Hawaii Association of the Blind
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Aloha! And Welcome to the home page of the Hawaii Association of the Blind.
We are the State affiliate of the American Council of the Blind.

Letters to HAB

Once in a while, the Hawaii Association of the Blind receives letters from grateful individuals or groups who have been assisted in one way or the other by our organization. Below are some of these encouraging words which never fail to put a smile on our face.

Dear Mr. Toyama,

Thank you very much for your donation for V.I. equipment. I was able to get a great new monocular that is very powerful. I will be using it for school (to see notes on the board and overhead) and also sometimes when I go outside.

Sincerely,

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Dear Mr. Warren Toyama,

 My name is Gensen Rabacal. I am 14 years old, and I am part of the Leeward district. I go to Pearl City High School, and I enjoy it.

Learning the campus was pretty hard at first. I kept getting confused, but I eventually got the hang of it.

Being in high school is pretty great. I have great teachers, and great friends. I’m trying my hardest to get good grades, and I have to admit, it’s really stressful.

Today, April 12, Miss Kojima told me that you gave the Leeward district five hundred dollars. That’s really nice of you. Miss Kojima said that she might use some of the money to buy a can opener for me, because I am learning how to cook. I kind of like cooking because I find it interesting. I am learning how to cook simple things, but I promise that I’ll learn much more.

From Gensen

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Dear Warren,

Thank you and HAB for your generous donation to the Central District VI Program. $250.00 is already spent on a quality monocular and a very good magnifier. When the magnifier comes in, I will let you know. Thank you again,

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(Abridged version)

Dear Warren and HAB members,

On behalf of all the Big Island students, we want to thank you for your generous donation of $1,000 to us this year. Because of your generosity, many programs for students with visual impairments can continue and new programs can be initiated!

Thanks to your grant, last year we were able to take the intermediate and High school students to Camp Timberline for a three-day program. Not only did they thoroughly enjoy the experience, but it gave them newfound confidence as they accomplished a difficult hike, scaled a climbing wall, did various team-building games, and performed camp songs and skits in front of each other. The experience was such a success that this year we are planning another camp at Camp Erdman.

As teachers of students with visual impairments, we are always trying to provide meaningful instruction in a variety of settings. Your support has enabled us to provide opportunities for the children to develop the skills they need to be successful in life. Again, we thank you for your generous support.

Sincerely,

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Dear Warren and HAB members:

Thank you all for the donation of $1,000 which was given to the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped as part of your annual convention. LBPH will purchase materials that we anticipate patrons will enjoy.

 It was good to hear that you had a successful convention this year. I am sorry that we were unable to participate and hope we can next year, if invited.

Best wishes to HAB in all your activities this year.

Sincerely,

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Dear Warren and Hawaii Association of the Blind,

We want to thank you for the grant that the Hawaii Association of the Blind so generously awarded to Honolulu District. We sincerely appreciate your interest and your support of our students and our programs. Your donation enables us to provide lessons, materials, and programs that benefit each of our students.

We look forward to a continued partnership between Hawaii Association of the Blind and Honolulu District. We will keep in touch with you regularly throughout the year, to share with you the many ways that we use your grant. On behalf of the many students who benefit from your support, we thank you very much.

Sincerely,

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Dear Mr. Warren Toyama and all HAB members,

We would sincerely like to extend our deepest Mahalo in your generous donation to the children of Leeward District. Your generosity these last few years have been deeply appreciated. We are hopeful that this year we will finally be able to access the funds so that we may provide our students/teachers with some much needed support.

 We will continue to keep you abreast of the expenditure of the funds. We are presently planning to use the monies to provide support funds for peer group activities. We are also planning to purchase needed equipment/supplies such as monoculars, daily living aids and orientation/mobility devices.

 We would also like to express our appreciation at being invited to your yearly banquet. It is always such a pleasant experience and the means are quite delicious.

We know that our students, parents and teachers will be very grateful for your continued support and we will be in continual contact with you to alert you of our expenditure for them.

We thank you again for your generous support.

Sincerely,

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Dear Warren and HAB members:

Thank you very much for your recent generous monetary donation of $500. Our Leeward district spans from Pearl City to Waianae, and the students will greatly benefit from your generosity.

I had the privilege of attending your HAB conference during the day. It was very interesting to listen to Bernice speak of all the changes at Ho’opono and her living skills curriculum. I applaud HAB’s whole-hearted support of her program. Several of my students are at the intermediate and high school age, and I have started to teach them some basic living skills. Some of your organization’s donation will be used to purchase needed supplies such as a can opener, measuring cups, and other adapted kitchen supplies. One of the most rewarding things about attending your conference was being able to reunite with “old” friends as well as meet new people. It reminded me how invaluable a network of other visually impaired people can be.

There are times during the school year when my job as a teacher becomes very demanding with book orders, transcribing requests, meeting with parents, etc., but I will try my best to keep in contact through phone or letters. Whenever possible, I will also have a few of the students write to you so that the members are assured that their monies are being put to very good, practical use and are always greatly appreciated.

Once again, Warren, and the rest of the membership, thank you very much from the Leeward gang.

Sincerely,

Karen Kojima, Melissa Hankes and Francine Loo

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Dear Members of the HAB,

We have been very busy here on Maui, but I wanted to take a few minutes to write to you to let you know how important your support has been to us. The money that you gave to us has been particularly helpful these past two months.

