{"id":1162,"date":"2026-07-14T01:27:29","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T01:27:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kaimanaola.org\/?page_id=1162"},"modified":"2026-07-20T17:43:59","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T17:43:59","slug":"home-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.kaimanaola.org\/","title":{"rendered":"Home"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
\nSupporting local children while<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n

Raising Awareness About Their Medical Condition<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Leigh
Kaimanaola
Foundation<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nP.O. BOX 8872
Honolulu, HI 96830
ATTN: RICH ELLIOTT
EIN: 93-1445750 501(c)(3)<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

We are a non-profit organization dedicated to hosting an annual benefit golf tournament that directly supports a local child born with unique challenges.  Together, we strive to celebrate their journey, share their story and raise awareness about their medical condition.  

The tournament also allows us to share Leigh Kaimanaola Kema's story with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1).<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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\nTHE 4TH ANNUAL KAIMANAOLA Benefit GOLF TOURNAMENT<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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9.11.26<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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REGISTER A TEAM<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/a>
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DONATE A PRIZE<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/a>
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VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Hero<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\nHONORING OUR 2026 CHILD OF THE YEAR<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Brayden Kumasaki<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

This year, we honor Brayden Kumasaki and his extraordinary journey.<\/p>\n

Brayden and his twin brother, Brysen, were born in 2019 at just 24 weeks — micro-preemies whose odds were against them from day one. Brysen passed away just a few hours after birth. No one was certain Brayden would make it either, but he began making slow progress in the NICU.<\/p>\n

At two months old, the family started to hope they might soon bring him home. Instead, Brayden needed to be intubated. After weeks of tests and uncertainty, doctors determined he would need a tracheostomy, performed on March 10, 2020. As his care team began weaning his sedation, they discovered his tracheomalacia was far more severe than expected, requiring a custom trach. Complications followed — fluid retention, an abdominal drain, and a transfer to the PICU — and Brayden's condition declined to the point where his family faced the hardest decision a parent can make and signed a DNR.<\/p>\n

After weeks of fighting, and countless prayers, Brayden began to turn a corner. Further tests confirmed he was no longer dying, and after weeks of training and learning, his family finally brought him home. To this day, Brayden's family remains deeply thankful for the NICU and PICU teams who cared for him through it all — the steady hands and hearts who fought alongside them every step of the way.<\/p>\n

Since coming home, Brayden's mom has been his full-time caregiver, managing his round-the-clock medical needs, while his dad continues working at Aiea Bowling Alley to support their family. Their days are built entirely around Brayden's care, therapies, and appointments.<\/p>\n

Every milestone since has been hard-won. His tracheostomy has since been removed, and we're celebrating his most recent victory — the removal of his G-tube. Each step forward reflects his courage and determination, and his family's unwavering love and strength.<\/p>\n

Our own connection with Brayden is especially meaningful — our Vice President and co-founder, Larson Leu, and his wife, Melissa, first met Brayden through Melissa's work in healthcare, making his selection as our 2026 Child of the Year a truly full-circle moment for our foundation.<\/p>\n

Inspired by Brayden's resilience and his love of Disney's Cars<\/em>, we take to the course ready to \"keep moving forward\"—celebrating every victory, rallying around Brayden and his 'ohana, and bringing a little Cars<\/em>-themed fun to the tournament as we raise hope and support for children and families throughout Hawai'i.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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\nour reason<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Leigh +
NF1<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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 <\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Leigh Kaimanaola Kema was born in May of 2019 and diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 at one month old. NF1 is a rare genetic disorder of the nervous system that affects cell growth and allows tumors to grow on nerves. In March of 2022, Leigh’s Ophthalmologist scheduled an MRI to address concerns with the bulging and laziness of her left eye. Immediately following the results, her life took a drastic turn. The MRI confirmed bilateral optic nerve gliomas, tumors had grown on both of her eyes.  Leigh would undergo 14 months of chemotherapy in the Pediatric Ambulatory Unit at Kapiolani Medical Center to try and save her vision. The treatment helped to stabilize the tumors, but her life would never be the same.<\/p>\n

In June of 2026, Leigh completed a second round of preventative chemotherapy.  She continues her routine checkups with MRIs and monitoring from various medical specialists.  She receives IEP support from the DOE and ongoing speech and physical therapy sessions at Kapiolani.  Leigh has lost all vision in her left eye, and has limited vision in her right. Tumors are still affecting her body in other areas.<\/p>\n

Despite everything she has gone through, Leigh continues to thrive, adapt and grow.  She is full of life and always smiling.  Her strength is the reason this foundation was created and the reason we celebrate her and every future child we hope to support.<\/p>\n

\"Kaimanaola\" - the spiritual essence of the sea<\/pre><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Image\"<\/span>
RICHARD ELLIOTT<\/h3>\n
CO-FOUNDER<\/span>
PRESIDENT<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Image\"<\/span>
LARSON LEU<\/h3>\n
CO-FOUNDER 
VICE PRESIDENT<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Image\"<\/span>
AARON LANGHOFF<\/h3>\n
SECRETARY<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Image\"<\/span>
ASHLEY KEMA<\/h3>\n
COMMUNICATIONS
GOLF TOURNAMENT CHAIR<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Image\"<\/span>
OUR TEAM<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Image\"<\/span>
PAUL KEMA<\/h3>\n
DIRECTOR \/ TREASURER<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Supporting local children while Raising Awareness About Their Medical ConditionLeighKaimanaolaFoundation P.O. BOX 8872 Honolulu, HI 96830ATTN: RICH ELLIOTTEIN: 93-1445750 501(c)(3)We are a non-profit organization dedicated to hosting an annual benefit …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-blank-4.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1162","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","no-post-thumbnail"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kaimanaola.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1162","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kaimanaola.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kaimanaola.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kaimanaola.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kaimanaola.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1162"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.kaimanaola.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1162\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1261,"href":"https:\/\/www.kaimanaola.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1162\/revisions\/1261"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kaimanaola.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1162"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}