Three City and County of Honolulu employees, Tofi Mika Jr., Yvette Lee, and John Cummings III, came up big in organizing and participating in the three-day, 135-mile Walk Across Oahu for disabled war veterans and wounded warriors in November.

The three-person team started their walk on November 8th at Yokohama Bay and finished on Veterans Day, November 11th at the Oahu Veterans Center. Tofi, the team's leader, had wanted to do something to honor his childhood friend, Sgt. Sualauvi "Malua" Tuimalealiifano, after hearing that he had been paralyzed when he was thrown off his Army Humvee during a battle with the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2007. Tofi was even more humbled after hearing that Malua had gotten right back into serving by reaching out to and counseling disabled war veterans upon his return to Hawai'i. Sgt. Tuimalealiifano lives in Kapolei with his wife and three children.

Senator Mike Gabbard and some of his colleagues were able to join the Walk Across Oahu Team and Sgt. Tuimalealiifano at an event on Veterans Day at the State Capitol. At the ceremony, Senator Gabbard and other legislators presented the team with an honorary certificate from the state legislature.

In presenting the certificate, Gabbard said, "The legislature honors and commends the Walk Across Oahu Team: Tofi, Yvette, and John. Your efforts-along with the blood, sweat, and tears you shed along the 135-mile walk-to raise awareness and much needed funds for disabled war veterans set an exceptional example for all of us to follow. Along with our sincere gratitude to Sgt. Tuimalealiifano for his sacrifice and service to our country, we wish to say mahalo lui loa to the Walk Across Oahu Team for their journey."

During the ceremony, representatives from Watts Constructors made a surprise announcement that they were donating a $10,000 check and the $178,000 worth of needed renovations for Sgt. Tuimalealiifano's Kapolei home. This was a touching conclusion to the Walk Across Oahu.

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written by frank10001, Friday, Dec 11, 2009 @ 11:05 AM

Awesome work!

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