LIHU‘E — Gary Miyashiro of Wailua uses an iPad to speak. Miyashiro scribbles his message on the electronic device, and once acknowledged, clears the tablet with a quick flick of his wrist. “Bully Naka‘ahiki, born in Kaua‘i’s Westside and graduated
LIHU‘E — Gary Miyashiro of Wailua uses an iPad to speak.
Miyashiro scribbles his message on the electronic device, and once acknowledged, clears the tablet with a quick flick of his wrist.
“Bully Naka‘ahiki, born in Kaua‘i’s Westside and graduated from Kamehameha Schools, had the same thing in the early stages,” said Nohea Naka‘ahiki, Bully’s widow, when she met with Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., along with Miyashiro and his wife Joanne Fujio.
Bully Naka‘ahiki was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The police man with the Honolulu Police Department died of ALS.
Nohea was on Kaua‘i to spread awareness of the disease and ask Carvalho to spread the word about the Walk to Defeat ALS.
ALS is a progressive, fatal, neurodegenerative disease. There is no cure, no means of prevention, or no known cause, states a proclamation issued by Carvalho announcing May as ALS-Lou Gehrig’s Disease Awareness Month.
As ALS progresses, it eventually causes muscle atrophy, rendering the patient a functional quadriplegic.
The ALS Association website states that every 90 minutes a person is diagnosed with ALS, and every 90 minutes, a person dies from ALS.
“After Bully was diagnosed, we went everywhere and no one knew what we were talking about,” Nohea said. “There is no ALS Association chapter in Hawai‘i and we fell under the California Golden West Chapter.”
Fujio said they, too, have been to doctors everywhere and no one appears to have answers for Miyashiro’s condition. She added there are other people on Kaua‘i who share the same frustration.
“We’re walking with Bully’s Team,” Fujio said. “Mayor Carvalho, you should start a County of Kaua‘i team.”
Nohea said the Walk to Defeat ALS is the first step toward establishing an ALS chapter in Hawai‘i.
“This is the first time the ALS people have approached the Mayor’s Office for a proclamation,” said Cyndi Ayonon of the Mayor’s Office. “Bully was a Kaua‘i boy, related to people on the Westside, and there are other people who appear to share the same frustrations, so she took advantage of May being ALS Awareness Month to try and get people together.”
Moved by Miyashiro’s plight, Carvalho said he would walk and gave Miyashiro a big hug.
The Walk to Defeat ALS will take place on O‘ahu, at Kapiolani Park on Sept. 21, Nohea said.
“It is an opportunity to bring hope and empower people with ALS, their family, friends, and the business community to raise funds for care and a cure,” she said. “It joins people together in the fight against Lou Gehrig’s disease.”
Contact Nohea at HawaiiWalk@alsgoldenwest.org, or call (808) 523-2500, ext. 755 for more information, or to sign up a team.
