Police show shearing is caring for comrade with cancer
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| From left to right: Hairstylist Jeanie Mai works on Assistant Chief Henry Lau; Officer Lani Luna, undergoing chemotherapy for ovarian cancer, prepares her brother Chris for a new look; Mai dusts off Capt. Ray Ancheta.
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser |
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By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Staff Writer
It was a different kind of police "sweep" yesterday, one that required brooms rather than handcuffs after the operation was over.
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser
More than 30 Honolulu Police Department officers shaved their heads in support of officer Lani Luna, who is undergoing chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. Luna is assigned to HPD's Juvenile Services Division.
Police officer and cancer patient Lani Luna yesterday watched fellow Honolulu officers have their heads shaved in support for her and other cancer patients. Lt. Frank Fujii stands by, at right.
Police Lt. Frank Fujii, who works with Luna, had been thinking about asking fellow officers to buzz their heads as a gesture of support for the 10-year HPD veteran, when he discussed the idea at Jeaniemai Hair Salon while getting a haircut.
"My hairstylist said she would would be willing to do the shaving," Fujii said. "At the time, we had 10 officers volunteering for it and she said it would take about an hour or so. By the weekend, we had over 30 officers willing to shave their heads."
Hairstylist Jeanie Mai did the cutting at HPD's main station.
Police forensic artist Joe Aragon shaved his head yesterday in support of Luna and also his wife, Nani, a secretary in HPD's Specialized Services Division. She, too, is undergoing chemotherapy.
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser
"I'm very grateful to these people for supporting Nani and I; they are our 'ohana " said Aragon while getting his scalp buzzed.
Hairstylist Jeanie Mai snips officer Shay Walden's pony tail.
And it wasn't just the men. Officer Shay Walden of Specialized Services Division had her head shaved after her pony tail was cut off to be used for a wig for young cancer patients who lost their hair to chemotherapy.
Luna was was overcome by the show of support.
"It's very overwhelming seeing all this," she said while wiping away tears. "Sometimes you don't realize how much people love you and care for you until something like this happens
. . . without the support of these guys, I would have had a difficult time getting through this."
