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Big City Diner Hosts Fundraiser for Dikito Children

By Mari-Ela David

WAIPIO (KHNL) -- Four Ewa Beach kids are now orphans, after their father shot their mother to death before turning the gun on himself last month.

On Tuesday, Big City Diner held a fundraiser at all five of its locations to help the Dikito children piece their lives back together.

Blayne, Brelynn, Bronlyn, and Brenna Dikito struggle to lead normal lives again after losing their parents to domestic violence.

"It's not really the same, because I can't hear their voice anymore," said 13-year-old Bronlyn.

"Very hard for me, especially for my sisters. And I had to stay strong for them," said Blayne, the oldest Dikito child.

At Big City Diner in Waipio, the community poured into the restaurant hoping to help the children cope with the stress of trying to make ends meet. Their parent's deaths have left the kids with hefty bills, including a $2600 mortgage.

"It's just a hard situation to see these children have to go through and anything we could to do help them, we want to make sure we step up," said Tony Turner, a neighbor.

"It just means so much to us because the children need it and it's just a great help. It really is, it's just overwhelming," said the Dikita's cousin, Ashley Quiocho.

On top of Big City Diner's fundraiser - an announcement when the kids arrived at the restaurant.

"Verizon Wireless will be giving you guys four phones with free minutes. I'm finalizing the details with them," said Big City Diner's Corporate Director of Human Resources, Walter Enriquez, Jr.

The kids say the support has helped them get through their tragic loss.

"I still think that Mom and Dad are coming home from work, but they're not," said 14-year-old Brelynn.

While they no longer have parents, the Dikito children say they are finding comfort in the overwhelming support of the community.

As of Tuesday night, preliminary numbers showed that Big City Diner raised $3500. But those numbers came in before a few of the locations closed, so the dollar amount is expected to go up once all the tabs are in.