MEET KONA THE L.O.V.E. DOG

She is L.O.V.E. Is The Answer’s amazing mascot, teaching young people (of all ages!) how to love themselves and others. We have created coloring sheets, challenge coins, a riveting and inspiring origin story, and more to share with students — along with instructional tools and other support for teachers, parents, and others to use for fun and meaningful and educational sessions inside the classroom, in community centers, and at home.

The Legend of Kona the L.O.V.E. Dog

This is Her Origin Story

Legend has it that a great and sudden storm nearly capsized a canoe full of tourists off the Kona coast of The Big Island of Hawaii. Everyone was swept into the raging waters — except for Captain A.J.‘s rescue bulldog, Kona. Maybe because of her low center of gravity, or maybe it was fate, she managed to stay in the canoe. She was safe, but all seven human passengers were in the water, including two tourists who had treated her poorly earlier on land. They had kicked her when the captain wasn’t looking. They didn’t like the idea of a mangy dog sharing space with them in the boat.

As the wind whipped, a lightning bolt lashed out at the canoe. At that exact moment, the bright sun broke through the dark clouds and a rainbow, guided by Ānuenue, the Hawaiian Rainbow Goddess (also the Hawaiian word for rainbow), hit the canoe at the exact same time as the lightning. Amazingly, the canoe was not damaged and Kona wasn’t hurt! Kona’s mangy coat was bathed with bright reflections of the colors of the rainbow, the sea, and even the nearby land. The energy from the lightening sealed those colors into Kona’s fur, permanently turning her coat into a beautiful, shiny representation of the love and kindness that was inside her.

Filled and covered with that energy and disregarding her own safety, she dove into the water to help the captain get everyone back into the canoe — starting with the two men who had previously treated her poorly! Bulldogs can’t swim, but miraculously, Kona swam! Kona and the captain rescued every single person from the water. Right after the last person was rescued, the storm ceased and a gentle breeze guided a wave to escort them to shore.

Kona the L.O.V.E. Dog saved everyone by Learning of their need, Opening her heart to them, even those who didn’t deserve it, and disregarding her own safe position to Volunteer to heroically become the solution they needed. Her story now serves to Empower others to act selflessly, bravely and lovingly towards the people around them. Learning, Opening her heart, Volunteering and Empowering equals L.O.V.E.

At the end of every rainbow there is supposed to be a pot of gold, but in Hawaii, it is said that at the ends of Hawaii’s many rainbows, there is Kona, tirelessly spreading love and the Aloha Spirit with everyone she meets.

Would you like to become Kona’s friend? She’s looking for people like you to help her make a difference throughout the world. All you have to do is take the L.O.V.E. Is The Answer pledge and treat everyone you meet with love and kindness, just like Kona!

The L.O.V.E. Is The Answer pledge: I pledge to LEARN about the people in my community, to unconditionally OPEN my heart to their needs as if they were all immediate family members, to VOLUNTEER to be part of the solution in their lives during both good and challenging times, and to EMPOWER everyone I meet to do the same as if our lives depended on each other.

L.O.V.E. Is The Answer Challenge Coins starring Kona are available now!

Fill out the form at the bottom of this page to inquire about how you can become one of the first to use these beautiful collectible coins featuring the L.O.V.E. Is The Answer Pledge as gifts, prizes, incentives, and rewards for young people or anyone in your community! People of all ages will cherish these coins, especially if they are presented to them as a meaningful token of appreciation for good works or if they make a pledge to do good!

Action Steps for Teachers, Parents & Guardians

Enjoy an amazing time of learning and empowerment with your K-12 students by doing these 4 or 5 steps with them.

Read her origin story to your students.

Give them the attached coloring sheet and crayons or markers and have them color their own version of Kona.

Have the students say the L.O.V.E. Is The Answer pledge together, share their drawing with the class, and share their thoughts on why we should treat each other with L.O.V.E. I pledge to LEARN about the people in my community, to unconditionally OPEN my heart to their needs as if they were all immediate family members, to VOLUNTEER to be part of the solution in their lives during both good and challenging times, and to EMPOWER everyone I meet to do the same as if our lives depended on each other.

Have a group discussion about an actual societal problem that L.O.V.E. can solve (child hunger, homelessness, violence, etc.), along with ideas as to how L.O.V.E. can solve those problems and how they as students can help or even lead the way.

OPTIONAL: Go from theory to practice by discussing a specific issue such as a local eyesore property that needs to be cleaned up or a blank wall at the school or elsewhere that can be transformed into a beautiful mural — and have your students come up with a plan and implement the plan along with faculty, staff, parents, guardians, and other community members to put L.O.V.E. into action to solve the problem!

Doing this exercise with your students will educate them and empower them to come up with solutions that can be implemented in real life! This is an experiential learning exercise that will stick with them for the rest of their lives and help them to become empathetic leaders.

Download the sheet for K-12 students to color on L.O.V.E. Is The Answer Day every September 17th or any other day of the year. Please share photos and videos of your session with us and on social media using the hashtag #trylovenow.