Jamil Newirth

Tavin Hashimoto is a nine year old fun-loving, upcountry Maui boy who loves to help on his grandpa’s farm.

Tavin Hashimoto is the nine year old son of Davin and Tammi-Lynn Hashimoto. The Hashimotos live in Kula, Maui with Tavin and his two younger siblings. In March of 2017 the family was devastated to learn that young Tavin had Acute Myeloid Leukemia, an aggressive form of leukemia. The family immediately flew to Kapiolani Hospital on Oahu and started his grueling treatment plan.

Tavin was tough and endured long hospital stays and a lengthy, painful chemotherapy schedule. During it all, Tavin remained positive and playful and in October 2017, the family was told that the treatment had worked and Tavin was in remission. It wasn’t long, however, until the family received the unfortunate news that Tavin’s cancer had returned. While the treatment had worked the first time around, it was extremely taxing on little Tavin’s body and immune system. Even with that painful experience, Tavin remains tough and ready to fight cancer for the second time. The family is praying that a new, more aggressive chemotherapy regime will be effective and allow Tavin to undergo a bone marrow transplant as soon as possible.

When not fighting cancer, little Tavin likes to play outside with his siblings or help his grandfather on the family farm. Tavin is tough, never complains, and is still joyful to be around. Tavin is a young optimistic Maui boy courageously fighting aggressive cancer for the second time in his young life. He knows he will beat cancer again and if you ask him how he knows, he will answer because “God’s got me.” Tavin has spent his last two birthdays in the hospital but rather than complain, he makes up for it by enjoying the limited time he spends at home these days. We all need to support little Tavin, so he can once again beat cancer and just enjoy his childhood with his family. #tavintough #lovebeatscancer #uvscfamily.

Christa Wittmier, a Honolulu legend, was diagnosed with late stage IDC in left breast with metastasis to lymph nodes and lungs in May of 2015. By September of that same year she showed no signs of cancer. However, in May 2016, the cancer returned more aggressively. She was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast Cancer and it also moved to her liver, lungs and brain. She underwent hormone therapy and finished whole brain radiation with regular scans to stay on top of the metastasis.

Contrast Magazine called her “the most important person in Hawai’i’s nightlife.”

FLUX Magazine confirmed she paid her dues as far as the industry is concerned and has helped countless promoters, musicians, DJs, and clubs especially in Chinatown.

BJPenn.com said “Chances are that this dynamic woman has had an influence in the Hawaii life you love.”

Christa, also known as “supercw” was a DJ, Columnist, and Marketing Director. Her nightlife website has intimately depicted many era’s of the scene as far back as 2005. Its content has appeared as it’s own TV segment, radio show, magazine column and won many awards.

She was a founding director for the POW! WOW! Hawaii arts festival, and the creator of many popular signature events on Oahu. Her end of the year awards blog post and accompanying events garnered many avid readers and fans.

In 2015 after a late stage breast cancer diagnosis, Christa took to social media to share her journey, notably taking an integrative approach to her treatment. Combining natural, Eastern and Western treatments she shocked everyone by showing no traces of any cancer after 12 weeks. She detailed everything she did in a viral YouTube video and wrote a free paper “A Cancer Plan of Attack” shared Google doc which has already helped thousands across the world. She also caught the attention of local press who featured both her treatment regimens and her events post-cancer to help other cancer patients.

With the response of her YouTube video of her Snapchat Story and TEDxHonolulu appearance Christa began filming her documentary “Invisible Illness” in October of 2015.

Sadly, in January of 2019, we lost Christa, but her love and memory has encouraged us and many others to keep fighting!  #lovebeatscancer #cwstrong #weloveyouchrista

Blythe is a full-time single mother to four young sons, Kohdy (12), Kayzn (4), Kaleb (3), and Keanu (1), with whom she loves taking on beach adventures. She was also very career-driven and enjoyed several years as a Target Executive. She’s got a magnetic personality, making friends wherever she goes and is the type of friend that’s always there for you, no matter what. Those close to Blythe know she’s also the life of the party, always singing, dancing, and making everyone laugh.

