Over 400 people joined this year’s Honolulu AIDS Walk, which returned to Kapi῾olani Park on the morning of June 25. The theme of this year’s walk was “And the Walk Continues…,” honoring the long rich history of the Honolulu AIDS Walk while looking to a future where HIV elimination becomes a possibility. KITV and Hawai῾i News Now ran stories on the return of the in-person walk.
“We had great success with our virtual events in 2020 and 2021 but gathering in public is an important way to strengthen community ties and visibly support those living with HIV,” said HHHRC Community Relations Manager Andrew Ogata. In the week leading up to the walk, Ogata appeared on KHON2’s “Living 808” and “Wake Up 2Day” programs.
Honored guests included state Rep. Adrian Tam, Hawai῾i’s only openly gay legislator who serves as the Co-Chair of the legislature’s Equality Caucus. “I was proud to join this event and will continue to work on ensuring that all members of our state’s LGBTQ+ community have access to needed care and support,” he said. Rep. Tam also serves on HHHRC’s Board of Directors. Other guests included Lt. Gov. Josh Green, Rep. Sylvia Luke, U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele, and Life Foundation founder Dr. David McEwan.
The current tally on the official 2022 Honolulu AIDS Walk page stands at $118,397. Top individual fundraisers were Robin Pacson of Team Wang Chung’s, Jared Smith, HHHRC’s Tina Oh, and former HHHRC Board President Nick Aiello. Top team fundraisers were Wang Chung’s, Kaimana Beach Hotel, HHHRC team “Hustlin’ for Life,” HHHRC Board & Friends, and Kaiser Permanente (Additional donations through that page are still very much appreciated!)
The “Bid for Life” online silent auction, which ran through June 30, exceeded its goal of $7,000 by just under $2,000! Items included multi-night packages from Kaimana Beach Hotel and Embassy Suites Waikīkī, items from Tiffany & Co., a guitar signed by country music star Luke Bryan, and gift cards from Ruby Tuesday, McDonald’s, and Hula’s Bar & Lei Stand.
Mahalo nui loa to all of our sponsors, participants, donors, and bidders!
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