News and Updates

Updates from Kristine Kubat via email

It’s Sunday night and as I sit down to write my final dispatch for Angelina Lovato’s 2010 marathon walk around the island, it’s the sound of her voice that comes to mind first. Peaceful, strong, content. . . this is how I would describe her tone in the last message she will leave from the road. With about 10 miles to go, a host of hugs to collect at the end of that distance and her own bed waiting for her a short drive after that, Angelina has plenty of reasons to sound content. As for the peace and strength, I’m figuring that comes from what she sacrificed to get to this point.

According to her report, Angelina and Randy are due to spend the night with Bert and Joanne Wong in Holualoa. That’s right, Holualoa! She called the day’s pace a “good clip” and sounded remarkably energized. Seems the sparkling pool/delicious lunch/sweet nap treatment she and Randy enjoyed as the Wong’s guests did the trick. While she could have complained about any number of discomforts, Angelina was her usual perky and grateful self, preferring to talk about how well everyone’s been treating her.

Since I didn’t hear from her yesterday, we had some catching up to do.

Friday night at Mandy and Bobby Dean’s home in Waikoloa featured a fabulous dinner with dessert and down home, ukulele-driven entertainment that ran the gamut from Hawaiian to spiritual to Elvis Presley tunes. Angelina has been friends with Mandy and Bobby Dean since their days working at United Airlines, so it was part reunion/part pit stop and clearly lifted her spirits for what lay ahead.

Saturday had to be grueling. “Hot, very, very hot,” was how Angie put it. “It took the life out of me,” she admitted then quickly went on to rave about John Storlie, the owner/operator of Hawaiian Pedals, a triathlon and sports shop in Kailua-Kona. John hosted the Lovatos Saturday night and her gratitude towards him opened a floodgate of emotion about all the kindness Angelina has received over the past ten days. This, I am convinced, is how she manages to minimize the discomfort, by seeing herself on the receiving end. “I am blessed, truly blessed and I thank God,” she said.

Angelina is also looking forward to blessings of the capital-kind. “We’ll see how it goes when I get home,” she quipped. “I’m hoping it’s going to take days to open all those letters. Y’know how they say the check’s in the mail?”

Just a reminder, if you haven’t mailed in your donation yet, you can do so tomorrow and help keep Angelina busy over the next few days as she winds down. Mail your donation to: Special Needs Kids Hawaii Island, in care of Angelina Lovato, 81-943 Makahiki Lane, Captain Cook, HI 96704. Those with access to a computer can make donations online by visiting Lovato’s website: www.specialneedskidshawaii.org

Tomorrow at “about eleven” is when the walking ends, right where it began, at Konawaena Elementary School. Angelina and Randy are scheduled to leave Seaview Circle around 8:00 a.m. She promised not to blast up the hill — a reference to last year when Angelina, in Energizer Bunny mode, beat her scheduled arrival time by over an hour. The Lovatos are expecting a throng to join in on the final mile.

While I won’t be there to greet her, I will keep in mind the image I have of last year’s finale. By the time I reached the school, Angelina had been there over an hour and had yet to sit down. Far from looking like someone who had just completed a grueling marathon trek around a rather big island, she was positively glowing and looked like someone who had just come from a spa. “Really?” she asked, when I told her that.

Really.

I confess, when Thursday came and went with no message from Angelina and Randy, I thought the worst... for about a minute, which was as long as I could tolerate anything but the utmost positive regards for them both. My heart told me there was just no way anything bad happened to them and my experience told me there was just no way Angelina didn’t finish her 20 miles.  I consoled myself thinking they must have found something better to do than call me and tell me how their day went, then got on with my life.

Turns out I was right.  When the Lovatos called in on Friday afternoon, they had a confession of their own. Where they were too busy was at The Village Burger in the Parker Ranch Center munching on the house special.  Randy was so focused on telling me about the delicious meal he and Angelina scored that he forgot to include details about how the proprietor Edwin Goto learned of Angelina’s mission. What he did say was that Goto was “very supportive of what Angie’s doing” and so was nice enough to give them “whatevah we wanted.” He also said that “if anyone wants a good burger that is THE place to go.”  Which left me thinking that they must have been magical healing burgers because there was no talk of blisters or rough road or any other difficulties at all, just high praise for the magic burgers and lots of gratitude for Lisa and Lester Muraoka who hosted them for the night.

