NEWS RELEASE
December 4, 2018 Contact Information: Heather Pruim
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Phone: 555-574-6465
Email: pruimhm@dukes.jmu.edu
HUMAHUMANUKANUKAAPUAA TACKLES HOMELESSNESS
HONOLULU – The Honolulu Humahumanukanukaapuaa’s mascot, Reefy will be signing books and taking pictures with fans at Aloha Stadium to promote the team’s new children’s book on Dec. 15, from 11 a.m. — 3 p.m. Admission is free to all those who bring non-perishable food goods to be donated to HumaHumaHumanitarians.
“Statewide, 12-15,000 people are homeless at some point in the year,” cites the non-profit, Hope Services for Hawaii. This social issue particularly hits the adolescent generation and impacts their development into adulthood. According to a University of Hawaii study from April 2018, youth between the ages of 12 and 17 are at the highest risk of becoming homeless.
“The issue of poverty and homelessness is hidden in our Hawaiian paradise. Couch surfing doesn’t do justice to our value of ho’okipa, hospitality” says Honolulu mayor, Kirk Caldwell, “the new children’s book from the local SCOM Fantasy Classic League team aims to shed light on this social issue from the lens of Reefy the mascot in his interaction with effected youth.”
“Storytelling engages children while educating them” says pediatrician, William Kilby, MD. “Introduction to difficult topics can be softened through nonhuman characters and may serve as a platform for deeper discussion.” Reefy the mascot is a friend of HumaHuma fans and encourages open dialogue about the importance of Hawaiian hospitality through his encounter with homeless youth in the storybook.
Defensive end, Calais Campbell is a prime display of HumaHuma’s ho’okipa for he has grown strong after living in a homeless shelter for six months while a junior in high school. “I was very embarrassed about it, but at the end of the day I shouldn’t be because it’s a part of my life that really added a lot of character to me.” He has overcome the odds that Reefy encounters in the new children’s book.
The Humahumanukanukaapuaa are hosting this special food drive to benefit their team-sponsored soup kitchen, HumaHumaHumanitarians. All proceeds from books sold during the event at Aloha Stadium will directly support special holiday events to serve the homeless community.
About Honolulu Humahumanukanukaapuaa
Humuhumunukunukuapuaa is part of the SCOM Fantasy Classic League. The team strives to serve fans, develop premiere athletes, and give back to their home city of Honolulu.
# # #