It doesn't get much better than this..ProjectFocus gave each participant a $100 Macy's gift certificate so they could purchase clothing for their opening night exhibit reception on August 6th.  Armed and ready they hit the store before it opened to the public.  The Macy's team was great!  Breakfast by The Pineapple Room was delicious!  Did these kids "shine" or what?

An exhausting day filled to the brim!  "A Farm Fresh Breakfast at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel," with a surprise visit from Miss Hawaii 2011, Lauren Cheape, followed by a catamaran ride off Waikiki Beach and...the grande finale?   A Dolphin Quest encounter at the Kahala Hotel & Resort.

When asked who our participants would most like to meet, the resounding response was "Becky" from the award winning TV series, "Glee."  "Dream Big" is our motto and so we did. On Sunday Lauren Potter and her mother Robin arrive as a surprise to our kids.  

We were fortunate to be invited to sit down and meet with Mayor Hannemann. He is an amazing supporter for our project. Just last month he won the award for the National Award for Local Arts. Congratulations Mayor! Very well deserved. Here are some images taken that morning.

On Sunday, Andrew Tran of Moanalua High School interviewed Jane for a class project that will be aired in October on both `Olelo and throughout his school community. The short documentary is about ProjectFocus Hawaii and the ways in which projects like these can help at-risk youth. Jane, a former Moanalua High School student, talks about the challenges she faced growing up as a foster child.