Day Nine was different. This was the day Angelina passed Waimea and saw signs to Kona. Woohoo! Randy described this installment of the walkathon as hot and windy then qualified his assessment. “Well, not too bad for me,” he said. “I’m in the van.”  Relief came in the form of several roadside donations and a few guest appearances, both of which buoyed Angelina’s spirits.  Brother Kaweo stopped his Isemoto truck to make a contribution to the cause; otherwise the donors remained anonymous. The Lovatos also enjoyed the company of their Makahiki Lane homies, Gunnar and Bob as well as Nancy and Jonathan who came by as Randy was changing the bandages on Angelina’s toes. For the final five miles of the day, Angie was joined by her dear friend, Mandy McClean. Mandy and her husband Bobby Dean were set to host the Lovatos Friday evening.

This latest update ended with talk of feet that needed soaking and blisters that needed tending. Too bad Randy didn’t think to get some of those magical healing burgers to go.

It’s been a week since Angelina Lovato left Konawaena Elementary School on her round-the-island journey and her latest update came live and direct from Honoka`a where she was about to sit down to a bowl of Portuguese Bean Soup. The joke of the day was that she had to walk all the way to Tex’s Drive-In for a helping of the local favorite.  Angelina remembered downing a delicious bowlful at the 100-mile mark last year, but this time around the Koa Shop Kaffee in Puna was closed and she had to go another 40 miles before she could satisfy what, two days later, had become a rather strong craving.

While the well deserved bowl of soup cooled, Angelina admitted she felt fatigued. I guess walking 20 miles a day, seven days straight will do that to a gal. But she was upbeat as always and looking forward to Thursday’s trek through Waimea, with its cool temperatures, inspiring scenery and well-paved roads.  Also somewhere along that stretch Angelina dips into the double-digit remainder of miles to go before she sleeps. According to the walker. . . it’s countdown time.

The Lovatos are staying with Stacy Rand and her family in Honoka`a. In addition to the soup, Angelina and Randy were being treated to a beautiful dinner that Stacy prepared with vegetables grown in her garden. “We are about to feast on the bounty from their yard,” Angelina said in the singsong voice she uses when she’s feeling grateful. 

The other blessing of this three-gulch day came from a pit stop at the end of it. Kevin McGill of Hawaiian Orthotics Prosthetics Enterprises (or H.O.P.E.) made special inserts for Angelina’s shoes and was able to tweak them during a visit to his shop. While there was still no mention of blisters today Angelina did say the toe next to the baby one on her right foot was “acting up.” Sounds like code for something painful. Let’s hope Kevin’s tweaking gets the little piggy that had none to “behave.”  

Here’s the word from our walker at the halfway mark: “Oh, my God, I did it!”

Of course Angelina still has 120 miles to go, but now every step brings her closer to home and you can already hear the excitement building in her voice. By the time she hits the dry side again and starts seeing those signs pointing to Kailua, she will be positively ebullient.

The message she left Tuesday evening was the shortest so far. Angelina was tired and ready for bed even though it was only 5:06 p.m.  She and Randy are the guests of “Aunty Anita” and “Uncle Bill,” a.k.a. the Politanos, who live that side with their son, John.  But I didn’t get much else because Angelina was unusually short on details. There was no blister report (which I am hoping means her toes behaved themselves), and no mention of what she ate. She did report that she and Randy started before sunrise again with the van lighting the way. Still, even though her words were few, her feelings came through loud and clear. Angelina sounded strong, content and grateful to be so far along.

This latest 20-mile trek went from Glenwood past Keaau, through Hilo, along Bayfront, over the singing bridge, past Papaikou and clear through to Onomea.  That’s a whole lot of turf to cover in one day. Tomorrow it’s three gulches and, if this year is like last, a great deal of wind to contend with. The day ends with a visit at the home of the good folks at Hawaiian Orthotics Prosthetics Enterprises who custom made Angelina’s walking shoes.  

