Pau Hana

Thank-You Letters

Mahalo Maui for supporting the inaugural Taste of Aloha fundraising event held on March 28 at the Lahaina Civic Center Amphitheatre. The fundraising event, which featured live entertainment, food booths, food trucks, keiki corner and silent auction, was held to support the Lahainaluna High School’s Boarding Department, and fund scholarships for graduating Lahainaluna seniors. “It takes a village to raise a child,” and without the support of the community, this event would not have been successful.

Special mahalo to the following sponsors for their generous contributions, which made this event possible: The Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunrise, Pi Artisan Pizzeria, Laulima Catering and Events, Island Sotheby’s, Mann Mortgage/The Paleka Team, Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club, Massage By Kito, Maui Medical Group, Maui Solar A/C, MegaVega Properties/Robin Vega, State Farm Insurance/Chad Santiago, The Outrigger Ohana Hawaii Vacations, Title Guaranty Escrow, TMG Builders LLC, West Maui Motors, Aloha Realty, First Hawaiian Mortgage, Ka’anapali Beach Hotel, Kama’aina Magazine, Lowson & Associates.

Looking forward to Taste of Aloha 2015! Mahalo!

Twyla Kukahiko

Lahaina

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Our family would like to thank the people of Maui for your lovely hospitality. We just returned from our fourth great trip to your island and we are always so impressed with the graciousness you give to visitors. We live in a ski resort area in Colorado where people come from all over the world to hit our slopes and I know that we could learn a thing or two about the spirit of hospitality from the Maui people. Thank you for helping make wonderful memories for us.

Kendra Schulz

Evergreen, Colorado

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I am a frequent user of the sidewalks along Eha Street. Being confined to a wheelchair, it is the safest way to get to the Millyard and the post office. Lately, the area has been overrun with weeds and it was a struggle to get through. One day, I found the weeds trimmed and the path cleared. I was elated. So, at this time I would like to say mahalo to Joseph Blackburn. You are a credit to the community.

Ronald K. Kwon

Wailuku

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On behalf of the Makawao Community Association, we’d like to thank the various individuals and businesses who supported this year’s fifth annual Makawao Community Association Easter Egg Hunt at the Oskie Rice arena pasture and Roping Club Clubhouse in Olinda on April 4.

We so appreciate Kaonoulu Ranch and Haleakala Ranch for their generous donations as well as Maui Roping Club, the King Kekaulike High School Leo Club with their great student volunteers, many other community volunteers and also the generous people who provided cash donations at the event. A big mahalo too to Komoda’s, Sherri Reeve Gallery, Collections and Gigi (Erin Starr) for their “Golden Egg” prize donations. A special thanks also to Theresa Thompson, MCA board member and event organizer, and “Beefy,” the best Easter Bunny who ran, hopped, tossed and helped the Leo Club students hide the eggs. . . all with a smile (under his bunny suit hood).

The day was beautiful and the grass in the pasture was long enough to provide an adventure and good challenge to all the children who enjoyed the event. Thanks too to the supportive parents who attended. We appreciate you all for helping make this annual event fun for everyone.

Cynthia Warner, Treasurer

Makawao Community Association

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Aloha and mahalo to our wonderful community who turned out to support Parents and Children Together (PACT) fundraising event for the Family Peace Center on March 24 at Flatbread Company. It was a successful and fun filled event.

Parents and Children Together (PACT), a statewide nonprofit organization, has four programs on Maui: Domestic Violence Prevention and Intervention through the Family Peace Center (FPC) including TRO preparation, Intensive Support Services Program (MST) on Maui and Molokai and Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention and Intervention on Lanai through the Lanai Integrated Support Services and on Maui through Family Support Services-Ulupono Family Strengthening Program.

