Hawai'i Preparatory Academy's Podcast
Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy (HPA) is an independent, co-educational K–12 day and boarding school in Waimea on Hawaiʻi Island. Rooted in place-based and experiential learning, HPA offers a rigorous academic program grounded in community, curiosity, and care for place. The Hawaiʻi Preparatory Podcast shares stories and perspectives from students, educators, and alumni, offering insight into life, learning, and opportunities at HPA — both in the classroom and beyond.
Hawai'i Preparatory Academy's Podcast
Navigating Grief as a Family
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How do we support children and adults through grief? In this episode, Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy’s Lower School team creates space for an honest and compassionate conversation about bereavement—exploring how loss shows up across the lifespan and how families and communities can navigate grief together.
Lower School Principal Dora Kwong guides a thoughtful discussion with a panel of experienced professionals: Rachel Baydo, HPA K–8 Counselor; JoAnna Wyss, seasoned grief and loss therapist with a background in hospice care; and Kimara Gustafson, trauma-informed pediatric care specialist at The Queen’s Health Systems North Hawaiʻi Primary Care Clinic. Together, they reflect on the complexities of grief in both children and adults, including how culture, spirituality, and community influence the healing process.
The conversation explores how grief can be non-linear and layered — often shaped by silence, stigma, or communal response. Panelists share practical guidance for responding to difficult questions, supporting children in developmentally appropriate ways, and maintaining connection to loved ones who have passed. The episode also addresses the challenge of supporting children while navigating one’s own grief, emphasizing emotional transparency, modeling healthy coping, and the importance of seeking support when needed.
Host: Dora Kwong, Lower School Principal – dkwong@hpa.edu
Panelists:
Rachel Baydo, HPA K–8 Counselor – rbaydo@hpa.edu
JoAnna Wyss, Grief and Loss Therapist, LCSW – jwyss110@gmail.com
Dr. Kimara Gustafson, Pediatric Care Specialist, The Queen’s Health Systems North Hawaiʻi Primary Care Clinic Pediatrician – specializes in supporting children’s physical and social-emotional well-being, partnering with families to help every child grow into a healthy adult – kgustafson@queens.org
Episode Chapters
Introductions & Purpose
Opening Reflections: What Grief Can Look Like
Understanding Grief Across the Lifespan
Supporting Grieving Children
When Adults and Children Grieve Together
Closing Reflections & Resources