December Makana Pono
Posted on December 30, 2021
Makana Pono: Employee Giving Program
Mark Imaizumi
Employee and Community Engagement Coordinator
Organization: Make-A-Wish Hawaii Chapter
From left to right: Director of Social Work Ednalyn Diaz, James Donnelly (hospitality & development manager of Make-A-Wish), Erika Knudson (wish coordinator of Make-A-Wish and Mark Imaizumi.
As the December Makana Pono awardee, Mark directed a $5,000 donation to Make-A-Wish Hawaii to support funding life-changing wishes for keiki with critical illnesses.
Many years ago, Mark Imaizumi witnessed the power and impact of Make-A-Wish during his competition in the Merrie Monarch Festival. Between the performances, a young boy from Oklahoma named Chase was introduced on the festival stage. The host explained that a doctor introduced Chase to hula to help prevent his condition from limiting his movement. Inspired by the dances each year at the Merrie Monarch, Chase’s wish was to dance hula on that same stage. By introducing Chase to local halau and bringing him on stage to perform, the Make-A-Wish Foundation made his dream come true. “Not a single person was left unaffected by the power of support, belief in wishes, and positive thinking,” explained Mark. “The crowd was teary-eyed and gave the boy a standing ovation.” Left with a lasting memory of seeing a child’s wish come true before his eyes, Mark has become a strong supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and believes that wishes are meant to be fulfilled.
As the December Makana Pono awardee, Mark directed a $5,000 donation to Make-A-Wish Hawaii to support funding life-changing wishes for keiki with critical illnesses. When a wish comes true it creates strength, hope and transformation in a child – and a community.
Mark has worked out of the town office for over three years. As the employee and community engagement coordinator, he works with different areas of the organization with the main goal of connecting Islands Hospice with opportunities to give back to the community. This holiday season he reminds his colleagues, “Kindness to each other does not cost a cent, share aloha with each other. As Dwayne Johnson said, ‘it is nice to be important, but it is important to be nice.’"
As the December Makana Pono awardee, Mark directed a $5,000 donation to Make-A-Wish Hawaii to support funding life-changing wishes for keiki with critical illnesses. When a wish comes true it creates strength, hope and transformation in a child – and a community.
Mark has worked out of the town office for over three years. As the employee and community engagement coordinator, he works with different areas of the organization with the main goal of connecting Islands Hospice with opportunities to give back to the community. This holiday season he reminds his colleagues, “Kindness to each other does not cost a cent, share aloha with each other. As Dwayne Johnson said, ‘it is nice to be important, but it is important to be nice.’"