HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – October marks Filipino American History Month, and each year, the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu honors service leaders who embody the spirit of “bayanihan” or community.
This year’s “Bayanihan Gala” takes place at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Tapa Ballroom on Saturday, Oct. 11, starting at 5:30 p.m.
Event committee chair Vanessa Kop and one of this year’s honorees University of Hawaii Board of Regents chair Gabriel Lee joined HNN’s Sunrise to talk about the center’s marquee fundraiser.
Also being honored are Christina Hause of Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, Russell Lau of Finance Factors, and Dr. Lawrence Tseu, founder of the Tseu Medical Institute at Oxford University. All four honorees are part of FilCom’s Board of Governors.
“We are honored to present our 2025 Bayanihan Gala, celebrating ‘The Power of Generosity and Building Connections,’ Kop said. ”This year’s theme reflects the essence of bayanihan—our Filipino tradition of community unity and mutual support—values that resonate deeply within Hawaii’s business landscape.”
The event will feature performances, silent auction and a special raffle.
For ticket information, visit the FilCom Center page here.
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