60 years of fighting cancer

 
ACS HONORS CANCER FIGHTERS: James K. Schuler, left, Indru Watamull, LeBurta Atherton and Dr. Reginald C.S. Ho were honored Friday for their contributions in the fight against cancer in Hawaii as the American Cancer Society Hawaii-Pacific Division presented "A Celebration Dinner Commemorating 60 Years of Fighting Cancer in Hawai'i" in the Monarch Room at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Atherton has been a supporter of the war against cancer since the founding of the original Hawaii Cancer Society in 1948, Ho's involvement dates to 1964, Watamull led the campaign to acquire the organization's new headquarters and Schuler heads the "Boots on the Beach" fundraiser.

 
Hoku Award winners Walt Keale, left, and Kawika Kahiapo provided cocktail-hour entertainment on the hotel lawn. Traffic into Waikiki was gridlocked, so the duo played until sunset to give dinner guests more time to arrive.

 
Dinner committee member Donalyn Dela Cruz chatted with Christopher Pablo, left, and Dr. Michele Carbone. Pablo's invocation revealed the reason why there was a fork in each table setting to take home as a memento. Carbone, the evening's keynote speaker, explained how his continuing research project in a Turkish village could help reduce deaths from asbestos-related cancer in Hawaii.

 
Jake Shimabukuro was joined by the Super Campers, youthful survivors of childhood cancer, for a show-closing rendition of "Over the Rainbow." The ACS-Hawaii Pacific Division operates two annual camping programs, Camp Anuenue for children with cancer and Ho'oulu Me Ka Ikaika for teens and young adults. Shimabukuro was introduced to the program as a volunteer at Camp Anuenue. "Anuenue" translates as "rainbow," making the song a perfect choice.

 
Audrey Ing, left, her husband, Dr. Malcolm Ing, and Randy Linduff shared their impressions of the event with Dinner Advisory Committee Chairwoman Sharon McPhee. The consensus was that everything went well except for traffic problems, the Monarch Room was a perfect venue and the souvenir fork made a nice memento.