The Official Magazine of the Hui `O Na Wahine

Hui Lei
The Official Magazine of the Hui `O Na Wahine
Sharing the Aloha Spirit
May 2015
2014-2015 Hui `O Na Wahine
Executive Board
President: Shawna Hall
1st Vice President: Michelle Jimenez
2nd Vice President: Lexly Bledose
Treasurer: Wendy Wright
Secretary: Maura Gondeck
Parliamentarian:
Kat Fresh
Governing Board
Activities/Hospitality: Sarah Nord
Advertising:
Vacant
Community Outreach Liaison: Kathy Fox
Decorations: Jessica Dean
Historian: Dierdre Cornish
Hui Lei Editor: Chantay Burleson
Membership: Natalia Bryan
Property: SARAH EYEMAN
Publicity: Katherine Collins
Reservations: Traci LaRosa
Scholarship: Laura Musico
Social Media: Robin Atwell
Vendors: Vacant
Ways and Means:
Vacant
Welfare: Tammie Droppleman
Honary Advisor: Kathy Brown
We all wear so many hats, and I love the complexity of the relationships formed through this club for that very reason. Prior to moving to Hawaii, I was a teacher. I
was also a wife who took care of two amazing boxers, but I was a teacher first and foremost. My students came first in my life, and I was consumed by my responsibilities to
them and the school I represented. Then I was here, and I was no longer a teacher. When I met new people, I would fumble a little during the polite speak of introductions,
because I did not know what to say. I knew nothing about the military, yet everyone I met seemed to be an expert. It was extremely overwhelming and a little embarrassing.
Then I met a Hui member, and became part of the spouses club. I had something to do! I met a chef, a real estate agent, a mother of 3, and a college student. Through them I
met a personal trainer who introduced me to a group of women who loved to hike and explore. I signed up for an XTERRA triathlon, and I trained hard and met people who
were also into racing and training hard. I became the vendor chair for the Hui, and met a new group of women who served on the board. It was incredible. They volunteered
their time to serve the military community; something I knew nothing about. It was just the beginning.
In an unexpected turn of events, I became the President of the spouses club. I went to all the groups of people I had met, and asked them to join the board. We had a lot of
mothers, college students, and adventure seekers on the board, along with nurses, teachers, an actress, a doctor, a retired Lieutenant Colonel, cat lovers, dog lovers, and
ridiculously fabulous women all around! Planning events with this large group of unique and complex women was an experience I would not trade for anything in the world. It
was not always fun, but it was always fascinating. Our board worked together for this community, for the women who had an identity crisis upon losing their careers, for the
spouses who wanted to be involved in giving back to their community, for the people who just needed something to do, and most importantly, for the scholarship and welfare
recipients who benefited from the success of our Thrift Shop.
The military community creates an environment conducive to unique relationships, and I feel blessed to have experienced the love and support of the Hui ‘O Na Wahine this
year. Now I am a teacher, a wife, the caretaker to two German Shepherds, a friend to a large group of ridiculously fabulous women, a triathlon competitor, and a veteran
President of the Hui ‘O Na Wahine. I look forward to adding new hats to my title as we PCS to Georgia, and I jump back into the world of college student. I wish you all the best
on your journey in this life we are so fortunate to experience. Nowhere else can a teacher, a nurse, a mother, an actress, a dog lover, and a retired Lieutenant Colonel lunch
together while playing silly games and accepting each other for all their hats, because regardless of our differences, we are all military spouses. And that hat makes us
family.
I love you all, and I will cherish these memories for a lifetime.
~Shawna Hall
I can’t believe that we are now approaching our last monthly luncheon. I hope that you all have enjoyed this Hui year as much as I have. Our
outreach for the luncheon will be the Back to School Brigade program sponsored by Operation Homefront. This will be our third year to participate in
this awesome program. The Back to School Brigade program is a perfect example of what we can do when we all band together to look out for one
another. It can be super expensive to buy those supplies; so many families can’t do it, especially those that have multiple children. Let us come
together one last time to assist our military families that are experiencing financial hardships and give them one less worry on their mind. Programs
like these offer us a chance to show we remember and care four our military families. The list of items needed are in this edition of the Lei, don’t
forget to check it out.
