In the famous words of Disney’s Lilo and Stitch, “ ʻOhana means family,” and for Crystal and Kory Kawai of Kona, Hawaiʻi, ʻohana means a precious little girl from China who is waiting to be adopted.
Crystal and Kory Kawai first met at Kealakehe Elementary School, where they both work as teachers. “We were initially attracted to each other because of our similar sense of humor,” Crystal said. “We both act silly and goofy. We both grew to realize that we have the same values and interests.” Their similarities don't end there. They are both Christians who enjoy playing music in their worship band; Crystal plays the bass guitar, while Kory excels in playing guitar. The duo also shares a passion for playing the drums and ukulele. So, it was no surprise to friends, family, and colleagues when the two started dating the day before Thanksgiving of 2013. It didn’t take long for the musical duo to realize they were meant for one other. “One night Kory told me he was done with dating and knew that I was it for him,” Crystal said. Kory proposed to Crystal during spring break in March 2014 and the couple tied the knot four months later, on July 7.
Soon after they were married, Crystal and Kory began discussing the idea of adoption and made the ultimate decision to begin the process in February of 2016. “We both believed that this was the way that God was calling us to grow our family,” Crystal shared. What began as talk of adoption bloomed into the desire to adopt children with special needs. “We believe that the work God has placed in us as teachers, especially with Kory being a special education teacher, has prepared our hearts and minds for this.” Crystal said. “We believe that God has our children planned out for us. We just need to find them.”
While the desire to grow their family was simple, the process to make their dream come true has been much more complicated. The Kawais describe the process as a roller coaster ride. “It definitely has been a struggle trying to adopt while living in Hawaiʻi, especially living on a neighbor island, because our resources feel limited,” Crystal said. “It’s character building,” Kory added. In spite of the stress and mountain of paperwork, the couple has remained steadfast in continuing on the journey that God planned for them. “Overall, it has been a wonderful journey that we continue to pursue each day,” Crystal said. “At times, it is like watching a lifelong dream slowly unfold before our eyes.”
Crystal said that while their primary goal is “to bring our girl home,” she and her husband also hope that their adoption story will inspire and encourage others to embark on the journey of adoption.
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