Hot Shots – 12/9/15

HFWF Nourishes Local Nonprofits

Hawaii Food & Wine Festival (HFWF) donated a total of $350,000 to 16 local nonprofi t organizations last month at Neiman Marcus’s Mariposa restaurant. The funds will help the benefi ciaries support food sustainability, and cultural and educational programs. Pictured are George Szigeti, Sean Dee and Rick Fried of Hawaii Tourism Authority; Sharon Brown of First Hawaiian Bank; executive director of HFWF Denise Yamaguchi with benefi ciaries Hiilei Kawelo of Paepae o He‘eia and team; Kanekoa Schultz, Kako‘o ‘Oiwi and Dave Evans of Kapi‘olani Community College (KCC) Hospitality and Tourism Program; John Kaneko of Hawaii Seafood Council with team; Ron Takahashi of KCC Culinary Program; Cindy Adams of Aloha United Way with team; Dean Wong of Imua Family Services, Linda Santos of Honolulu Zoo, Warren Watanabe of Maui County Farm Bureau, Matthew Kapaliku Schirman of Papahana Kuaola, Kelvin Ro of Culinary Institute of the Pacifi c, Dean Okimoto of Hawaii Agricultural Foundation, Brian Miyamoto of Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Don Maruyama of Leeward Community College Culinary Program. PHOTO FROM TRAVIS OKIMOTO, HFWF

First CAT Steps Up To Improve Stadium

First Insurance Company of Hawaii’s (FICOH) First Communication Action Team (First CAT) members donated their time to help refurbish Les Murakami Baseball Stadium at University of Hawaii at Manoa. Pictured are First CAT volunteers (front, from left) Brian Uchima, Emilee and Francine Wong, Genelle Jucutan-Puga, Ramon Ilustre, Jason Ishihara, Joel Luu, (back) Sasha Taketa, Jason Nagamine, Brent Abe, Keith Taketa, Jody Martin, Jeff Grimmer, Stephanie Tokuhama, Willow Takeuchi (hidden), James Balsai, and Charissa, Sadie and Gary Takaki.