~Michelle Jimenez
I am so sad that we are rapidly nearing the end of our Hui year. With one luncheon left on the schedule, I want to take a moment to say thank you to all of our Hui members
and to my fellow board members. Thank you to the membership for your attendance this year and for your confidence in me to put together a year full of luncheon activities.
And thank you to all of my fellow board members who made my job easy and fun! I appreciate your guidance and support this year as I took on this enormous challenge,
stepping into a position I had never even considered. A special thanks to Kat Fresh for having my back this year and providing me with much needed guidance and understanding about spouses clubs and military life with your usual spunk and positivity!
I want to give special acknowledgement to our president, Shawna Hall, for her perseverance, leadership, and guidance this year. I know this year has had more than its fair
share of challenges, but you managed to wade through the mess and still provide the leadership we needed to maintain our beloved club. Thank you for your leadership and
friendship!
I hope you will all join us for our very last 2014-2015 Hui Luncheon as we introduce our incoming Executive Board and celebrate this past year. Remember to wear your Hui
jersey or any football jersey you may have lying around!
Aloha
~Lexly
New Adventures
As I was watching the Dancing with the Stars 10 year Anniversary special, I was a bit embarrassed about how emotional
I was getting. But, as the many celebrities spoke about how much fun they had and what a life changing experience it was, I
could not help but think that we as Military Spouses have a similar experience every time we PCS. Each new duty station offers an opportunity to explore a whole new world. I know that once upon a time it was a terrifying prospect to move away
from what we were familiar with, and it still probably is a bit scary to move to a new place. However, now with Travel Channel
and Google, we can learn a lot about the places we are being sent in advance and make a list of things to try. It is amazing
how different, yet similar cities across America can be, and I have loved learning about the ones where we have lived.
In addition to the new places we get to go and explore, a PCS move offers a chance to meet new friends and sometimes
reunite with old friends. I believe that is one of the best gifts we can take from the Military life; a group of friends that have
similar experiences and can share and understand things we are going through or have been through.
So, as the summer approaches I encourage you to go out to explore and have a great time learning about the world
around you. And then, whether you have PCSed or still live here, join the Spouses Club where you are stationed. Share with
them all you have learned and make some more great friends.
~
Kat Fresh
Hui O’ Na Wahine
Available 2015-2016 General Board Positions
Advertising:
Our advertising chair helps solicit advertisements for our monthly newsletter and promotes special events for the club around post and in the community.
Publicity:
We need someone to help create and publish our announcements for our events through all suitable media, including but not limited to Hawaii Army Weekly, Thrift Store, Channel 2,
Hui website, and finally through flyers and banners.
Decorations:
If you have an eye for decorating and are thrifty with a small budget, this job is for you! You will have the opportunity to create themes and decorate the Nehelani for our luncheons and
Beaux Arts Ball, as well as help with decorations for Christmas at the Fisher House and our annual Christmas Card placed on post.
Social Media:
If you love Facebook and enjoy playing with website design, this job is for you. Our social media chair manages our Facebook page and keeps our website up to date. You do not need to
be a computer programmer, because we have a website service that makes our website management easy.
Vendors:
If you love hanging out with awesome women and getting a heads up on great products, this is for you. Our vendor chair works with vendors to assist with getting their permit to work
on post, maintains table reservations for luncheons and events, and procures opportunity prizes.
Community:
This person is the heart of our club. If you want to participate in helping organize the charity work we accomplish each year, we need you on our board. Our community outreach chair
communicates with our monthly outreach organizations, organizes the requested items for donations, and assists with our outreach events.
Ways and
Means:
We need someone with a vision to help purchase ways and means items and Hui Logo items that
can be sold for profit to help contribute to the operating funds for the Hui.
Available 2015-2016 Executive Board Positions
Fist Vice President:
The First Vice President serves on all committees as a voting member, coordinates the Super Sign Up, performs additional duties as assigned by the President, and performs
duties of the President in their absence.
Second Vice President:
The Second Vice President coordinates, plans, and arranges all of the luncheons, so you get to have all the funJ
If you are interested in a position or have ANY questions email: [email protected]
Please Type Board Positions in subject line
Community Outreach
Aloha Members,
Our Community Outreach for the May luncheon will be “Back to School Brigade”( Sponsored By Operation Homefront). This program collects school supplies for military children, with a distribution event held
shortly before schools begin.
