Akiu Family

The Akiu Family have two kids. Dad and Damian enjoy hunting boars, fishing and catching waves, while Lilian enjoys spending time at her mommy’s side playing with toys and participating on Team Tiny with the Hawaiian Island Cheer Group.

Lilian was born with a congenital heart defect, her heart didn’t develop completely in the womb and required multiple open-heart surgeries, with the first one being when Lilian was just 7 days old.

They were advised to give birth at Rady’s Children’s Hospital in San Diego due to the severity of her condition. During that time dad flew back and forth between Oahu and San Diego.

“A hospital social worker introduced me to the HUGS program explaining that HUGS would be a great support group for us because it was filled with families who were going through similar circumstances. I was stressed because Lillian was going to have another procedure and I wanted Kimo to be there, but the airfare was a struggle among other things. To my surprise, HUGS said: we can get him a ticket. I cried. I wasn’t aware of the extent of support that the HUGS program provides. I didn’t think providing an airfare ticket was an option.”

"Lillian is expected to have one more major open-heart surgery and we are taking the necessary steps to prepare for it." Tiarae says that the HUGS program continues to play an amazing supporting role for them: “from food baskets, family events, follow-up calls, texts, and emails, the HUGS program has provided so much comfort and support. The families we’ve met, and the stories of their journey were nothing short of amazing. All our stories and journeys are different, some more difficult than others. HUGS goes above and beyond to help us understand that we are not alone.”