NUKOLI‘I — More than 100 people added to their accessories wardrobe while helping Hale ‘Opio of Kaua‘i on Sunday. Hale ‘Opio of Kaua‘i, for the fourth year, hosted its fundraising Passion for Purses high tea and silent auction at the
NUKOLI‘I — More than 100 people added to their accessories wardrobe while helping Hale ‘Opio of Kaua‘i on Sunday.
Hale ‘Opio of Kaua‘i, for the fourth year, hosted its fundraising Passion for Purses high tea and silent auction at the Aqua Kaua‘i Beach Resort in Nukoli‘i.
“We have more purses and bags this year,” said LaVerne Bishop, executive director of Hale ‘Opio.
Bishop said the event attracted a greater audience of grandmothers and mothers.
“We are also happy we have more hats appearing for the special hat contest, which is part of the program,” Bishop said.
Barbara Watts of the Zonta Club of Hanalei donated $3,000 from the Zonta Club of Hanalei for the Hale ‘Opio Mother-Daughter Circle program.
“This enables Hale ‘Opio to continue to offer the Mother-Daughter Circle, which is designed to promote a healthy and sustaining bond between mothers and daughters during the transition years from girlhood to young womanhood,” Bishop said.
This year’s program will run for eight weeks, meeting on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Hale ‘Opio conference room.
Open to mothers and daughters aged from 11 through 18 years old, people can call Anela Segreti, the Mother-Daughter program coordinator, at Hale ‘Opio at 245-2873, ext. 8204 for more information.
Michael Masulit and Chardonnay Rosa-Arango, both former clients of Hale ‘Opio, explained the “HI Helping Our People Envision Success program.”
Tying in with May being National Foster Care Month, the HI H.O.P.E.S. youth leadership board is made up of young people between 14 through 26 years old who are or were in foster care.
The board provides the “youth voice” for the Hawai‘i Youth Opportunities Initiative by identifying the needs of transitioning foster youth and advocating for policy changes.
Bishop, in her message to guests, said Hale ‘Opio teaches skills to an average of 700 youth each year.
“Some youth live in our therapeutic family homes, while the vast majority of our programs are conducted with youth and their families, or in schools, islandwide,” Bishop said. “Whether you are a champion for mental health services, healthy teen relationships, diverting kids from the juvenile justice system, building self-efficacy of young women, reconnecting youth to their education, or their culture, your participation makes a critical difference in the services Kaua‘i youth receive.”
The Passion for Purses high tea and silent auction was hosted by the Hale ‘Opio board members and staff with assistance from Delta Kappa Gamma, Eta Chapter and First Hawaiian Bank.
Visit www.haleopio.org for more information on the services and programs available.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