~Kathy Fox
Requested Items:
Folders
Composition books
8 pack pencils
Erasers (2 per pack)
Glue sticks (2 per pack)
Highlighters (2 per pack)
Markers
Colored pencils
Lined notebook paper
Rulers
Scissors
Pencil cases
Backpacks
8 or 10 pack blue or black ink pens
2 pack tissues
Red pens
Binders
Extra items which may be used as possible prizes at their giveaway:
Geometry sets
Protractors
Scientific calculators
USB drives
Binder dividers
Mechanical pencils
Expo markers
2014-2015 Hui ‘O Na Wahine Scholarship Recipients
Graduating High School Seniors
Kelsey Asbery
Maxwell Mulbury
Sarah Ferguson
Sydney Droppleman
Continuing Education Students
Lexly Bledsoe
Austin Gillum
Michael McCaffery
Taylor Danner
Keisha Walker
2014-2015 Hui ‘O Na Wahine Welfare Grant Award Recipients
Private Organizations
Schools
Armed Services YMCA – Wheeler
Ballet Hawaii
BSA Troop 24
Hale Kula Elementary School
BSA Troop 176
Ho’ala School
Cub Scout Pack 166
Cub Scout Pack 172
Leilehua High School
Cub Scout Pack 176
Mililani High School Music Boosters
Dogs on Deployment
Mililani High School SPADA
Family Programs Hawaii
Hawaii Fi-Do
St. Michael School
KoleKole Girl Scouts
Waianae High School JROTC
Monk Seal Foundation
Wheeler Elementary School
Monk Seal Foundation – Education Group
Schofield Football Association
Schofield Sharks Swim Club
Semper Fi America’s Fund
Teach for America Hawaii
USO Hawaii
Waialua Pop Warner
Camp H.R. Erdman
Wheeler Middle School
The Adventure Club had some
excellent adventures this
month. They hiked the Waianae
Pillboxes, and enjoyed a
kayaking trip to the Mokulua
Islands.
The Adventure Club
Broke da Mouth April Excursion
Sweet Home Waimanalo
Every now and again someone in this wonderful group gets a wild hair. The April wild hair was, “hey….we have time for a short hike before we have
lunch.” And, actually, we did have the time. A few of us hiked up to the Lanikai Pillboxes, snapped a couple of photos, and headed over to Sweet Home
Waimanalo. This little roadside establishment has been on my list for a hot minute. Thank you, Traci for making the recommendation. This trip did not
disappoint.
The restaurant is located on the windward side, and its website boasts that they are “makin’ some tasty, healthy changes toward more enriching local
living.”
The owners live on a farm and love to work with youth, the community, and local businesses. They continue to make improvements to be even more
self-sufficient by planting more trees for their fabulous smoothies, as well as vegies for their salads and other menu items.
There are covered tables, as well as tables in the sun right outside the restaurant. It can get a little busy during the lunch rush, so bring plenty of
aloha with you.
Our group was all over the menu. We wet our whistles with the Local Kale Smoothie, Hibiscus Mint Iced Tea, and Waimanalo Plantation Iced Tea. All
were quite refreshing.
Lunch consisted of the Salmon Burger, Curry Chicken Salad Wrap, Tofu Black Bean Burger, Vegie Chili Burrito, and Waimanalo Portobello Mushroom.
The Bok Choy Slaw was quite impressive as well.
But I think one of the most impressive things at the restaurant had to be the bathroom. Everyone that went inside commented on how lovely the tile
was, and what a home feeling there was…..in the bathroom? Of course, I had to check it out…that is just what I do. And I did think it was pretty sweet. So if
you are heading to Bellows, be sure to stop by, and not just for the bathroom!
Please joins us May 14th for our last hoorah: Tea at 1024. RSVPs are required.
And remember, friends don’t let friends try new places alone. They can roll us all out the door together!
~Kathy Fox
Sweet Home Waimanalo
Happy Birthday!
Beth Gonzalez
May3
Sherry Howard
May 5
Brittany Thomas
May 5
Kelsey Budge
May 11
Jenn Fagnan
May 12
Jeri Duncan
May 15
Mary Rice
May 17
Robin Atwell
May 24
Luly Allen
May 27
Sarah Eyman
May 28
Michelle Frondorf
May 30