Dear Friends, My name is Elizabeth Mahoe, Director of Mission Advancement for Best Buddies in Hawai’i. I have served as staff and part of this organization since 2012. I welcome you all to the 2026 Best Buddies Champion of the Year Gala - Friendship Jam. The foundation of Best Buddies is to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This year we sought out people in our community and programs that would commit to raising funds and awareness for Best Buddies throughout their 10 week campaign. Our Champions advocated for the Best Buddies mission and generated countless opportunities for friendships, jobs, and leadership development. With their countless hours and devotion to our mission, please join me in celebration as we honor the Champions’ collective impact and name the ultimate Champion of the Year! We hope you enjoy the great food, live entertainment, and a mission moment story that will share the incredible impact of inclusion, friendship, and belonging.
Thank You To Our Sponsors!
Debra Ebling Signature Sponsor - $2,500, Julie Anderson (Bayada) Signature Sponsor - $2,500 Brett Arizumi (Hawaii Protective Association) Signature Sponsor - $2,500 Janet Hong (Matson) Platinum+ Sponsor - $1,500 (HI COM, LLC) Platinum Sponsor - $1000 Amy Higa (PAR Hawai’i/HELE) Platinum Sponsor - $1000 Debra Ebling Silver Sponsor - $500 (PBS - Positive Behavior Supports Corp)
Bid From the Heart The Value of Your Donation Supports Best Buddies helps form meaningful friendships, secure successful jobs, live independently, improve public speaking, self-advocacy and communications skills, all while feeling valued by society.
$1,000 • The cost to send a Buddy to the Leadership Conference (Airfare) • A tent at the walk • DJ or photo booth for a statewide Best Buddies event $500 • A Chapter Kit for school friendship chapter • Registration for a buddy to attend the Leadership Conference • Support 10 students to receive Friendship Walk 2026 shirt $250 • Citizens/Ambassador bowling party • The cost of a pizza party for a school chapter • The cost of buying t-shirts for a school chapter $100 • The cost to send materials for chapter recruitment • The cost to host a matching party • The cost of host an in-person Ambassador Training for public speaking
2025 Champion of the Year
Kristina Saif 2025 Grand Champion of the Year, Kristina Saif is passionate about Best Buddies. She says that this organization is important because it breaks societies sterotypes about people with disabilities and gives all of us a place to sparkle and shine. Kristina looks to make a comeback and compete once again to keep her crown. She is a member of the Citizens ‘Oahu chapter, recent graduate of Cohort 1 of Ambassador Academy and now an active Ambassador who is sharing her story as a person with special abilities in the community and at Best Buddies events. She recently attended the Best Buddies Leadership Conference in Indiana on the LIFE track which explores job readiness and career building. She wishes everyone luck on their campaign and encourages everyone to give from the heart to Best Buddies!
2026 Champion Candidates Best Buddies High School Advisor Supporter since 2014
Mike Bearis
Best Buddies State Ambassador, Citizens Participant Supporter since 2009 Kristina Saif
Best Buddies State Ambassador, Citizens Participant Supporter since 2023
Seijin Depuy
2026 Mission Partner/ Campaign Managers Best Buddies High School Advisor Supporter since 2014
Reina Angelo-Kukar
Best Buddies State Ambassador, Friendship Chapter Participant, Friend Advocate Glenn Hiro
Best Buddies Support, Champion Candidate Parent Advocate
Margaret Depuy
This Year's Entertainment
“IMI”
‘Imi, also know as Kaimi Hanano’eau, is a Hawai’i based multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and producer who discovered his passion for music at a young age and began performing professionally by his early teens. With nearly three decades of experience, he performs both as a solo artist and with a range of groups, contributing across recording, touring, and live production. A Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner, he brings a high level of musicianship and improvisation to every performance.
This Year's Entertainment
“Alx Kawakami” Honolulu singer-songwriter, Alx Kawakami has been called “the Hawaiian James Taylor” by Grammy winning producer Ken Caillat. A Na Hoku Hanohano nominee with more than six albums and forty original songs, he has toured Japan with his family band, ManoaDNA, and written jingles for McDonald’s and Suntory. Expect warm, acoustic-driven originals in the spirit of James Taylor and John Mayer.
This Year's Entertainment
“Kawika Kahiapo”
Kawika Kaiupileokalani Kahiapo is a 100% Native Hawaiian recording artist, composer, and slack key guitar master. Born and raised in Kaneohe, Oahu, where his love of music took root more than 50 years ago, he now makes his home in Waimanalo. He counts his father, Sam Kahiapo, Gabby “Pops” Pahinui, and Palani Vaughan as his music mentors. Kawika has received 9 Na Hoku Hanahano Awards and has been honored as Slack Key Artist of the Year. He also contributed to a compilation album that won a Grammy Award. A longtime kahu, Kawika has devoted himself to serving his community, volunteering on numerous boards focused on community-building, malama aina, spiritual support, the autism community, and those in need of food and housing. His service and artistry have earned him the title “master of slack key...minister of aloha.”
Silent Auction
Get ready for some friendly competition and to support a PHOTO CAN great mission! GO HERE
How to Bid Register: Text HICOY26 to (76278) Donate: Text the word GIVE and amount (dollar sign not required) to (76278) *You can also bid in the silent auction once you’ve registered
Walk. Celebrate. Support.
04.10.27 9:00am | Magic Island, Ala Moana Beach Park The Best Buddies Friendship Walk is the leading walk in the country supporting inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (also known as IDD). BESTBUDDIESFRIENDSHIPWALK.ORG/OAHU
Elizabeth Mahoe Director, Mission Advancement elizabethmahoe@bestbuddies.org
MAKE A FRIEND | DONATE | VOLUNTEER Best Buddies Hawai’i / PO BOX 2171 | Ewa Beach | HI | 96706 BESTBUDDIES.ORG/HAWAII