Steven Doi said it the best on his Facebook page — “Thank you, thank you, thank you — all, for without your heartfelt giving, we could not have made two families very happy. Kaua‘i is truly a wonderful and magical island with some of the most giving folks on our planet!” Kudos and mahalo to everyone who was a part of the Steven Doi fundraiser that kicked up more than $30,000 to help Kalani Telles and his ‘ohana and their battle with cancer, which started with Steven’s decision to get a Yeti cooler and try to make some money with it.
Steven Doi said it the best on his Facebook page — “Thank you, thank you, thank you — all, for without your heartfelt giving, we could not have made two families very happy. Kaua‘i is truly a wonderful and magical island with some of the most giving folks on our planet!” Kudos and mahalo to everyone who was a part of the Steven Doi fundraiser that kicked up more than $30,000 to help Kalani Telles and his ‘ohana and their battle with cancer, which started with Steven’s decision to get a Yeti cooler and try to make some money with it.
Dozens of donors later, including an offshoot flying saucer sale (that’s a separate package), Steven was able to provide the Telles ‘ohana with a five-digit contribution, and not only the Telles family, but the selected winner of the fundraiser’s Mitsubishi air conditioner kicked in by Colby (Kalani’s classmate) and Maya Ayonon. Steven found out the family from Anahola is also battling cancer. You need to visit his social media page for full details.
And, it’s not over, yet because Patsy Rapozo is doing a chili bowl fundraiser for Kalani and his family this Saturday, Oct. 3, where 100% of the proceeds will be turned over to the ‘ohana. OK, chili on the menu at Leong’s Meat House (they’re in the back of the Deja Vu Surf Hawai‘i in Kapa‘a) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mahalo, Kalani Telles (and all the ‘ohana) on being the inspiration for such a benevolent effort.
And, in a similar vein, mahalo to Lori Koga and her ‘ohana on completing the “Fishing for Hope” mural. A “small family food drive” brought Jo Evans and Julie Gardner to the event (yes, Nannie Ann Apalla of the Kaua‘i Resiliency Project was there along with Mayor Derek Kawakami. He was featured on the virtual Peace Day candlelight vigil, too) and the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank will be thrilled with the contribution from Foto4Food.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
