A Century of Champions | Gala Celebration | Shriners Children's Hawai'i

Mahalo for Joining Us!

On Saturday, September 16th, Shriners Children’s Hawaiʻi commemorated 100 years of serving the pediatric orthopedic needs of keiki during our “A Century of Champions” Gala. The unforgettable evening featured an inspirational program with our patient ambassadors, a heartfelt message from the family of our very first patient, special remarks from our Honorary Event Chair, First Lady Jamie Kanani Green, and live entertainment from Na Hoku Hanohano award winning group, Na Leo Pilimehana.

For the past century, our keiki and families have trusted us to deliver compassionate and patient-centered care. We want to extend a HEARTFELT MAHALO to our community supporters for allowing us the privilege of helping keiki live their best lives, regardless of their families’ insurance status or ability to pay.

Shriners Children’s Hawaiʻi Centennial Video

Mahalo to Our Sponsors

King David Kalakaua Legacy Sponsors

Duke Kahanamoku Visionary Sponsors

Life-Changing Benefactors

Centennial Champions

Family of Scott Waracka and Ko’olau Lodge

International Association of Shrine Yacht Club

Special Mahalo to Our Amazing Event Chairs

Honorary Event Chair

First Lady Jaime Kanani Green

Jaime’s Bio

First Lady Jaime Kanani Green Biography

First Lady Jaime Kanani Green was born and raised on Oʻahu in Kāne‘ohe. After graduating from ʻIolani School, she received her bachelor’s degree from Brown University. She returned home and obtained her law degree from the University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law. After practicing Family Law, she decided to focus on child advocacy through policy and nonprofit work.

The First Lady worked as a program coordinator for Project Visitation, which provides special events and monthly visits for siblings separated in the foster care system; as a Human Services Committee Clerk in the Hawaiʻi State Senate; and served as a volunteer guardian ad litem for the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary. Since having children, she has focused on her ‘ohana, supporting the endeavors of her husband, and advocating for local families, disadvantaged youth, and people in need.

“As First Lady, I’m excited to continue my advocacy work for Hawai‘i’s children and families. Whether it is spreading awareness, supporting food banks, or advancing childhood literacy, I am ready to serve. I am also looking forward to assisting in the development of a Native Hawaiian Cultural Center to provide a gathering space for educational opportunities and support traditional Hawaiian culture and arts.”

Co-Event Chairs

Melody Fukushima

Melody’s Bio

Melody Fukushima Biography

Melody Fukushima is an Executive Search Consultant with Inkinen Executive Search in downtown Honolulu. She earned her Bachelors in Business Administration from the University of Northern Colorado with an emphasis in sales & marketing and speech communication. She is a proud wife to her husband Gene and mother to their two boys, Max (age 13) and Zak (age 8).

Having a passion for people and helping them find their calling is what Melody refers to as “Aces in their Places”. With 25 years of human resources management experience, Melody brings an enthusiasm for recruiting throughout all islands in Hawai’i.

Prior to joining Inkinen 8 years ago, Melody served as the Director of Human Resources for Roberts Hawaii, Inc. and TeamPraxis, LLC. She also worked for Target Stores as an Executive Team Relations Leader in Boulder, Colorado.

When she’s not meeting with clients and prospective candidates, Melody loves watching her two boys play baseball and supporting their school’s parent organizations. She currently serves as the President of the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) at Holy Nativity School and is a Board Member of the Parent Faculty Association (PFA) at Punahou School.

The Fukushimas came to know and fall in love with Shriners Children’s when their son Zak received specialized dental care at 5 years old. The attentive care and earnest concern shared by the physicians, nurses and administrative staff went beyond their expectations, and the family wishes to thank them for their extraordinary love and support.

Kristie Kutaka

Kristie’s Bio

Kristie Kutaka Biography

Kristie Kutaka and her husband Micah have three children, Lexie (age 16), Reef (age 13) and Dash (age 9). She is a graduate of Iolani School, received her Bachelors in Business Administration from the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa, and earned her Juris Doctor degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law.

Kristie is a practicing attorney with the law firm Goodsill, Anderson, Quinn, & Stifel, LLP, a member of the Hawaiʻi State Bar Association and a Fellow with the Hawaiʻi State Bar Association’s Leadership Institute. She was an annual guest speaker for the Hawaiʻi Judicial Education and Resource Development Program and a Barrister with the James S. Burns Aloha Chapter, American Inns of Court IV.

In addition to Kristie’s legal practice, she is actively involved in the soccer community. Kristie also served as the Iolani Class of 2025’s “ʻOhana” parent representative. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach with her family, watching Lexie’s cheer performances, and going to Reef and Dash’s soccer and basketball games.

Kristie’s two older children, Lexie and Reef, became patients at Shriners Children’s Hawaiʻi back in the summer of 2018. Lexie was treated for scoliosis and for various athletic injuries, while Reef was treated for multiple sports injuries. Because of Lexie’s desire to help other children with scoliosis, she became a Shriners Patient Ambassador in 2020 and presented at two Shriners scoliosis conferences. She was also featured in Shriners Children’s national “Watch Me” commercial called “Spirit”.

The Kutakas absolutely love the team at Shriners Children’s, including the doctors, nurses, physical therapists, x-ray technicians, prosthetists and orthotists. The family is extremely grateful for the exceptional care that Shriners has provided over the years.

Event Emcee Host

Cynthia Yip

News Anchor Reporter
KITV4 Good Morning Hawaii

Guest Performance

Na Leo Pilimehana

Learn More

Na Leo Pilimehana

NA LEO PILIMEHANA, which in Hawaiian means the “voices blending together in warmth”, is the most award-winning and biggest selling female Hawaiian group in the world. Na Leo consists of three childhood friends, Nalani Jenkins, Lehua Kalima Alvarez and Angela Morales-Escontria. These three Hawaiian women run their own record label; compose, record and perform music; they do volunteer work; play sports and they’re moms. They are real women with real lives sticking close to their ideals and putting their friendship first. All three shared a love of music and became members of the concert glee club. They had their first hit as seniors in high school when they entered Hawaii’s talent contest, “Brown Bags to Stardom” in 1984 with their original song, “Local Boys.” The 45 single became the biggest selling single in Hawaii history.

Over their career they started their own record label, signed with Sony Music Japan in 1996, released 24 CDs, won 23 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, have been on the Casey Casem top 20 radio charts nationally with Poetry Man and The Rest of Your Life, and made music that’s become part of our lives. They are the biggest selling female Hawaiian band in the world, and continue to perform to sold out crowds in Japan, Hawaii, and the US.