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BackgroundCaring Hands Sarcoidosis Foundation has established “The Kuipiio Livingston Sarcoidosis Retreat & Workshop” in honor of our Fallen Snowflake Kuipiio Livingston. Kuipiio was dedicated to raising awareness for Sarcoidosis and the purpose of our unique event. She attended all of our awareness events when her health allowed but the most precious to us were her participation at our Sarcoidosis Retreats & Workshops. It was during those times we were able to bond and have intimate conversations about this disease, our particular journeys and what we could continue accomplishing to make a positive difference within the Sarcoidosis community. Caring Hands Sarcoidosis Foundation is most proud of our collaboration with Kuipiio in the making of the PSA - Sarcoidosis Awareness with Kuipiio Livingston. Her willingness to be transparent about her life living with Sarcoidosis was remarkable and it has touched people around the world. “The Kuipiio Livingston Sarcoidosis Retreat & Workshop Scholarship” is the opportunity to award a participant with the opportunity to attend our event who would otherwise not have the means. Please donate now and help us to celebrate and honor the life and dedication of Kuipiio. (PSA link) https://youtu.be/Mh7WAJkOujc
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Kuipiio's Story
KUIPIIO (pronounced ……Koo-wee-pee-oh). Her name is Hawaiian which means “Little Angel”. Her voice was angelic and seemed to stand as a prophecy to her name. Kuipiio just celebrated her 45 birthday and was a native Detroiter who spent the greater part of her life cultivating and polishing the precious gift that God had entrusted to her. Hypnotic, passionate and captivating are just a few words that have been used to describe the melodic sounds that are produced when this young lady opened her mouth to sing. She delivered each note with a seemingly effortless ease and could throw out runs and riffs without even the slightest hesitation. Her uncanny ear for music created a talent for developing harmonies that causes even the most accomplished artists to stand and applaud. In 1996, she joined Perfecting Church in Detroit MI (Pastor, Marvin L. Winans), where she served as a member of the Praise & Worship Team and Perfected Praise Choir. In her early years as a member of Perfecting you could find Kuipiio working as one of the assistant choir director's to the PYC's (Perfecting Youth Chorale) as well as serving on the Deaf Ministry. She would later join the Perfected Praise choir. Seeing a rare talent, Pastor Winans immediately pulled her out to sing lead on various songs. This opportunity and her drive to sing God's praises has afforded her the opportunity to work with some of the industry's elite singers and musicians including The Winans, The Clark Sisters, Donnie McClurkin, and Kim Burrell just to name a few. In 1999 Kuipiio was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis, which left her lungs scared to the point of needing a lung transplant. She prayed and believed God would raise her up and restore her in spite of her deteriorating condition. “I believe GOD, and I trust him all the way” had been her daily confession. To the amazement of her doctors, she returned to the mic and stage. Kuipiio's ambitions reach far beyond just being a singer. In 2011, she and producer James Shelton opened The Kings Sound Production Co and by 2013 released her freshman EP entitled “Kuipiio pronounced, Koo-wee-pee-oh”. She went in to develop her skills as a writer/ produce and studio engineer.