It was just before 7:30 this evening when Angelina left her daily message and about three hours later when my workday ended giving me a chance to listen to it. Her voice sounded strong but quiet, like someone who has a lot on their mind, only in this case it’s more like someone with a lot on her agenda. . . specifically 140 miles worth of walking.

So much for waking too early then waiting anxiously for the sun to come up. This morning the Lovatos created their own daybreak with the van headlights as they left Volcano. Considering how hot it was today, no doubt they both felt they made the right call by starting so early

Angelina reported that her while her big toes “have stopped filling with fluid,” her “baby toes are insisting on being big toes,” which can only mean they swelled considerably. Whatever is happening footwise, she rated the experience “ a thousand times better than last year” then relinquished her right to complain.  

Sticking with the positives, Angelina expressed gratitude for the friends that hosted her and Randy for the evening — Val and Russell Nakao. She described the vegetarian meal they prepared as “beautiful” and seemed content to “unwind” at their Glenwood getaway.  And, as always, she was sure to credit Randy for the oatmeal breakfast he made (even though she was craving “scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns, salsa and tortillas”) and for the scolding he gave her baby toe (seems it doesn’t know how to be a “team player”).

Tomorrow Angelina and Randy will start at the 11-mile marker near Kurtistown and head into Hilo, traveling several miles past the Downtown area before calling it quits. Last year this was one of the more difficult stretches for Angelina and while I am certain she will fulfill her 20-mile commitment, I’m feeling inspired to end this post with a prayer.

Bless you Angelina. May you wake refreshed, walk with ease and finish early. May your journey home be as safe as your journey this far.  May your toes stay small and your heart stay big.

Update #2 for Sunday:

It’s Sunday evening, at about 7:30 and I just received several messages from Angelina and Randy sent a little over two hours ago, confirming they had, as Angie put it, “got the deed done.”

With this 20-mile stint completed, they are about a third of the way and obviously relieved to be bathed in fog and cool air after completing the most grueling leg in their journey. I say “obviously” because in the message they left the two of them were downright silly. . . more later on why this report was a dual affair.

The Lovatos will spend the night with The Woolley `Ohana at their residence in Volcano where Suzanne operates her Hale Ho`ola Spa. Last year, Suzanne treated Angelina to a massage there and I went to film the first few minutes of the session so I can vouch for the beauty of the setting and the loving kindness with which Suzanne treats her guests.  No doubt Angelina will come away rejuvenated; hopefully she will sleep in. . . if you can call waking up at 5:00 instead of 4:00 a.m. “sleeping in.” Angelina explained that she and Randy have been getting up that early and sitting in the dark waiting for it to get light enough to hit the road. “It’s like when you travel,” she said, “and you don’t want to miss your flight. . . y’know?”

Angelina described the first part of today’s walk as “blue skies and cool winds,” and shared what must have been a magical sight. She kept herself entertained on the 3,600 ft. ascent by watching Tutu Pele’s plume as it appeared above the horizon. When a head-shaped cloud formation rose above her then cleared two pukas where the eyes would be and let that blue sky through, Angelina felt blessed. . . like the eyes of God were upon her.

And then, the Hawaiian paralysis hit. Angelina stopped to rest for a bit and the same force that had the rest of us enjoying our Memorial Day weekend sprawled out on blankets with bellies full of watermelon snuck up on that lady who’s walking around the island. Angelina looked at Randy and told him, straight up, “I’m sooooo tired.” After that, she showed absolutely no inclination to move.

That’s when Randy pulled out the can of “X-F Root Beer Blast Energy Drink.”

No, I am not making this up and now we are at the part of the story that had both of them silly as kids and took two of them to explain.

It seems Randy was divinely guided when he lifted that Root Beer Blast off the shelf and took the claims printed on it seriously. “This is one root beer that can take you to the end of the trail with energy to spare.” (To get the full effect of this, imagine Randy reading off the can into the phone with Angelina giggling in the background.) “We’ve included essential amino acids and an exceptional herb blend to thrust you through the day. Kick it into high gear with Energy Drink!”

