MidWeek West - Dec 15, 2021

FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 15, 2021
RIDE THE WAVE
O‘ahu’s own John John Florence is crowned king of another surf contest. SEE PAGE 3
SEA CHANGE
Jenna Morris writes a letter sharing information about a new dolphin law. SEE PAGE 4
A PUBLICATION OF
AN EDITION OF
Spread Holiday TCheer To Veterans
BY WEST O‘AHU VOICE STAFF
FILLING THE RED KETTLE
The Salvation Army Kroc Center Hawai‘i held its inaugural Red Kettle Virtual Event Dec. 3 and the event’s top sponsor, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan Hawai‘i, donated $5,000 to help kick it off. In total, the ‘Ewa Beach facility raised nearly $17,000. PHOTO COURTESY UNITEDHEALTHCARE COMMUNITY PLAN HAWAI‘I
here are still a few days left to contrib- ute to U.S.VETS–Hawai‘i’s Gifts of Aloha program, which hands out holi-
day presents to homeless veterans and families living in West O‘ahu.
How it works is simple: The giftee fills out an application, which, along with background information, is made public on the nonprof- it’s website for donors to peruse, then choose which gift they’d like to sponsor and drop off at U.S.VETS–Hawai‘i’s Kapolei or Wai‘anae location before Dec. 18. This year, the organi- zation hopes to fulfill 200 wishes with the help of the community.
“With so many of our residents arriving with nothing but the clothes on their back, we hope to bring a little holiday cheer with these gifts from our community,” states Greg Williams, executive director of U.S.VETS–Barber’s Point.
Requested items include video games, ten- nis shoes, toys, surf shorts, an iPad, yoga mat, snorkel mask, writing journal and more.
Visit usvets.org/events/gifts-of-aloha.
small car. big news.
MINI of Hawaii is coming to Kapolei this November.
VISIT MINIKAPOLEI.COM