kawawehi

Darius Kawewehi, a former foster youth, shares his experiences and insights on being in foster care. He was born and raised in Hawaii and grew up surrounded by the Hawaiian culture. Darius shares the story of his viral video in high school where he read a thank you letter to his adoptive mom. He then delves into his journey of entering foster care at the age of four, the uncertainty and confusion he felt, and the traumatic experiences he went through. He highlights the importance of finding stability and a sense of belonging in a family, which allowed him to start healing and envision a future for himself.
Dairius reflects on the pivotal moments in his life and the importance of belonging and support. He emphasizes the role of community in the lives of foster children, highlighting the impact of teachers, therapists, and coaches who provided love and guidance. Dairius also discusses the challenges of feeling like a transactional figure in some foster homes and the disruption of birth orders. He shares his vision of creating a mentorship program for current and former foster youth and the importance of creating a safe space for them to connect and heal.
Takeaways
Growing up in Hawaii, Darius was surrounded by the Hawaiian culture and traditions.
Spam is a popular food item in Hawaii and is deeply embedded in their food traditions.
Darius gained recognition in high school for a viral video where he read a thank you letter to his adoptive mom.
Entering foster care at a young age, Darius experienced uncertainty, confusion, and traumatic events.
Finding stability and a sense of belonging in a family allowed Darius to start healing and envision a future for himself. Belonging and support are crucial for children in foster care to thrive.
Teachers, therapists, and coaches play a significant role in providing love and guidance to foster children.
Feeling like a transactional figure in foster homes can be challenging and unsettling for foster children.
Disrupted birth orders can add another layer of complexity to the experiences of foster children.
Creating a safe space and mentorship program for current and former foster youth can help them heal and find hope for the future.
Sound Bites
"A lot of the traditions and practices in terms of holidays that we celebrate or just, uh, you know, other non-traditional events, um, are influenced by the Hawaiian culture."
"We have a dish called spam musubi, which musubi is another word in Japanese for like a rice ball or onigiri."
"I was the state winner for this thank you letter competition and then I have to read it live on camera with my mom there in front of my entire freshman class."
"What kids in foster care really need is unconditional love and support."
"Feeling like I'm just a stranger in someone's home and just the paycheck."
"I want to find a way where I can impact within this community."
Some short videos of Dairius sharing thoughts on foster care, adoption, and healing from trauma and abuse.
• A Naval Officer Shares...
• A Message to Kids in F...
• While Not the Cure, Ad...
• Former Foster Youth Sh...
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