Randy handed Angelina that can and told her, “This is the drink you need, Honey.” And, suddenly, it wasn’t the lazy low-point of a three-day weekend anymore; it was Day Four of a commitment they both made to children with very special needs and it was going to end the same way every day of this journey is going to end — with Angelina calling in to say she “got the deed done.”

Update #1 for Sunday:

If you’re wondering how Angelina’s day went yesterday, here’s the latest I have to report. She called in at about 6:00p.m. last night from Pahala Plantation Cottages — the restored plantation homes and mansion operated by Julia Neal in Ka`u where she and Randy were guests for the night. Her description of Neal’s little bit of heaven — “cool. . . fresh. . .  quaint” — made it sound like the perfect antidote to the day’s walk which began at 5:15 a.m. and ended 6 hours and 40 minutes later.

Anyone familiar with the terrain on the southern side of our big, big island knows how hot it can get, especially this time of year. I was happy to hear from her in a place with “big, cool pine trees,” which she described as “almost like Washington State.”  Her cell phone connection was not the best so it was a spotty transmission and while I missed out on many of the details, the feeling of relief came through loud and clear. Julia is also the publisher/editor of the “Ka`u Calendar” and Angie was preparing to sit down and chat with her, so we can look forward to getting a full account, including photos, in Neal’s upcoming article.

I plan to ask Angelina to tell me more about the woman who stopped her to ask is she was “that lady walking around the island.”  I am not sure if she joined in but I can report that Jonathan and Nancy Sechrist took turns at Angelina’s side, as did Randy. Nancy is the master for the Special Needs Kids Hawaii web site. If you’re making use of the site to track Angelina’s progress and learn how the organization is serving South Kona’s special needs children, you have Nancy to thank.  She and her husband Jonathan are friends and neighbors of the Lovatos and have been supporting the effort in every way imaginable, including putting some rubber to the road.

Among the blessings she counted this day, Angie was inspired by the many honks she received along the way, the ongoing support of her loving husband, Randy, who accompanied her the last four miles, a beautiful salad made with local foodstuffs by Julia and God’s watchful eye.

And finally, the blister report: Walking another 20 miles when you’ve already got two blisters isn’t going to make them go away. It’s all about maintenance at this point and, when it comes to that, she’s in the best of hands. Angie attributed her long walk time this day to the fact that she had to stop several times so Randy could change the dressings.

It’s close to noon on Saturday and with the technical problems resolved I’m taking the time to catch up. Turns out Facebook doesn’t tolerate verbosity. Go there for the short and sweet recap of Angelina’s travels and stayed tuned to this website for the long version.

Last I heard, which was a phone call from Angelina yesterday after noon, she had completed the second 20-mile leg from the 91- to the 71-mile marker, traveling from Milolii to Kahuku Ranch.  At first it sounded like Randy was the worse for the wear, having sustained a cracked molar while snacking on jerky as he drove the van behind her. But by the time Angie was done assuring me that Randy was not in pain and giving thanks for all the good things that happened that day, I could tell she was tired and had yet to hit her stride.  Only then did she mention the strong headwind that worked against her the last five miles. “I felt like I was at a standstill,” she said quietly.

As for the blister report, the doctored one on her left small toe has a new companion in the same shoe on her big toe.  Angie’s assessment of the damage: “No one said this was going to be a cakewalk.” 

It’s the rough road from Konawaena, the headwind en route to Kahuku and, today, the long, steady incline from sea level towards Volcano that challenge our walker to reflect most about her cause. Once she makes it to the cooler elevation and begins her trek through the greener side of the island, she’s already gone too far to turn back and can start thinking about getting herself home.

Five miles of the wind blowing against you with as much strength as you can muster to carry on. . . this would make a good metaphor for the challenges Angelina’s beloved special needs children and their families face except that it has a clear end. Far better, it seems, to take this leg of the journey as symbolic of the difficulties these families face in raising awareness. Angelina’s determination represents the way through our collective ignorance (something we can certainly bring to an end) to a place where we are making steady progress towards a better life for these children.  Imua!

