Maui Economic Opportunity’s Hana Branch has been busy transporting East Maui residents to the Festivals of Aloha activities and joining in the parade over the weekend.
MEO Hana Director Kane Kanaka‘ole offered a ho‘okupu to the royal court Saturday as a participant in the parade. Grand Marshal Jonathan Tolentino, motorcycles, pa‘u riders, floats, vintage cars – and MEO’s three Hana buses with kupuna aboard – rolled through town.
The parade was followed by a Ho‘olaulea with music, Cirque Jolie stilt walking and balloon twisting, Zenshin Daiko and a cultural craft fair.
Those buses, P166, P167 and M21, were pressed into duty to transport residents to the festivities. They will be on the road again Thursday, Friday and Saturday for more Festivals of Aloha events.
For more information, call the Hana office at (808) 249-8282.
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*About Maui Economic Opportunity*
Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc., is a nonprofit agency that’s part of the national Community Action Partnership network, whose goal is to help low income individuals and families and disenfranchised people help themselves and transform their lives. Chartered in 1965, MEO offers more than 40 programs that assist low income people, kupuna, youths, persons with disabilities, immigrants and other disenfranchised individuals countywide. MEO runs the Human Services specialized transportation program for health and dialysis appointments, after-school and youth sports activities and more; and the Maui Bus paratransit system; Head Start preschools and Kahi Kamali‘i Infant Care Center; as well as programs that offer kupuna socialization and information; rent, mortgage and utility assistance; Spanish interpretation and translation; entrepreneurial and financial classes and support, including microloans; inmate reintegration into the community after release; youth drinking, drug, smoking, bullying and suicide prevention; and employment training and placement. For more information about the entire array of programs, visit meoinc.org or call (808) 249-2990.
MEO Hana Director Kane Kanaka‘ole offered a ho‘okupu to the royal court Saturday. All parade organizations and individuals offer a ho‘okupu.
Kupuna rode in MEO buses joining the Festivals of Aloha Parade through town.
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Shown is the MEO Hana team: (from left) Shanrae Ng, Lei Park, Earle “Tuks” Medeiros and Branch Manager Kane Kanaka‘ole.
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MEO buses were busy transporting Hana residents to Festivals of Aloha events over the past weekend. MEO buses will be supporting the Festivals of Aloha events this week as well.