To maintain active programs, we encourage community businesses and concerned individuals to get involved. Our sincere appreciation goes out to the wonderful sponsor Flatbread Company, staff, auction donors and volunteers all of whom are too many to note here. We could not have done it without your help. On behalf of our PACT Board of Directors and the Maui Advisory Council, our gratitude goes out to you. Please call us at 244-2330 if you would like to volunteer or would like more information about our programs.

A special mahalo to Ka’anapali Beach Hotel, Blue Hawaii Helicopter, Mama’s Fish House, Maui Jim Sunglasses, Maui Divers Jewelry, Ha Wahine, Maui Feather Lei and Warren & Annabelle’s Magic.

Lucy W. Feinberg

LSW, CSAC Maui Regional Director

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The Office on Aging would like to thank all individuals who completed either an Older Adults survey or Caregivers survey in the past couple of months either online or on paper. The information from those surveys will serve as a guide to further development of programs for older adults in Maui County.

Special thanks to: Maui Economic Opportunity and its senior clubs; Kaunoa Senior Services; West Maui Senior Center; Hale Mahaolu; Roy Katsuda, Caren Tateishi and Kaimana Nakamura; the residents of Elua and Elima; and Maui County Office on Aging staff and volunteers.

James Mariano, Program Specialist Maui

County Office on Aging

Pau Hana

Thank-You Letters

The 9th Life Hawaii wants to send a big mahalo to Calene Balthazar-Suda, a senior at St. Anthony Junior-Senior High School and Nora Miyahira and Catherine Giamenelli for getting out our latest newsletter. It is a lot of work and the kitties and I thank you for your kokua. We also want to thank all the volunteers (Jonesy, Cynthia Bocoboc, Gabi Dunn, Samantha Fairchild, Deb P., Mike Perry, Carol Robertson, Jada Thompson) at our recent spay/neuter clinics in January and February and to let the community know we are holding more feline spay/neuter clinics beginning April 29. We couldn’t do it without the help of our volunteers. We are always looking for more volunteers. For information on our upcoming clinics, call 866-3050.

Phyllis Tavares

Makawao

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The Lihikai kindergarten teachers would like to express our appreciation and thanks to Leonard Nagata of Strictly Aquatics for donating 350 fish to use as our prizes for the Lihikai School Bazaar this year. We would also like to thank our kindergarten parents and friends who helped with the packing of the fish and manning of the game booth. It was a fun and successful event!

Merlyn Nagata

K Bazaar Chair

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I am writing to publically thank State Sen. Roz Baker for her tireless support of our Maui hospitals. On behalf of our community, Sen. Baker is fighting hard to safeguard Maui’s medical services. She has attended countless meetings with hospital administration, community leaders and stakeholders. As a result of this effort, she clearly understands the challenges that Maui Memorial Medical Center faces.

In the legislature, Sen. Baker has stood her ground in the fight to improve our hospital despite political pressures. Thank you, Senator Baker, for your efforts to protect Maui’s health care system.

Everett Dowling

Dowling Company Inc.

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In its history of more than 165 years, St. Anthony Junior-Senior High School has been blessed beyond measure with the Maui community’s time, talent and treasure.

We are especially grateful for an anonymous donation of more than $5,000 in scholarships for music, merit and STEM/Robotics. Thanks to this donation, three new students will get a financial boost to defray their tuition.

We are overwhelmed by our donors’ generosity, and their belief in our mission to empower students with a quality, Catholic 21 century education in the Marianist spirit.

We also appreciate our St. Anthony Parent Teacher Guild for offering more than $1,000 in scholarships to returning students for school year 2015-16. More detailed information about the scholarships and other sources of tuition assistance is available by calling Admissions Director Art Fillazar at 244-4190, ext. 232, or check our website: www.sasmaui.org and click on Financial Aid Information.

Betsey Gunderson

Head of School

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The Maui News editor, thank you for featuring the Lady Godiva humanitarian award presented to me for my work as founder of Leilani Farm Sanctuary. While I appreciate the recognition, I view the sanctuary as belonging to the community at large.

