ALA MOANA: The family of four that we adopted for Christmas through the Lokahi Giving Project were made up of  Kamaha’o Spencer (father), Pualehualani Pontes (mother), Ke Kalee (daughter, two years old), and unborn at the time Okland (son).  Their story is that they are currently living at the Waianae Homeless Shelter after Kamaha’o got laid off from his job while Pualehualani was pregnant and she could not work.  They were placed in the shelter for emergency status.  At the time that we adopted them, this was their status.  By the time we met with them, Kamaha’o had just got a job working at Toys R Us in the warehouse---so that was good news and four days before Christmas and two days before we met them here for a CPK sponsored meal, Pualehualani gave birth to Oakland. 

We, as a store were able to raise about $500 in gifts and necessities for this Lokahi family including a meal care of CPK Ala Moana.  The family requested educational toys for Ke Kalee, clothes, diapers, wipes, bottles, etc for the newborn and clothes for both Kamaha’o and Pualehualani to wear to job interviews, etc.  We donated a range of different things for them according to their requests:  Diapers, baby wipes, baby wash, baby powder, a baby bathtub, washcloths and towels for the baby, baby clothes, baby bouncer, bottles, educational toys for the Ke Kalee, clothes for Ke Kalee, shoes for Kamaha’o, clothes for Kamaha’o and Pualehualani, and a $50 gift card to WalMart.

They were so appreciative and it was so touching to meet them.  Oakland (their newborn) was still in the hospital suffering from an acute case of jaundice but Pualehualani, Kamaha’o, and Ke Kalee really enjoyed themselves here at CPK Ala Moana.  They said, “ Just when we thought nobody cared and that everything was going downhill, you guys showed up, a bunch of strangers there to support them.  Everyone is so nice and happy here and we are so appreciative.”  Kamaha’o and Pualehualani shared with me and Mark (both of us worked that day) pictures of Oakland and we asked Kamaha’o how his job was going etc.  At the end, they wanted to take a picture with all of us. We took a picture with our camera as well but still need to get it developed.  We still have a few things to give them that came after they left so I will be finding a way to get it to them through the case worker.

PEARLRIDGE: Here is a short recap, They are a family of five Jay and his wife Chezare have 3 children 2 girls ages 10 and 9 They also have  a boy age 4. They fell on hard times when Jay was unable to keep full time employment. They are currently living at a shelter. We were able to raise about $450.00 dollars from the staff and management. With that money I was able to purchase 3 bikes for the kids, Shoes for the parents, cookware, vacuum, shampoo, soap, and toothpaste. They could not come to the store for dinner so we put got an order from them and I took everything to them on December 23.