August Makana Pono

Annie is hoping that her donation will help Project Hawaii provide continued services to youth experiencing homelessness. ”I’ve always had a special place in my heart for keiki, and this chronic societal issue of homelessness is creeping into our state,” explained Annie.

Project Hawaii works to help children break the cycle of poverty and enhance their lives by providing year-round supportive services. These services help children to build self-esteem and learn proper life and social skills to succeed. The organization also tries to provide a sense of stability through holiday events, school support, educational training, and monthly outreach. These essential services and outreach programs reach more than 1,600 homeless children throughout the year.

Annie has been a CNA with Islands Hospice for 5 years, working closely with nurses, social workers, chaplains, and clinical supervisors to educate families and provide personal care to patients. As a member of her church’s benevolence program, Annie always tries to be compassionate towards the struggles of others. Her simple reminder is that helping others is a gift for yourself. She explained, “Doing good deeds, no matter how small, makes you feel better, too.”