• Our hearts with you Sandy Aki
• Restore aloha with baking
• Trail volunteer should
be commended •Thank you, Kapa‘a
Our hearts with you Sandy Aki
I can’t remember being as moved by a photo as I was by the one of Sandy Aki smiling and holding her “Honk 4 Life” sign on the front page of Monday’s paper.
Particularly when you combine it with her comment (in last Thursday’s paper) that she organized the sign-holding event because “I lost my daughter, so I am doing whatever I can so that nobody else has to feel what I feel right now.”
Sandy, may your wish come true. And thank you for being so brave and so able to help others in our community. May your work, and your knowing how many of us have a piece of our heart in your heart, bring you some comfort and healing in this challenging holiday season and beyond.
• Monty Downs
Restore aloha with baking
Since Ms. Yukimura is no longer on the council but is offering advice (“Council meeting lacked aloha,” Letters, Nov. 26), I have some advice that I recall she gave to a resident of Kaua‘i who was having some dissension with a neighbor.
Bake them all a plate of cookies!
• Anne Brookstone
Kapa‘a
Trail volunteer should
be commended
I have been hiking Na Pali Coast since 1985 and have noticed the erosion that has been occurring over the years (“Hikers, hunters propose trail fixes,” The Garden Island, Nov. 21).
In 2007 I noticed some improvement to some of the areas I remembered as being a little dangerous. As I continued hiking I came across Bill Summers with his tools and asked him if he was responsible for the improvements I had encountered.
He said he was and told me of his “mission” to make Na Pali Coast (Kalalau) Trail safer.
I was pleasantly surprised this year when I returned to find considerable improvements along the trail and met Bill again. I praised him for his efforts. The job he has been doing has made a difficult trek a little more pleasant and should be commended for his efforts.
• Harold E. Hargrave
Thank you, Kapa‘a
“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress and working together is success.” — Henry Ford
On behalf of the entire Kapa‘a Warrior football staff, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation to Principal Gilmore Youn and Athletic Director Greg Gonsalves for their unwavering support and steadfast belief in building a new football program.
Your commitment and loyalty towards this entity allows the program to unify towards a common goal. Without your belief and support, none of this would even be possible. We would also like to recognize the dedication and hard work of our Vice Principals Todd Harrison and Diane Ayre. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with all of you.
An enormous thank you to the Kapa‘a High School Foundation, the Kapa‘a Warrior Football Booster’s, Bobby Kubota and Art Fujita for their tireless efforts to raise money to replace old/worn equipment. These efforts helped to provide the football program with modern equipment to propel the program forward. This component required a huge undertaking and the demands upon it were monumental. We are so very appreciative of your time and the sacrifices you have made for the program.
Thank you to the teachers and staff of Kapa‘a High School for your time, patience and understanding as we set into motion this grand endeavor; the Kapa‘a High School band and Band Director Catherine Paleka for your support at all our football games and for accommodating the football program with the use of the band facilities during the past year; to Paul Souza for the countless hours of dedication in cleaning the football locker room and keeping the football field in pristine condition; to the Kapa‘a High Cafeteria Staff and Manager Debbie Lacaden for your vigorous efforts and kind-hearted generosity during the past season; the incredible spirit, pride and support from the Kapa‘a High Cheerleading Squad; to everyone on campus for your support of the many fundraising projects we held during the school year. All of you are the embodiment of what we aspire these fine “young men” to become.
A huge mahalo to the many businesses and individual donors who contributed their time, money and support to the program. It is humbling to witness the generosity from all of you. We are extremely thankful and grateful for all the donations during the past year.
We would also like to thank the parents/guardians, family and friends of our football student-athletes. If “staying together” is progress, then we’ve made monumental gains during the last 10 months that will make lasting impressions for years to come.
Thank you very much to Kapa‘a High graduate Mr. Kurt Ozaki (Osaki Creative Group Inc.) for designing the new logo. We greatly appreciate all of your time and effort in helping us to develop and produce all the merchandise. It has been an exciting first year and we look forward to many more years of working closely together.
Last but not least, a huge mahalo to all of our student-athletes of the Kapa‘a Warrior football program. You have clearly demonstrated that you are capable of conforming to a set of rules and procedures in pursuit of a common goal and vision. Simply put, we are so proud of the manner in which you have conducted yourselves on campus. Throughout our community service projects you demonstrated a true understanding of the significance of giving to those in need and to those less fortunate than you.
To the graduating seniors, take these lessons that you learned in being a part of our football program; hard work, pride, perseverance, respect, responsibility, discipline, dedication, compassion and selflessness and do something great with them. Become someone your parents can be proud of, someone your coaches can be proud and most of all become someone you can be proud of.
Success is not always measured in wins and losses. As a wise man once said, “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress and working together is success.” Thank you again for a season to remember.
• Brandon Fujita
Teacher, Kapa‘a High School
Assistant Coach, Kapa‘a High
Warrior football
