Aloha Parents, Grandparents, and Caregivers,

My name is Keriann Osada and I not only endorse this message, I also wrote it at 4:00 in the morning before my 2 year old wakes up and after not having a full nights of sleep since before giving birth in 2004. I'm writing this instead of sleeping because I have a vision for Hawai'i's parents and caregivers. Maybe its a crazy vision, caused by sleepless nights since my son has yet to sleep through the night despite the fact he is over 2 years old. Did I say that already? Did I say that already? It's kinda like those people on Survivor who don't sleep and eat and then they act all crazy, y'know? I feel like that.

Anyway, back to my vision: A community of Hawai'i parents (you too grandparents, aunties and uncles) that help each other bring out the best in their children. That's it! What, were you expecting something more grand, more elaborate, more magical? Maybe something with fireworks and flying pink elephants? But what could be better? And what better place than right here in Hawai'i where everybody is our extended family, everybody knows everybody, and a community of aloha is our culture? We can do it!

How did you come up with this totally awesome, psychedelic and groovy idea, you ask? Well, y'know how when you were pregnant, you asked everybody, Queen's or Kapiolani or Kaiser? When you gave birth, you heard some crazy (but true) rumor that you gotta apply to preschool already? Or do you remember asking everybody for advice, but when the baby actually came, nothing prepared you? Yup, that happened to me, and even though I'm lucky enough to be from Hawai'i and to have experienced family and friends who have their own children to ask questions, I'm always looking for more advice, referrals, and points of view. However, many times we're so busy nowadays that sometimes the only time we have for ourselves is late at night after the kids go sleep or early in the morning before the kids wake up. Well, this site is for you, me and everybody who surf the web at the wee hours of the night (and secretly during work) and with nobody to text message that late and found out that a lot of Hawaii's children's programs are not on the web (especially the free ones that I'm always looking for), or just want to hear another parent's experience or advice on a class, playgroup, doctor, event or store. Or what to do when your kid won't eat anything but ice cream and mac and cheese. This online community of parents reflect our Hawai'i community of Aloha. Where we care, share, and value each other's referral and advice. This is our place, away from the screaming baby, away from our other half, away from the outside pressures to have another baby, but together with others online during our own time. This is your time, your place, your community.

Welcome and I look forward to meeting you online and in person one day!

Keriann