Foster families get holiday treat
By Will Hoover
Advertiser Staff Writer
More than 300 foster families were special guests at a Blaisdell Center Christmas party yesterday.
Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser
It was a celebration worth remembering.
The Kipapa family of Waimanalo was among more than 300 families to attend yesterday's party at Blaisdell Center.
Considering the potential for kid chaos, the party turned out to be a masterwork of calm coordination. Volunteer elves communicated via wireless head phones. Linda Early resembled an air traffic controller as she guided helpers toting plates of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, green beans, cranberry sauce and cake to their specific destinations.
"It's wonderful," said Early, as she paused briefly to take a breath. "Everyone is well behaved and having such a good time."
After the families were shown to their tables, they were treated to continuous live stage entertainment. Meanwhile, clowns, magicians and balloon sculptors roamed from table to table.
"We wanted to do this in a way so that kids wouldn't be flying all over," said Kelly Happ, board secretary for Friends of Foster Kids, which was host of the event. "Everything is hopefully happening while they are in their chairs."
Before it was over, every family had been photographed, and Santa and first lady Vicky Cayetano had joined the party.
"Every family gets a bag of toys specifically designed for them, because each family has different-aged foster kids, and some have boys, some have girls, some have both," Happ said. "So, during the past two weeks, our volunteers put together 300 individual family gift bags.
"That was a big elf project, because all the toys were gift-wrapped. We have more than 200 volunteer elves, and we are using every one of them."
Some parents, such as Mele Cordeiro, are new to the foster parenting game. After raising two sons, she and her husband, Roy, became foster parents in April to three streetwise boys — Kingslow, 11; Kingston, 14; and Kingsley, 15.
"They're driving me nuts," said Cordeiro with a laugh. "But if I didn't love them, I wouldn't do it. I'm just happy their mother didn't have any more. I can't imagine what she would have named the next one."
Don and Brenda Jugoz of Wai'anae will have an extra-special Christmas this year. Tomorrow, they will adopt Matthew, the 1-year-old foster child they have cared for since he was 2 days old.
"We didn't think we'd adopt at first," Brenda Jugoz said. "But after a while, in our hearts, we knew we would. This baby is a miracle in itself. We are so blessed to have him."
Christmas will also have a special meaning for the Kipapa family of Waimanalo. After Jolyn and Kurt Kipapa raised two boys and a girl of their own, they took on eight foster children, whom they've adopted this year.
"I love 'em all with all my heart," said Kurt Kipapa, 41, as they lined up to have their portrait taken.
The soft-spoken dad divulged his secret for managing such a large brood: "Patience," he said. "Lots of patience."
Reach Will Hoover at 525-8038 or whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com
