Mufi Teams up with NFL Stars to Fight Hunger

Rally on Big Island Supports Hawaii Island Food Basket

On President's Day, Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann and several NFL stars, including Deuce Letui (Arizona Cardinals), Vince Manuwai (Jacksonville Jaguars), Chris Kemoeatu (Pittsburgh Steelers), and Naufahu Tahi (Minnesota Vikings), sponsored a rally to benefit the Hawaii Island Food Basket. 

Several hundred Hawaii Island residents attended the "family day" event at Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium.  Free admission came with complimentary chili & rice bowl.  Between 500 and 700 pounds of food were donated.

Food donation contest winners were:

     Adult
     1st place - Darren Astrande, 85lbs
     2nd place - Laura Balberde, 12.7 lbs
     3rd place - America Padascao, 10.8 lbs
 
     Children
     1st Place - Onipa'a Matsuda 5yrs old, 143 lbs
     2nd Place - Jason Johnson 12 yrs old, 103.4 lbs
     3rd Place - Austin Stroh-Akina 13 yrs old, 67.3 lbs

All contest winners received an autographed football signed by Mayor Hannemann and the NFL players.  The event included several prize giveaways, including an autographed 2009 AFC championship ball valued at over $2000.  The grand prize winner was Hilary Gomes. Live entertainment by "Adobo Nation," a band made up of five local teens.
 
Mayor Hannemann noticed a recurring theme in all the stories told by the NFL players: "While they all came from tough backgrounds, they set high goals early in life.  They all worked hard and had tremendous family support to reach the highest levels of success."  Hannemann impressed upon the families in the audience of "the importance of goal setting and families working together to lift themselves up."