Monday, August 25, 2008

Rain Showers fail to dampen the spirits of Relay for Life Walkers

Still looking fresh at 6 a.m. in the morning, Debbie, Betty Lau, Peter, Benson and Sue get ready to make the final push at the closing ceremonies. Behind our classmates are Sue's workmate, Adele and Debbie's younger sister, Linda. Duane Chun snapped this picture.

A dedicated group of classmates showed up at all hours of the night through steady showers to walk and support the first Relay for Life held on the Kamehameha Schools campus on Saturday, August 23-24th. Classmates who showed up to walk included, John Leong, Sue Peterson, Debbie Lau Okamura, Bo Aki, Stacy Panui, Liane Sing, Karynne Morgan, Barbara Lau Orrell, Betty Lau, Venus Colon, Pauahi Akuna, Lew Biven, Rodney Kaulupali, Peter Gonsalves, Roland Harvest, Mike Kapuniai, Noelle Wedemeyer Kanoho, Butchie Lee, Bill Kama, Cheryl Ariola and Healani Waiau.

Special recognition goes out to Derrick Tsukayama (Logistics), Dan Kalili (Food), Kevin Lima (Security), Duane Chun (Finance), Albert Kaai (Entertainment), Pat Ahloy (Sound System) and of course, Sue Peterson and Debbie Lau Okamura, co-chairs of the event.

The combined five teams of the class of 1972 raised over $10,000, part of $127,000 that was raised by the entire Kamehameha Relay for Life. Classmates who made monetary contributions are Dave Osorio, Larry Nakea, Liane Ching Kelly, Jeannine Holi, Laureen Kim, Peter Gonsalves, David Copp, Rodney Bayne, Alex Naumu, Kuulei Bender Ho, Noelle Wedemeyer Kanoho, Sheridan Cockett, Mary Elizabeth Weatherwax Bacon, Jonia Leong Kamada, Joanne Takatsugi, Leonard Batungbacal, Verne Santos, Marie Quindica Cuomo, Tommy Thompson, Joanne Huber, Aukake Dapitan, Cherie Von Seggern Navarro, Lynne & Nahua Maunakea and Monica Yim Takashima.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Relay for Life Picture Gallery

One of the most touching parts of the evening was the Luminara, where memorials to those who have been lost to cancer where placed around the entire football field.
Team Captain, John Leong walked over 10 miles, along with Roland Harvest and fellow HFD retiree, Peter Gonsalves.

The Medina's showed up in full force. My sister-in-law, Elizabeth Medina (a two-time cancer survivor), my brother Nixon, their grand-daughter Ariana, my mother, Katherine Medina (one of the oldest registered walkers at age 85) and myself.

Healani Waiau was on hand support her daughter's class (2004), who a small (4), but spirited bunch of walkers.

Mike Kapuniai joined us from Maui, Roland Harvest knocked out some serious miles on the track and Cheryl and Roland Ariola came to honor Roland's father, who passed away from cancer.
Barbara Lau Orell, Karynne Morgan, Stacy Panui and Liane Sing take a break before logging some miles at the Relay.

Co-chairman Debbie Lau Okamura pauses with cancer survivor and classmate Bo Aki and his wife a few minutes before the start of the Relay.

Classmates Play Huge Role Behind the Scenes

The first Relay for Life on Kamehameha's campus was a rousing success thanks to the extra hard work of several classmates who worked tirelessly behind the scenes.
Back in the kitchen, Dan Kalili managed a dedicated crew that included Rodney Kimura and Eddy Kalahiki. Albert Kaai hung around most of the night to manage the sound system on the mainstage and even managed a few music sets with classmates Pat Ahloy and Issac Akuna.

Kevin Lima headed up the security detail that included classmates Dwight Rodrigues and Joe Doughty and brother, Keith Lima. In all, 10 HPD officers who were either parents or KS Alumni, donated their time, they were: David Kamai, Tasman McKee, Stan Lum, Walter Calistro, Malcolm Uehara, and Andy Brito.
Duane Chun managed over $127.000 of donations as well as keeping track of all the expenditures of the entire event.




Waipio wins Little League World Series Championship!


Waipi'o Little League, led by the solid play of a huge cast of players (including Ed Han's nephews, Iolana Akau and Kainoa Fong), beat Mexico in the final, 12-3 to win the World Little League Championship. Ed spent over a week in Williamsport, PA with 10 other family members supporting and cheering on the team.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Ed Han in Williamsport, PA to cheer on Waipo Little League


Iolana Akau, one of two nephews of our classmate Ed Han (pictured above), comes off the field after being hit by a pitch in Waipio's 3-1 win over Shelton, CT at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA. Ed's other nephew, Kainoa Fong is an outfielder and pitcher for the team who is currently (as of Monday, August 18th) undefeated in their pool thanks to a 10-2 win yesterday over Tampa, FL. The team is set to play the last team in their pool, South Dakota, later this afternoon.

Ed took time off of his job at Pearl Harbor to make the trip to Pennsylvania over the weekend. He joins 10 other members of his family who made the 5,000 mile trek from Hawai'i.

"We hope to make it all the way to the finals on 25th, but we're all here until the 26th regardless of the outcome," Eddie said via email.

Ed was hoping to be joined by classmate, Tommy Thompson, who lives in Binghamton, NY, two and a half hours north of Williamsport.





Wednesday, August 13, 2008

The big hole nobody sees

Though this is the primary source of aggregate on Oahu, no doubt it will someday (long after we're dead and gone) become a landfill. Shot this yesterday, thought some of you might wanna have a look at Kapaa Quarry in Kailua.
- Peter