KAPA‘A — All Saints Episcopal Church Youth Minister Cami Pascua said they had a goal. Saturday during the satellite Relay For Life virtual event hosted by the church’s Ke Akua youth group, they made it.
“We were fortunate to have met our goal early,” Pascua said.
“People also made appointments to walk the labyrinth where the youth group members set up luminaria. Each family or team could walk individually so we could keep the gathering within the COVID pandemic rules.”
Those rules kept the group to just a handful of organizers who kept the relay going by taking turns walking the labyrinth and coordinating the different labyrinth aspects.
Organizers had a number of jobs like creating the bead chain with a bead for every lap walked, taking their message streetside with signs encouraging honks for hope, as well as other tasks. These events were captured and shared by a webcam through the church’s main home page.
“This is just a satellite site,” Pascua said.
“There are several other sites where people are party-watching, a band is playing live,” said Patty Ornellas, the American Cancer Society Kaua‘i director.
“The main relay event is being aired over Ho‘ike Community Television, and we got the Facebook page and link to join them for a two-minute thing. We’ll be doing that, but our entire event is being shared on the church’s main website page.”
According to the 2020 American Cancer Society Kaua‘i Relay for Life website, Saturday was the first-ever Virtual Relay For Life Celebration, where the Relay For Life of Kaua‘i Hanapepe and Relay For Life of East and North Shore Kaua‘i Facebook pages and event websites could be enjoyed.
“The fight against cancer won’t be postponed,” the ACS website states. “Although apart, we can still shine our light to support, remember and honor every life touched by cancer by lighting up luminaria at your home and team gatherings.”
That is exactly what Ke Akua youth group members and advisers did Saturday evening following the sun setting behind the Sleeping Giant.
“Look at Triton Kurisu,” Pascua said. “He’s been to every relay event since we started participating. He’s been home a lot, and this is a good chance for him to get out of the house. We might just be a satellite site, but I think we’re the only ones who are walking.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
