LIHUE — Dinner, dancing and inspiration will all take center stage at the Kauai Mariott Resort &Beach Club on Friday, Nov. 15, at the 11th annual Na Wahine Alaka‘i O Kauai.
Every year, the YWCA of Kauai honors women who are leaders in the community.
The 2019 honorees are Stacy Sproat-Beck, executive director of the Waipa Foundation; Sarah Tochiki, band director at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School and director of the Kauai Community College instrumental music program and Kauai All-Island Band; and JoAnn Yukimura, former mayor and county councilmember.
These women were chosen by the community, and the evening will be a celebration of their hard work and inspiration, said Renae Hamilton-Cambeilh, YWCA executive director.
“Every year we put the call out to the community to nominate those women who have impacted their lives,” Hamilton-Cambeilh said. “Many of these women have impacted whoever the nominator is personally, but also in the bigger picture of the community as well.”
While each of the three 2019 nominees have many qualities that make them leaders in the community, nominees highlighted Yukimura’s public service, Sproat-Beck’s promotion of Hawaiian culture and caretaking the ‘aina, and Tochiki’s influence on youth through music.
“We’ve honored 33-plus women now from our small island, and each year it’s so different,” Hamilton-Cambeilh said. “So amazing, all the different areas of the community they have highlighted for us.”
The event also highlights those impacted by the honorees. This year, Tochiki’s students will be providing the entertainment. There will also be a silent auction.
The Na Wahine Alaka‘i O Kauai is at 5:30 p.m. Tickets start at $85, with discounts for groups like educators and students. Table sponsorships start at $950.
For tickets, visit ywcakauai.org/purchase-tickets.
Info: 245-5959
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Jessica Else, environment reporter, can be reached at 245-0452 or jelse@thegardenisland.com.
