Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center, in participation with the Hawaii County Bar Association, is hosting its 11th annual Recognition Dinner on Nov. 13 in Hilo to support its mission of “Finding Solutions, Growing Peace.” ADVERTISING Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center, in participation with the
Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center, in participation with the Hawaii County Bar Association, is hosting its 11th annual Recognition Dinner on Nov. 13 in Hilo to support its mission of “Finding Solutions, Growing Peace.”
Ku‘ikahi will present its Peacemaker Award to Barry Taniguchi, chairman and CEO of KTA Super Stores, and Newton J. Chu, Esq., director of the Hawaii Island office of Torkildson, Katz, Moore, Hetherington &Harris.
In addition, the honorable Glenn S. Hara is being honored by the HCBA for his many years of service.
“Judge Hara is a Circuit Court judge who participated in the highly successful Foreclosure Mediation Program, plus he’s one of the founders of Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center,” said board president Jeff Melrose.
Chu and Jeri Gertz will emcee the gala event that will feature a cameo appearance by Harmony on Tap, guitar music by Unzan Pfennig, door prizes and silent and live auctions. Items up for bid include rounds of golf, adventure tours, entrance to local attractions, overnight stays, gift cards to restaurants and retail stores, artwork, gift baskets, flower arrangements and more.
No-host cocktails will be served at 5 p.m. with dinner at 6. The buffet will feature three entrees — prime rib, furikake salmon and shrimp scampi over fettuccine — as well as salad, side dishes and dessert.
This fundraiser provides a significant portion of the funds Ku‘ikahi needs to provide free and low-cost dispute prevention and resolution services to the East Hawaii community. More than half of Ku‘ikahi’s mediation clients live at or below the poverty level and are unable to pay even modest fees for their mediation sessions.
“Our mission is to empower people to come together — to talk and to listen, to explore options and to find their own best solutions,” Melrose said. “Ku‘ikahi means a treaty, covenant, agreement, feeling of unity, peace, reconciliation.”
Tickets for the dinner are $90 per person (of which $45 is tax deductible) and are available from Ku‘ikahi’s board of directors, Ku‘ikahi’s office in the Hilo Lagoon Centre at 101 Aupuni St., Suite PH 1014 B-2, and Day-Lum Rentals at 2 Kamehameha Ave.
To reserve tickets or tables, donate to the auction or become a platinum, gold or silver sponsor, contact Jenifer Aveiro at 935-7844, ext. 1, or jenifer@hawaiimediation.org.
