Advertiser Christmas Fund
Ex-con beachboy raising daughter

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

G.W.'s commitment to stay straight is inspired by his 6-year-old daughter, a drug baby born three months premature who weighed 2.2 pounds at birth. One month after completing his sentence, G.W. was awarded custody of the girl, who was being abused by her mother.

"I messed up my previous life, and now I'm dedicated to giving her a head start," the 55-year-old G.W. said. "I used to be a dysfunctional person. I smoked pot for 30 years and was a drug dealer. But I grew up. I lost my ego and grew a heart."

His small Waikiki studio is neat. There are framed photos of his daughter on the walls. G.W. sleeps near the front door and has created a bedroom for the girl in back by setting up a curtain.

	How to make a donation
•	Checks made payable to The Advertiser Christmas Fund should be mailed to
	Helping Hands Hawai'i
	P.O. Box 19155
	Honolulu, HI 96817
•	Donations may also be dropped off at any First Hawaiian Bank branch.
•	Anyone wishing to donate goods instead of money can do so at the Community Clearinghouse at 2100 N. Nimitz Highway near Pu'uhale Street. For details, call 536-7234.

"My pay is based on hours worked and tips in the pocket," he said. "For the first time, I had to borrow money ($200) on my credit card to pay my $590 rent (for November). I don't know what I'm going to do this month. All the beachboys are hurting."

G.W. is bracing for a "bare-bone Christmas."

"I told my daughter that we're hurting this year," he said.

His daughter could use clothes, shoes and a jacket, said G.W. A small game toy would also be appreciated.

Recent donations

In memory of David Garliepp and Billy Gibson Garliepp $25
In memory of Mom & Pop S. 50
In memory of Chloe Turner 50
In memory of Richard C. Damon 100
In memory of Akira Umamoto 100
In memory of Gardner McKay 100
In memory of Donald T. Knutson 300
Sharon J. Silker 25
Winfield Smith Payne 25
Mary O.S. Kang 25
Richard K. Okamoto 25
Charles K.C. Young 25
Reid Iwamoto 25
Bobbye and Tim 25
Andreas and Melissa 25
E.K. McNicoll 25
F.Y. Murata 25
Patrick O. Buckley 26
Ellen S. Mann 50
Janet N. Fujimoto 50
Alan K. Hashimoto & Family 75
Joyce & Ralph Hook 100
P. Pasha Baker 200
Jeanne G. Rand 1,000
Anonymous 25
Anonymous 50
Anonymous 50
Anonymous 50
Anonymous 100
Anonymous 100
Anonymous 100
Anonymous 150

Total $3,101
Total to date: $54,087.31

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