Fundraiser set for 6-month-old ADVERTISING Fundraiser set for 6-month-old The public is invited to Kokua No Nawai, a fundraiser from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Queen Liliuokalani Park for Nawai Irie, a 6-month-old girl who has SMA 1, spinal muscular atrophy,
Fundraiser set for 6-month-old
The public is invited to Kokua No Nawai, a fundraiser from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Queen Liliuokalani Park for Nawai Irie, a 6-month-old girl who has SMA 1, spinal muscular atrophy, a life-threatening form of muscular dystrophy.
Doctors say some babies will have difficulty performing the basic functions we take for granted such as breathing and swallowing. Nawai never will be able to sit, crawl or walk on her own and was given a life expectancy of 2 years.
Family and friends of Nawai’s parents, Jamie and Wendy Irie of Hilo, are asking for donations to support this little girl and help with her medical expenses.
You can call Wendy Irie at 896-4965 for more about their story.
Museum to tell Pele’s story
Artist and historian Herb Kane once said, “So long as the earth is alive with quakes and eruptions Pele will live in the Hawaiian hearts and minds as the personification of the natural phenomena of volcanic activity.”
On May 17, Alexandria, Va.-based Halau Ho‘omau I ka Wai Ola O Hawai’i will share chants, songs and dances honoring Madame Pele at the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian’s annual Hawaiian Cultural Festival in Washington, D.C.
The museum is dedicating this year’s festival to the goddess of the volcano. For more information, visit Smithsonian NMAI at www.nmai.si.edu.
Nelson receives Therrien award
A graduating senior with a double major in English and communication at the University of Hawaii at Hilo is the recipient of the Matthew Somchai Therrien Memorial Award.
Kara Nelson received the $500 annual award that honors an outstanding UH-Hilo student majoring in English. Since December 2014, Nelson has been an intern for Chancellor Don Straney, writing public relations pieces highlighting student, university, and faculty achievements for the blog “UH-Hilo Stories.”
In addition, she has been the Hawaii Island correspondent for Hawaii Pacific University’s student paper, Kalamalama, since 2010.
Therrien was an aspiring English major at UH-Hilo at the time of his death in April 2014. He was a gifted poet and writer with a dream of becoming an English professor.
