Halloween Party for Homeless Keiki October 28

By Malia Zimmerman
HawaiiReporter.com

Tammy Kubo is well known in the Hawaii community as a Maryknoll Schools graduate, the owner of Hawaii Pet Nanny, a community volunteer, and the wife of Hawaii’s U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo.

But at the new homeless shelter in Kakaako where 100 children now reside, Tammy is known as the angel who brings wonderful gifts — the best being a party, cake and all — just to acknowledge each of the children’s birthdays.

“Some children in the shelter have never celebrated their birthday before,” Kubo says, noting a few of them did not even know what month their birthday was in.

On Saturday night, Kubo, dressed in her own glorious birthday party hat, threw the second birthday bash of many to come for all of the children up to age 18 who have their special day in August.

This month, of the 100 children who live in the 36,000-square-foot warehouse with their parents and a total of 300 people, just three of the kids had birthdays.

Not only did they get their own cake, party, and showing of the Disney Movie, the Lion King, Tammy bought and had donated presents for each birthday boy and girl. Some were gifts they needed and others were presents they requested.

“Some of the children are so cute. When I ask them what they want for their birthday, they tell me they want something for their brother or sister, like diapers or toys,” Tammy says. “Of course there are the other kids who ask for a computer set. But they are all great kids and they all appreciate everything they receive.”

This week, the party was co-hosted by the law enforcement community including the U.S. Attorney’s office, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the state Sheriff’s Department and the Honolulu Police Department. In between schmoozing with uniformed officers, and eating the birthday cake Tammy brought, local police let the children check out their police cars.

“We wanted to introduce the kids to the law enforcement community and let them know they are friendly and there to help them if they need help,” Tammy says.

Her husband, Ed, thanked all of the officers for coming including his deputy U.S. attorneys, and presented a plaque of appreciation to Utu Langi, the program director for the non-profit, Next Step Project, which manages the center.

As evidenced by the many smiles on the children’s faces, the law enforcement party was a hit.

So was the party she co-sponsored in July with the help of the Lions Club, which included a Japanese lion dance and the showing of the Disney movie, Mulan.

Saying she wants to create a good and stable environment for the children at the Kakaako homeless shelter, Tammy plans to hold a monthly birthday party with varying themes on the last Saturday of every month to honor all of the children with birthdays in that particular month.

Considering there are so many children, including three more born since the shelter opened, she needs help.

Tammy is reaching out to the community, asking church groups, schools, community organizations and businesses, to sponsor parties and donate gifts and other necessities for the children.

Reserved parking is provided for the sponsor and guests. Kubo says the shelter is secure with four Sheriff’s stationed at the location.

She adds that if a group or organization agrees to help with the month, she asks that they bring five volunteers to help with the serving of the cake and “crowd management” and also be able to talk to the kids for about 10 to 15 minutes about something educational, like their careers. The parties begin at 7 p.m. with the movie starting at 7:45 p.m.

“Every child should have a birthday,” Kubo says. “These parties make the children feel good and are a self esteem builder.”

Hawaii Reporter and SBH plan to co-sponsor the Saturday, October 28 party with a Halloween theme and welcomes any donations of balloons, a bouncy house, costumes, face painters, candy, clowns and any volunteers who can come and help out. Call 306-3161 or send an email to: Malia@hawaiireporter.com to contribute.

For more information on the program, contact Tammy Kubo at (808) 741-5220 or via email at: tkubo@hawaii.rr.com Laura E. Thielen, Executive Director for the Affordable Housing and Homeless Alliance at (808) 497-4175 or via email at: lthielen@hawaii.rr.com Utu Langi H-5 Executive Director, Next Step Project Facilities Director for Kakaako, Office: (808) 223-5176, Cell: (808) 497-0961 or via email at: slangi@campus.hpu.edu

October 2006 SB News

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Copyright 2006 Small Business Hawaii. Last update: October 3, 2006