KALAHEO — Friday marked the first time the Kukuiolono Community Association ventured into the field of community service work, creating luminaria for the American Cancer Society’s upcoming Relay for Life event. “Normally, we have hanafuda class, or sushi-making, or do
KALAHEO — Friday marked the first time the Kukuiolono Community Association ventured into the field of community service work, creating luminaria for the American Cancer Society’s upcoming Relay for Life event.
“Normally, we have hanafuda class, or sushi-making, or do other crafts,” said Ora Tashiro, who donned an ACS “Survivor” T-shirt for the occasion.
The Kukuiolono Community Association meets once a month, usually the second Friday, for breakfast, fellowship and some kind of project. Tashiro, whose parents are the former Judge Benjamin and Gladys Tashiro, had a home on Papalina Road in the shadow of the Kukuiolono Park entrance.
Currently, there are about a hundred members, most of whom still live in the Kukuiolono area, although there are some who grew up in the Kukuiolono area but now reside elsewhere, Tashiro said.
Nathan Kawakami, whose childhood was spent in a teacher’s cottage on the Kalaheo School campus, is the current association president, Tashiro said.
Harriet Silva, formerly of the Warren Sakuda family who lived on the lower Papalina Road where a dirt road connected Papalina to Waha Road, and her husband are the treasurer, Tashiro said.
Cancer affects everyone, and most of the members, on the occasion of working on Relay for Life luminaria, had an ACS shirt, indication of their participation in the annual overnight event celebrating survivors and remembering those who lost the fight against cancer.
Millie Curtis, the ACS coordinator for the Relay for Life, prefaced the morning of crafting by explaining the event to those who were not familiar with the Relay as well as offering tips on how the Kukuiolono Community Association could help the cancer society.
The Relay for Life is scheduled for April 30 starting at 5 p.m. at the soccer fields located adjacent to the Hanapepe Stadium.
As a prelude to the overnight event, the American Cancer Society is scheduling a Bank Night on April 19 from 4 to 7 p.m. at its office in the former Immaculate Conception School across the street from Isenberg Park in Lihu‘e.
The Lihu‘e Hongwanji Mission with 22 team members currently leads the team fundraising efforts with more than $5,300, challenged closely by the Holy Cross Church, all 17 members strong, with more than $5,100. The County of Kaua‘i team with 22 team members holds the No. 3 position with more than $4,500.
Mary Williamson of Da Big Kahunas currently tops the individual fundraising efforts followed by Bernie Sakoda of ACS Leadership 2011, Julie Alvarez of Team West 50 and Jolene Ogle of the Marriott Resorts on Kaua‘i team.
Visit www.relayforlife.org/kauaihi or call Curtis at 246-0695 for more information on the 2011 American Cancer Society Relay for Life.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