 As you can see from Sean’s letter, we had an Easter party for the kids and your donation helped to pay for some of it.

 I work with three high school students in their own homes doing self-help and kitchen skills. Through HAB, I have been able to get everything from an electric skillet (I found it at a thrift shop for $5.00!), to potatoes, carrots, peelers, and other ingredients that the students need for their cooking lessons.

 In addition to doing these usual things for the students, there was an unusual emergency need by one blind student who literally had no clothes that fit him. He has a syndrome that not only affects his eyes, but also had caused a growth spurt. He was wearing teachers’ old “hand-me-downs”. (Sometimes parents don’t always do their jobs, but it is the kids who suffer and are made fun of.) Your money helped to get him a few basic necessities and clothing so he feels better about himself.

 We always tell the kids and the parents that it is the Hawaii Association of the Blind that is helping to support these extra activities and lessons.

 For this we are grateful,

From Carol A. Hotta of Maui District

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 Dear Hawaii Association of the Blind,

 Last Saturday I went to the Easter party at Carol’s house. I felt the balloon popping. I had a hot dog, noodles, lasagna, cake, diet pepsi, and chicken. Nicole, jody, Margie, and gwen picked up the Easter eggs. I played Bingo and got three prizes.

 Thank you for helping out.

From Sean Council

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Dear Mr. Warrant Toyama and members of HAB,

 I just wanted to express my sincere gratitude for your donation to the Leeward District Visual Impairment teachers and students. The money will help students receive educational and social experiences that they might not have otherwise experienced without your donation.

 Recently we took some of our elementary students on an orientation and mobility session to the Ewa Towne Center with the help of your donation. We visited Longs where a manager talked to the students about the customer service desk and the layout of the store. The students then completed a scavenger hunt where they had to find certain items and locations throughout the center. They learned basic cane techniques, monocular use, and sighted guide. The students had a wonderful time and walked away from the experience with many valuable lessons.

 Thank you.

From Melissa Geyman

Teacher of the Visually Impaired, Leeward District

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Dear Mr. Warren Toyama and members of HAB,

 Thank you for helping me during my field trip. Also thank you for the ice cream.

 I enjoyed that day. Also we got to use cane, the monocular, also we got to go on a scavenger hunt by foodland.

 Thank you again. I hope you write back and hope you have a great day at your job, or at home. Bye.

 From Lawrence, Student at Leeward District

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To Mr. Warren Toyama and members of HAB,

 Thank you for giving the money to buy ice cream at TCBY and thank you for giving money to us to go on field trips and on Friday I was having so much fun on the scavenger hunt and it was very fun finding things like in logs. We had to look for certain isles and talking with the manager. It was fun talking with the manager because you get to answer questions and I liked when we were using the cane and we had different kinds of tips and one can rolled and the other ones got sad in one place but they are the same thing.

 From Stuart Apolo-Basso, Ewa Beach Elementary (Leeward District)

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Dear Warren and Members of the HAB,

 I must apologize for not sending you Ruby’s letter immediately after she wrote it (note the April 21^st date). She composed the entire letter by herself without any teacher assistance and using her newly acquired keyboarding skills. Not only is she an intelligent young lady, but she is very talented in the area of art. Currently, her art class has an exhibition at a nearby shopping center, which features two of her works.

 By being able to attend the SHAER conference, Ruby was able to learn more about and try out optical devices/assistive technology that may help her access information. Both Ruby and I are extremely appreciative of your help.

 From Lea Ono of Hilo

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Dear Mr. Toyama and the HAB,

 My name is Rubyanna Andrews. I am an 8^th grader at Kea’au Middle School on the Big Island. I am now learning Braille and keyboarding skills. I enjoy drawing and attend a gifted and talented art class.

 I would like to thank you for contributing the funds that enabled my mother and I to attend the SHAER conference. It has given me the chance to see what kinds of options are available to help me get the fullest education possible. While attending the SHAER conference, I have learned different ways and advantages of using optical devices.

 Mahalo,

From Rubyanna Andrews

(Note: This letter was accompanied by a cute card made by Rubyanna with the drawing of a beautiful Hawaiian girl.)

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Dear Warren Toyama,

 Thank you so much for the scholarships to attend the “Low Vision” Conference. My daughter and I would not have been able to attend without your help. The conference was very informative and we are able to share what we learned with others here on Maui.

 Thanks again!

 From Nicole and Margie Masterson of Maui

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Dear HAB and Mr. Toyama,

Time has passed so quickly from the wonderful dinner we had at the Pagoda Hotel. I surely enjoyed the entertainment and food. I am most thankful for your generous donation to our students with visual impairments in the Windward Oahu District.

I and five teachers visited The Seeing Eye, in New Jersey and the Helen Keller National Center. It was a most informational visit. The guide dogs are a wonder. We had a great time working with them. The buildings and grounds are spectacular.

One of my students who is blind enjoyed a birthday party. I purchased some art supplies to make tactile activities for all family and friends to enjoy. Enclosed is a sample. Another activity with another group, we had the students with low vision do the puffy glue/paint on the outlines of drawings and the students who are blind could color within the puffy/raised lines. It was fun!

Please give our aloha to all HAB members. We appreciate all that your donation makes possible.

Mahalo,

From Debra Pang, Itinerant of the Visually Impaired, Windward Oahu District

(Note: This letter included 2 beautiful cut-outs of colored fishes.)

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