Nai'a

You know how some people just light up a room? That’s Nai’a. Named after the Hawaiian word for dolphin, she truly lives up to her name. The moment you meet her, she welcomes you with expressive eyes, a huge smile, and adorable dimples. Her bubbly personality radiates with laughter and a love for bouncing up and down with joy. Singing to her brings out squeals of excitement and amazing dance moves! She’s incredibly curious, always observing and taking note of the world and people around her.

Story time is Nai’a’s thing! She gets so animated when you’re reading to her, especially if there are animal pictures and you make sound effects. She’s a social butterfly, who loves to be part of the action, especially with family and friends. Nai’a also enjoys the outdoors— chilling on the front porch with her grandparents, feeling the breeze and watching everything that’s happening around her, or going on neighborhood walks. She thrives on meeting people, laughing, and trying new foods!

Nai’a comes from such a beautiful mix of cultures— she’s Filipino, Korean, and Kenyan— and we really want her to grow up knowing and celebrating all parts of who she is. One of our biggest dreams is to take her to Kenya so she can meet her father’s family and experience that side of her heritage firsthand. The prize money would make that trip possible, help us get her education fund started early, and allow her to participate in activities that’ll spark her creativity and curiosity.