Complaint Review: Hawaii Athletes In Action - Ewa Beach Hawaii

I would like to put my endorsement in on behalf of HAIA, Hawaii Athletes in Action.     This person who wrote the negative report was never involved with HAIA and just has an axe to grind.  It is jealousy and it its very sad.   HAIA and the Tuiasosopo family have done fine work on behalf of the Hawaii athletes looking to get to camps, combines, SAT workshops and more.  They are good people and HAIA is a good organization.  

Doris Sullivan, President, Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance
[email protected]

Our family considers ourselves truly blessed and fortunate indeed to have had our son participate in Hawaii Athletes in Action sponsored activities this past summer. Without the tremendous sacrifice and generosity of the Tuiasosopo family, our son as well as the more than 20 other young men who traveled with him, would not have been able to experience the incredibly powerful, positively life changing opportunity of traveling from our small island in the middle of the Pacific to well known, established football camps across the Continental U.S., gaining recognition and numerous awards and accolades along the way. Like many other families in Hawaii, our family faces the daily struggle to survive in Hawaii's harsh financial reality, with rising housing costs, the highest gas and consumer product prices in the U.S. and a difficult, often unstable economy, providing for our family's needs on a day to day basis is a challenge to say the least. Trying to envision the staggering cost of a college education for our sons is often too overwhelming to consider. Lua and Ana Tuiasosopo, by founding Hawaii Athletes in Action, providided our family with a vision of a future full of possibilities for our son. Their were no empty promises made by the Tuiasosopos or anyone else for that matter. The only promise made was the motto of the organization, "to teach tomorrow's leaders, today." To encourage each young athlete to dream of a bright future, whether it be here in Hawaii or abroad, to get an education, to strive to be the best in whatever they set their hearts and mind to, and to do so with kindness, generosity of spirit and integrity. Any achievements, accolades, awards or potential college scholarships, either athletic or academic, that each student-athlete achieves will be theirs alone, garnered through their own hard work, committment and effort and through the support of their parents and families, their fellow student-athletes and the tremendous support and generosity of all of the volunteers, participants and founders of Hawaii Athletes in Action. Our family's sincere and heartfelt appreciation go out to Lua and Ana Tuiasosopo, Bulla Eastman and all the incredibly wonderful families of Hawaii Athletes in Action for all that you have done and continue to do for our sons, now and in the future!

I am the proud parent of a son who ACTUALLY traveled with HAIA this past summer, and everything in "Mariska's" letter is false! At no time were we told that the trip would cost $800. Our sons traveled to two states, were involved in 3 - 5 camps and combines before returning home for one last camp. The actual cost of the trip was around $2000+, but our sons were assessed only $1500 and most of that was paid off through fundraising sponsored by HAIA. At no time were any of our funds used by Mrs. Lua Tuiasosopo or her family. Of course, if you were an actual parent involved with HAIA, you would have known this by the accounting report given by the HAIA Board. Lua Tuiasosopo and Bulla Eastman along with the rest of the HAIA Board are honest, dedicated, hardworking parents, who have been giving tirelessly for the benefit of our children. They do not make promises they cannot keep. HAIA's motto "teaching tomorrow's leaders today" is exactly what they are doing! Unfortunately, when you start something and it is successful, jealously always rears its ugly head, and "Mariska's" letter is just that. Jealousy and hate, how sad your life must be, "Mariska". Hawaii Athletes In Action is an honest, upstanding and awesome organization! Our sons will benefit greatly on and off the field through the support of HAIA. To Lua & Ana Tuiasosopo, Bulla Eastman, the HAIA Board and all parents involved: May God continue to bless you and all of the hard work you do on behalf of our sons and their future!