For 15 years, Leilani Farm Sanctuary has been providing care for rescued animals and humane education to visitors.

We encourage the community to get involved in whatever way is possible; volunteering, participating in farm tours, making donations, and/or doing service projects.

It takes a great deal of effort (and funding) to keep the sanctuary going. We are 100 percent volunteers and very much appreciate whatever help we can receive from our community.

Laurelee Blanchard

Leilani Farm Sancturary

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Grateful acknowledgement is made to Maui Community Correctional Center’s spiritual services/volunteers, health care agenda and security management.

Emotional and psychological survival depends on our residents’ ability to tolerate the rules of a penal institution. Nonetheless, the corrections world is designed to observe, control and protect the resident. Most are highly susceptible to poor health.

All the while, MCCC’s nurses, doctors and medical staff have shared positive benefits for prisoners, causing positive, personal worth, self-esteem and identity. Many residents have shared with Chaplain Pua Hashimoto how they have appreciated the medical staff, volunteers and employees for their empathy, service and patience. Love one another, forgiving and rendering aid and praying. Shalom!

Rebbe Henrietta P. Stempler-Hashimoto

MCCC Chaplain

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The staff and students of King Kekaulike High School would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the individuals who contributed to the success of this year’s Senior Project Presentation Day, held on March 13. It was inspiring to see educators from public and private schools, local business owners and other representatives of the diversity of Maui professions, parents and retirees volunteering at our senior project presentations. We thank you for your dedication to our educational community. A special mahalo to the County of Maui for providing us with personnel from the Aquatic Division’s Ocean Safety Officers, the Maui Police Department and the Kula Fire Station B Watch to serve as panelists.

All of King Kekaulike’s staff, teachers and students committed hundreds of hours to this event, which showcases our students’ work in a real-world educational setting. We would like to extend a special mahalo to the student volunteers (AVID, Spanish Club, Book Club, Key Club and Associated Students of King Kekaulike) who assisted the judges with sign-ins and escorted judges to the classrooms. Thank you to Sgt. Robert “BJ” McDonnell and the Army National Guard who treated student volunteers, judges and school staff to dinner from Panda Express and Pukalani Superette who donated S&J Pies for dessert. It was the perfect way to conclude the evening.

And finally, the success of the senior project would not be possible without the continued support from our teachers, off-campus mentors and administrators. We appreciate your contribution to our students’ academic endeavors.

Emily Haines

King Kekaulike High School

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I cannot begin to express my gratitude for all the many people who made the 16th annual Hale Kau Kau Dinner/Dance a wonderful success. Thanks to the many who donated countless hours of their time to obtain silent and live auction items and ads. Thanks to the 450 who attended the event at the Wailea Beach Marriot Resort & Spa. Thanks to the Marriott for providing the wonderful food and the beautiful ballroom. Thanks to the many individuals and business owners who donated their gifts and talents.

Hale Kau Kau continues due to the generosity of the Maui community. Due to that generosity, we are able to feed the hungry, deliver food to the homebound elderly and feed a hot meal to all who are hungry. Thank you, thank you, thank you, with warmest aloha.

Dr. Mary Trotto, Co-chair

HKK fundraiser committee

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On the evening of April 1, our family called 911 because of a health emergency of our elderly aunt. As a result of that emergency, we would like to publicly thank the EMTs and police officers who responded to our distress call in Haliimaile. They were prompt, efficient and very professional, but what stands out most in our minds is their compassion and kindness to us during this most difficult time.

We would especially like to recognize the police officers who provided us with advice about calling a physician and then the mortuary and explained procedures to us. Thank you very, very much for your assistance and support – and for your service to our community!

Valentin Guiala and Agnes Terao-Guiala

Wailuku

Pau Hana

Thank-You Letters

On Dec. 2, my son Paul was taken by Air Medivac from Molokai to Oahu with a severe staph infection. We did not realize how serious his condition was until we heard the words: trauma, sepsis, emergency surgery, possible amputation, induced coma and life support.