Blythe’s health took a turn when she had her gallbladder removed in the summer of 2021, when doctor’s misdiagnosed a gallstone. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a tumor. A week later, Blythe was diagnosed with stage 3 gallbladder cancer, a very unpredictable, rare, and aggressive type of cancer. Shortly thereafter, a scan revealed cancer cells found on part of her liver, closest to where the gallbladder lay. Castle surgeons performed a liver recession surgery with robotic assistance to remove the cancerous cells. Her oncologist decided to start chemotherapy treatment in hopes of eliminating any remaining cancer cells.

After two months of treatment, another scan revealed the cancer spread throughout her abdomen. Blythe was put on a more aggressive chemotherapy treatment plan. And a few months later, another body scan revealed the cancer had spread across her liver, causing liver failure. Doctors gave her three months to live.

Blythe continues to struggle and UVSC, and the community, remembers all the times Blythe was our friend that we turned to in times need. She has always been there for us, and it’s our turn to rally support for her.

Trucker Dukes, the youngest son of Maui fire fighter Joshua Dukes and Maui jewelry maker Shauna Dukes, was diagnosed with Stage IV neuroblastoma, an aggressive cancer that spread to 50% of his body. The 3 year old has an older sister and two older brothers and has been undergoing painful cancer treatments almost his entire life.

“A few months before I took him to the doctor he had a fever for a week,” Shauna said. “His molars were coming in, so I thought, ‘Man, he’s just a fussy teether.’ Later, we found out that it is really common for neuroblastoma patients to have a fever.” Trucker’s fever and irritability returned a few weeks later and Shauna’s mom noticed that his stomach looked distended.

“He’s always had a big ‘opu, he’s a really good eater, so I didn’t think too much of it,” Shauna said. “My mom felt his stomach, she’s actually the one who found it. It was hard as a rock.” Shauna took him to the pediatrician that morning on November 24, 2014.

“He also had a little black eye, and the doctor asked how he got it. I didn’t know. Now in retrospect, I know that black eyes are signs of neuroblastoma and I think that is what alerted the doctor.” Shauna continues, “I expected her to say, ‘He has an infection, go home, here are some antibiotics.’” Instead, Shauna was told he had a big mass in his stomach and more tests on Oahu were needed. A low hemoglobin count required a blood transfusion on Maui “I feel like I haven’t really woke up from the nightmare ever since.”

“The shock of your baby having a blood transfusion is huge. Now he’s had eight and chemo. It’s amazing how you adjust to your new normal. I was freaking out one day when I was talking to the oncologist,” Shauna said. “Under normal circumstances, you would never give your kid this much stuff.”

The oncologist asked her if she surfed. Shauna, a surfer who met Joshua while surfing at Honolua Bay in 2004, said yes. The doctor said that he was not a good surfer and when he falls off a wave into the white wash, he feels like he’s never going to come up. Then he relaxes and pops right up. “He told me, ‘Well, you’re in the white wash right now. You need to relax and accept your new normal and then you’ll be able to breathe,” Shauna said. “He’s so right. If they are not giving him all these medications then he’s going to lose his life. It is so scary, the thought of giving him chemo. They are trying to save his life. I’m trying to let go of my old normal. I’m still letting go.”

“People tell me, ‘You’re so strong’ but you don’t have a choice,” Shauna said. “I just say, ‘Thank you.’ I don’t know what else to say. When you’re in it, you just do what you have to. There are no other options. You have to be strong.”

Trucker was under the care of doctors at Memorial Hospital in New York City. During treatments, Trucker and his mom lived at the New York City Ronald McDonald House.

Trucker is recovering from a brain surgery to remove a tumor followed by radiation treatment to his brain and spine.

Trucker Dukes, the 3-year-old son of a Maui Fire Fighter, became an honorary Maui Fire Fighter on December 14, 2015.

“I, Trucker, Honorary Firefighter for the County of Maui, Department of Fire and Public Safety, do solemnly swear on this 14th day of December, 2015, to fight hard against cancer, to love my parents, family, and friends, to continue to be as strong and brave as I have been for the past year, to light up the lives of everyone around me with my smile and laugh, and to never lose my hope or my spirit, so help me God.”

Most recently, Trucker has not been feeling well at all and really needs all of our help and support! #TeamTrucker #lovebeatscancer #coolestlittlecancerfighter #weloveyoutrucker