Pacific Northwest News

Aloha and Kōkua for Kauaian

Benny Lagmay Day Declared in Duvall, Washington

By Gregg Porter

By now, you have likely heard Benny Lagmay's story - how his heart problems have gotten worse recently, leading to staggeringly high medical bills, and a need for a heart transplant, soon, in order to survive --- and that it will come at a cost of well over $250,000; a massive expense for an independent businessman.

Benny (left) with Jason Keoni, oldest of six Lagmay children.

Remember the Western Washington windstorm of December 2006? Benny & his wife, Tonya, opened up their Hawaiian restaurant, Lei's in Duvall, to feed people who were without electricity. They did this without charging them - a perfect example of what people from Hawai`i would call "the aloha spirit."

Mayor Will Ibershof proclaimed December 15, 2007, as Benny Lagmay Day in Duvall, and the Chamber of Commerce rallied members of the business community to support the Lagmay family at this time of great need. Dozens of businesses donated portions of their proceeds from that day's business to the Benny Lagmay Donation Account at US Bank, while others made cash contributions, put donation buckets out, or provided items for a recent fundraising auction.

If you can pay a visit to Duvall's businesses to show your support for Benny, or just to stop by and thank these businesses - thank you! You can also contribute at any US Bank branch. For more information on the Lagmay family and Benny's medical situation, please see the November 22 edition of the River Current News at www.rivercurrentnews.com. For more information on the Benny Lagmay Donation Account, send e-mail to oohda@msn.com.

Participating businesses included: Duvall Flowers & Gifts; Serendipity Photographers; ReMax/Cornerstone; Snoqualmie Valley Music; Windermere/The Linnerooth Team; Duvall Auto Parts; The Quilter's Garden; Duvall Paw Patch; The Healing Place; Cherry Valley Veterinary Hospital; P+G Speakeasy Café; Main Street Insurance; River City Arcade Café; Main Street Massage; Duvall Foundation for the Arts; Duvall Variety; Wachovia; Duvall Performing Arts; Duvall Books; Duvall Barber Shoppe; Quality Mortgage; The River Current News; Rocking "E"&nbs p;Feeds; Naturescape Landscaping; Sacred Breath Therapeutic Massage; Teddy Bear's BBQ; Valley Shell; Alpental Landscaping; BearzAbout; Duvall Main Street Laundry; Think2A; Marty's Music; Countrywide Home Loans; Towne Realty; Tuxedo's Antiques; DuVall's Dazzling Designs; The Bee's Hive; Curves; Duvall Therapeutic Massage; Northwest Art Center; Maily's CC Espresso; JP Landscaping; North Valley Excavating; Family Childcare & Preschool; Duvall Grill --- and others!

A Benefit for Benny's New Heart...

"Hoaloha (Friends) or "Danny and Friends" play 'ono music for Benny's benefit
(l-r): Bernie Simeona, 'Iwalani Kamahele, Kory Tideman, Danny Kaopuiki and Jack "Keaka" Aldrich.

Aloha! We want to thank all the people involved in making this a successful event. We made over $23,000 which included the lū`au, donations and auction. Butch Calivo, Stanley Otsubu, Hawaiian Airlines and the Hui Wa`a o Puget Sound Canoe Club and Lee Hashimoto for the setup and kitchen help. Ante Nani Serenaders, Danny Kaopuiki, Uncle Bill and Gloria Nahalea’s halau from Longview, Washington. Gregg Porter emcee, Monroe Community Chapel facility, Debbie Castillo and Lisa - auctioneers. Lopaka and Kehau Searle from Portland, Oregon - greeting and closing prayer. Debbie and Jerome Lyons - leis and gifts from Kaua`i. Kaua`i `ohana Hannah Noblisse, Chistina Aqui, Leroy Lagmay…and so many others involved to make this happen. To all who attended, donated and bought auction items - a BIG mahalo! Without your help we would have not been so successful. Again mahalo nui loa to all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aloha Ke Akua, mālama pono, a hui hou.....Tonya and Benny Lagmay and family.

Miss Teen World Washington

Photo from Sheri Maier
Chloe Maier, the daughter of Tom & Sheri Maier of Spokane, Washington is the reigning Miss Teen World Washington. Her mother Sheri is a native Hawaiian from the Island of Kaua`i and has a halau in Spokane, Northwest Hula Company or Halau Hula O Ka La where Chloe is a member. Sheri is also the current President of the Pacific Islanders’ Association of Spokane.

Chloe attends Freeman High School in Spokane where she is a varsity cheerleader. Recently, Chloe played the part of 'Liat' in the Spokane Civic Theater's production of South Pacific. She hopes to purse an education in Political Science, and would like one day to work at the White House in Public Relations.

Hawai`i Guys around Puget Sound

Hawai`i students on the football team at University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA:

Top Row (l-r): Matt Choy (`Iolani '04), Cameron Petro-Sakuma ('Iolani '05), Frank Sepeetjens (Kauai '06) & Nick Vericella (Kamehameha-Kapālama '07). Front Row (l-r): Andrew Yeh (Punahou '04), Wide Receiver Coach Ricky Daley (Roosevelt '93 amd UH '97) & Kainoa Higgins (Punahou '04). From Coach Daley: I just wanted to give out a little shout to our Hawai`i boyz playing Division III football here in the Northwest!

Photo from Ricky Daley

Craig says: The three of us work for the Bellevue (Washington) Police Department (1st Shift, Patro Division). The three braddahs from left to right are: Keali`i Akahane (from Waimānalo), Craig Hanaumi (from 'Aiea), and Dave Rivera (from Kalihi). Mahalo nui for the pepa, and for making those of us who move far away, fell a little closer to home!

Photo from Craig Hanaumi

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