Update from Kristine Kubat 12:42 May 29

Aloha All

It’s 12:42 a.m. Saturday morning and I trust Angelina is fast asleep getting the rest she deserves.  In the bargain she and I have made, Angelina is “the walker” and I am the “writer.” If you’ve been keeping up with this page you will know that she has been doing much more of the former and I little of the latter, even though I have received several updates and have plenty to report.

While eager to dismiss my lapse as a technical difficulty, I am not sure failing to understand how Facebook works amounts to a technical problem.  And so I begin outpaced by Angelina’s simpler approach.

In the first message I received, Wednesday night, Angelina was getting ready to go to bed, feeling “good, energized, strong and positive.” If you know Angie, and especially if you followed her walk last year, it’s easy to put an Energizer Bunny image to these words. Wednesday night was like that off-screen winding they do so that when the time comes, they let the Bunny go. . . and go and go.

In most ways, Angie’s plan is the same this year as last; she’s set to walk 20 miles a day for twelve days straight. Lessons learned include starting at the break of dawn every day, even the kick-off — especially because as she describes it (and she would know) that first stretch from Konawaena Elementary to Milolii is the toughest part of the walk.  Angie took off at 5:40 a.m. among about 20 supporters, with Kuulei Whalen, her inspiration, at her side.  Once she hit the road she was at it until 12:30 p.m. and came away with a small blister on her right toe. Randy, who by now is an expert at tending to his wife’s foot ailments, lanced the blister, soaked it in Hawaiian salt and bandaged her up.

Angie seemed most excited about all the media support she’s getting this year. Whereas the 2009 walk was more like a game of “Where’s Waldo,” in 2010 we have KHBC radio tracking Angelina three times a day and Hawaii 24-7 giving daily updates. Angelina even made the KITV Honolulu news. As far as how this translates into donations to keep the programs for the kids going, she had raised nearly $5000 before she even set foot on the highway. With Kahikina directing folks to the KHBC radio stations and the local fire and police stations also agreeing to accept donations, this is becoming the kind of community event Angelina envisioned and she is stoked.

Thursday night Angelina and Randy stayed with the Polotu Ohana and it was Randy who read off the menu that began with “ono sashimi” and ended with “brownies and ice cream,” which Randy swore Angelina did not eat. Say what? Okay, up until now, nothing Angelina has done has seemed at all crazy to me but passing up homemade brownies when you have 220 miles to walk it off??????? I dunno.

PRESS RELEASE
Angelina Lovato to walk around Hawaii Island. . . AGAIN.
Start date: May 27, 2010
Estimated end date: June 8, 2010
Press Opportunities: Kick-off at Konawaena Elementary School, May 27, 2010 at 5:30 a.m.; Return at Konawaena Elementary School June 7, 2010, ETA 10:00 a.m.
Contact: Angelina Lovato, 808-323-8330 (h), 808-895-0267 (c) or angelina@specialneedskidshawaii.org

For the second time, Captain Cook resident Angelina Lovato will undertake a 240-mile trek in support of Hawaii Island’s special needs children. Last year her marathon journey began June 8, mid-morning after a kick-off assembly attended by students and faculty at Konawaena Elementary where Lovato works as a reading tutor. Twelve days later she returned to the school at about the same time of day, to a warm welcome brimming with lei and wide-eyed wonder.

This year, Lovato plans to keep up the same pace, beginning May 27 and walking 20 miles per day. The big differences for what is being billed as the second annual event are that Lovato will begin each day, including the kick-off, at the break of dawn to take advantage of cooler temperatures, and, with host families at each rest stop, there will be no sleeping in the van.

Although grueling, nothing about the first time around, including the walnut–sized blisters she developed, has discouraged the 58-year-old Lovato from giving it another go. And, once again, her husband Randy, a 60-year-old zoning inspector with the Hawaii County Planning Department, will use his vacation time to volunteer as Angelina’s road crew. “My job,” said Randy Lovato, “is to keep her safe.”

