barryv —

I would like to share an incredible experience today that has inspired me to live my life with a renewed and heightened sense of Love and Compassion for everyone. I want to truly thank Principal Stacie Kunihisa and her wonderful Kanoelani Elementary School staff and students for inviting me to the Choose Love Conference held on February 2 at the school campus.

Principal Kunihisa has branded the school with her philosophy to: Learn More. Card More. Be More. She has incorporated in her the school the Choose Love Movement that was founded by Scarlett Lewis who lost her son Jesse n the 2012 Sandy Hook School mass shooting. Jesse's heroics and message of "Nurturing Healing Love" left behind on a kitchen chalk board the day before the shooting inspired her to start the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement that teaches forgiveness and the mission to change the thoughts of anger into love. She is an advocate for Social and Emotional Learning that along with the Choose Love Movement formula of Courage, Gratitude, Forgiveness, and Compassion has reached schools across America and over 50 countries.

Scarlett Lewis was the featured speaker this morning at the conference and I am so grateful for the opportunity to hear her share her son's story of life and love and also for being blessed with the chance to meet her.

Our first lady, Dawn Amano-Ige also spoke at the conference and delivered impactful words of love that came from her heart that she passionately shared with all attendees and invited guests. She is such a wonderful soul that truly cares for the welfare of our children. She is also a former educator that served as a Kanoelani Elementary Vice-Principal with Principal Kunihisa. Thank you for being there today.

Thank you to student Choose Love Ambassadors Abbie Tadaki and Manoa Monteiro for a great job as welcome speakers to open the conference.

From my heart, I am blessed to have Principal Kunihisa as a very special friend that has enhanced my life with her message of caring for one another in everything you do. I cherish her friendship, like many others, and always will. Thank you!



Photo by Barry Villamil | barry@mypearlcity.com

Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement founder Scarlett Lewis shared her son Jesse's

Courageous and inspiring story of "Nurturing Healing Love” as a guest speaker

on Saturday at the Choose Love Conference held at Kanoelani Elementary School.

Photo by Barry Villamil | barry@mypearlcity.com

Mahalo to the Kanoelani Elementary staff for all their hard work and amazing hospitality.

Photo by Barry Villamil | barry@mypearlcity.com

Three very special leaders!

First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige, Kanoelani Elementary Principal Stacie Kunihisa,

and Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement founder Scarlett Lewis.

Photo by Barry Villamil | barry@mypearlcity.com

Ka’elepulu School Principal Jamie DelaCruz (Proud Principal of a Choose Love School), First

Lady Dawn Amano-Ige, and Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement founder Scarlett Lewis.

Photo by Barry Villamil | barry@mypearlcity.com

Kanoelani Elementary hosted 380 Choose Love Conference attendees.

Photo by Barry Villamil | barry@mypearlcity.com

Kanoelani Elementary hosted 380 Choose Love Conference attendees.

Photo by Barry Villamil | barry@mypearlcity.com

MAHALO!

Photo by Barry Villamil | barry@mypearlcity.com

Choose Love wall filled with inspirational messages posted at Kanoelani Elementary.