In Uvalde, a town with ‘so many broken hearts,’ Maui group offers a mile-long lei and a lot of love

UVALDE, TEXAS (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii volunteers delivered a mile-long lei to the Uvalde group on Saturday morning, hoping the gesture helps the group heal in some small manner.

Within the coronary heart of Uvalde’s City Sq., the memorial to the victims of the Robb Elementary College capturing continues to develop. Each single day flowers are added, extra candles are lit, and tales concerning the 19 youngsters and two lecturers who died are instructed. It’s right here the place the volunteers supplied their “lei of aloha.”

On Saturday, the volunteers have been bodily drained after taking their lei from Maui to Uvalde.

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However they have been additionally emotionally exhausted. They’ve now been to a couple of half-dozen mass capturing websites.

Each one is tough. Uvalde, although, was the hardest to date.

“This could by no means be occurring, particularly to our keiki,” mentioned Lei of Aloha founder Ron Panzo. He added delivering the lei “simply felt like the proper factor to do.”

In a presentation ceremony Saturday, the group sought to supply consolation to mourning members of the family — with mele, lei and hugs.

Cindy Castillo misplaced her granddaughter, Lexi Rubio, within the capturing. She mentioned the ceremony was stunning and thanked the Maui group for touring to date.

“It created a way of calmness,” added Castillo, of the ceremony.

Among the many family members greedy ti leaf woven into one lengthy lei was Rolando Arizmendi — uncle of Ellie Garcia. Saturday would have been her tenth birthday.

“Individuals from Hawaii, giving their blessings and all of the love that they’re displaying, it’s an honor to me,” mentioned Arizmendi. His personal daughter was pulled out of sophistication the day of the capturing as a result of she received an award.

He mentioned his coronary heart is heavy for not doing the identical for his niece.

The group’s ache won’t ever go away, however mourners mentioned the nice and cozy gesture supplied consolation.

“I’m so grateful that you simply all have paid your manner from Hawaii to our little city,” mentioned group member Yvonne Hernandez. “There are such a lot of damaged hearts, and we have to come collectively.”

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