He was at Queen’s Medical Center for 24 days. An additional 31 days was under Castle Home Care. Fifty-five days would pass by before he returned to his island home. I strongly feel the excellent communication between all health care providers contributed to saving my son’s life.

First, I would like to thank Dr. Dan McGuire and his staff, Molokai General Hospital Emergency team and technicians, Molokai and Oahu ambulance crew, Hawaii Life flight pilot(s) and professionals, Castle Home Care nurses and the Queen’s Medical Center: surgical team, Intensive Care Unit, infectious disease doctor, seventh-floor Pauahi Nurses Station, Wound Care Center and everyone else at Queen’s who contributed to my son’s care and well-being.

Second, I would like to thank our beloved family members and dear friends who provided emotional, financial, mental, physical and spiritual support. Thank you for all of your prayers, visits, laughter, tears, hugs, phone calls, text messages, cards, gifts and food.

Third, I would like to thank my Molokai Middle School family and my son’s Akaula School family for their understanding, patience and support.

Olivia Ming-Toi

Mollena-Riel, Molokai

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Each year during their off-season, Hawaii Commercial &?Sugar Company employees undertake rejuvenation projects to benefit the community by doing tasks their neighbors perhaps can’t do on their own.

On March 3, 20 HC&S employees arrived at Malama Maui Nui’s baseyard ready for a day’s worth of work.

At the end of the eight-hour day, approximately 800 gallons of paint were processed, four barrels of batteries were ready to be shipped to the Mainland for recycling and grading was complete. The 160 cumulative hours of work donated on this single day saved the MMN Road Crew staff over a week’s worth of work.

Executive Director of Malama Maui Nui John P. de Jesus extends his deepest thanks and appreciation to HC&S for their support. “It was a full day of a lot of work, and the results were incredible,” he said. “We are truly grateful to HC&S for lending us their tools and manpower to get ahead in two of our most popular recycling programs!”

Jen Cox, Community Relations Manager

Malama Maui Nui

Pau Hana

Thank-You Letters

On Feb. 4, while boogie boarding at Kamaole beach, I was slammed to the ocean floor. Thanks to the two individuals who located me and dragged me to shore. An emergency room nurse and an ICU nurse had just arrived on the beach and responded to the call for medical help. The first words I heard upon regaining consciousness were from an individual cheering me on, saying “you can make it, you can do it.”

We have personally expressed my family’s gratitude to the two nurses that brought me back to life. As for the other three individuals, a big, heart-filled thank you. We believe the two people who pulled me from the water were vacationing on Maui and the “cheerleader” was a local man who was on the beach that day with his wife and young child. To those kind strangers who asked my wife for my name to lift me in prayer, great thanks to you too.

I would also like to thank the first responders/medical personnel from Maui South Side Station 14, and the staff in the ER and ICU at Maui Memorial, for your professional care during my recovery.

Craig Pettigrew

Logan, Utah

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It’s an amazing thing when people come together in unity for a common cause. Camp Agape Maui held our second annual camp this past weekend. Volunteers from churches throughout Maui and outer islands came together to Bless 100 children of the incarcerated. Camp Agape Maui is completely free and funded for the families and caregivers thanks to very generous donors. Camp Agape Maui shares with the Angels (children) trust, love, forgiveness and hope and prayer.

The statistics here in state are among the highest in the nation, saying that if their parent is or was incarcerated, there’s a 90 percent chance that these children will be in trouble with the law in some way. Our prayer is to make a difference in the lives of the children. Many of the former inmates give back by coming out and serving at camp. Camp Agape Maui would like to thank all of our donors, sponsors and our volunteers for coming along side of us to help make a difference in these childrens’ lives. Mahalo and God bless.

Derek and Julie Smith, Directors

Camp Agape Maui