HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	296
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

Honoring Frank De Lima for his outstanding service to hawaii's youth through the "Frank de lima student enrichment program".

WHEREAS, Frank De Lima, born Frank Wilcox Napuakekaulike De Lima, Jr., was born on July 8, 1949 to Frank De Lima, Sr. and Pearl De Lima and grew up in Pauoa Valley; and

     WHEREAS, Frank De Lima attended Damien Memorial High School and went on to receive his Bachelor's of Arts in Sociology from Chaminade University as well as a Master's in Divinity from St. Patrick's Seminary & University in Menlo Park, California and was ordained a deacon in Redwood City, California and was assigned to Holy Trinity Church, Kuli‘ou‘ou; and

     WHEREAS, Frank De Lima realized at an early age his natural talent for making family and friends laugh and believes that the ability to draw laughter or a smile is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your fellow man; and

WHEREAS, research has shown health benefits of laughter and humor ranging from strengthening the immune system to reducing food cravings to increasing one's threshold for pain as well as therapy to help people heal more quickly, among other things; and

     WHEREAS, Frank De Lima is the living embodiment of Hawaii's ethnic and cultural diversity whereby he describes himself as a "Portuguese Soup" of Portuguese, Hawaiian, Irish, Chinese, English, Spanish and Scottish ethnicities using humor to break down the barriers that enable people to celebrate ethnic diversity and laugh at themselves; and

     WHEREAS, in 1985 after five years of developing his school visitation program, Frank De Lima established "The Frank De Lima Student Enrichment Program" as a means of giving back to the Hawaii community by the nurturing and encouragement of Hawaii's youth; and

     WHEREAS, through "The Frank De Lima Student Enrichment Program" Frank De Lima visits over 300 elementary and middle/intermediate public and private schools over a two-year period using a curriculum that incorporates his unique talent for humor as a means of communicating serious matters, instilling life-affirming ideals and making a positive impact on their character and lives; and

WHEREAS, Frank De Lima has received numerous awards for his contributions to Hawaii's Aloha Spirit including "The Serving Heart" Civic Character Award, Governor Benjamin J. Cayetano's "Kilohana Awards" for Volunteer of the Year and the "Ellison S. Onizuka" Memorial Award from the National Education Association; now, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, commends Frank De Lima for his success in keeping Hawaii laughing and greatly appreciates his work through "The Frank De Lima Student Enrichment Program" helping to nurture the next generation of Hawaii with the kind of humor that breaks down barriers and builds up unity and wishes Frank De Lima a fond Aloha and looks forward to many more years of crossing ethnic barriers through his unique brand of humor.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Frank DeLima; honoring