In 2009, a total of $9,300 was raised before, during and after Angelina’s walk. Throughout the year, 17 local applicants were treated to extra-curricular activities shown to be therapeutic for children with special needs — enjoying horseplay, music appreciation and art appreciation.

"I am very proud that we were able to help so many children this past year,” explained Lovato. “We have great instructors, supportive parents and happy children. I hope that people continue to donate funds to keep my program afloat.” The dream of providing ongoing financial assistance to these families is what has Angelina up and walking again: “putting one foot in front of the other to collect more money and raise awareness for this very special population of children."

Lovato’s fund raising goal this year is $15,000. Her long-term goal is to raise a minimum of $150,000 to develop a local facility to serve the ongoing needs of these children once they become adults. Currently, Hawaii Island’s special needs population is forced to go off island to obtain the full range of services they need to live as independent adults.

Donations in support of the 2010 walk should be made to Special Needs Kids Hawaii Island, in care of Angelina Lovato
, 81-943 Makahiki Lane
, Captain Cook, HI 96704. Those with access to a computer can make donations online by visiting Lovato’s website: www.specialneedskidshawaii.org As a program of the Hawaii-based 501(c)3 charitable corporation ‘Apono Hawaii, Special Needs Kids Hawaii allows donors to make tax-deductible contributions.

The website is also the place to receive updates as the kick-off approaches as well as daily reportage once the walk begins.

This year the list of sponsors has grown and includes: ‘Apono Hawaii, Hawaiian Pedals/John Storlie, Therapeutic Horsemanship of Hawaii, Kona Program at Horseplay Equestrian Center, Makahiki Farms/Jonathan & Nancy Sechrist, Cody King, Pahala Plantation Cottages/Julia Neal, Alvin's Signs, Hawaiian Orthotics Prosthetics Enterprises (H.O.P.E.), Bianca's Stichez/ Bianca Marti, Makua Coffee/Stacy Rand, Pacific Nature/Lisa Maruoka at Queen's Marketplace.

Additionally, the Lovatos want to acknowledge the support of Larry Ford, Dr. Bob Laird and Cleg Holiman as well as these host families: The Polotu Ohana, Deborah Howard, Julia Neal, Suzanne Woolley, The Nakao Ohana, The Politano Ohana, Stacy Rand, Lester & Lisa Maruoka, Bobby Dean Hardy & Mandy McClain, John Storlie and Bert & Joanne Wong.

As the 2010 kick-off approaches both Angelina and Randy are staying focused to prepare themselves for the challenge. "I am one person doing a small thing but to the people that I am helping it is a big deal," said Angelina. After witnessing both the pain his wife endured and her determination to complete the walk despite it, Randy has pledged to support Angelina one hundred and ten percent. . . again. “I believe in her and the assistance these families receive from her program," he said.

Talk Story #1

Welcome to my 2nd annual charity walk around the Big Island to continue raising monies for children with special needs. Through the generosity of those who made monetary donations to my 1st walk we were able to raise $9,300, to provide extracurricular therapeutic activities for these children. We have been able to help 15 applicants this past year. I realize that what I am doing is a small thing but, to the parents of these children it is really a big deal that is the reason I have decided to walk the island once again to raise more funds for this program.

My big dream is to build a facility where children with special needs can continue to live, learn and grow upon graduation from high school. So many parents here in Hawaii share their stories and concerns about the future of their children. It would be a dream come true to build a self-sustaining facility that would employ our local community and provide a safe environment for our special needs children. I know this is a big dream but dreams do come true!

Meanwhile, I will continue to take baby steps to help these children and their families. The only way that I know how to do it is, ONE STEP AT A TIME. We are so remote and isolated from the mainland, but our needs are the same or even greater…..

My husband, Randy, is once again giving up his vacation time to rally behind this very special cause. I really couldn’t do it without his support, dedication and strong shoulders. This is our pilgrimage, to raise awareness and monies for a very special population of children. We ask you to please donate to keep our program afloat!

Please tune in to Talk Story for updates.

Aloha,

       Angelina

Nancy Bloomfield works with the kids at Horseplay