Hawaii Family Forum and the Hawaii Catholic Conference will present its second annual “Friend of the Family Awards” to two retiring state legislators on Nov. 28 at St. Stephen Diocesan Center dining room.

Receiving the honors for their “outstanding leadership in protecting Hawaii’s keiki are Dennis Arakaki former Democratic state representative for district 30, and Bud Stonebraker, former Republican state representative for district 17.

According to Kelly Rosati, director of Hawaii Family Forum and Hawaii Catholic Conference spokeswoman, Rep. Arakaki, as co-chairman of the keiki caucus, “fought tirelessly for health care and other essential services for Hawaii’s most needy keiki.”

She added, “As chairman of the state House of Representatives health committee, he was instrumental in stopping efforts to legalize physician-assisted suicide and in protecting the religious freedom of St. Francis hospital and Catholic Charities.”

Rosati described Rep. Stonebraker as an “articulate and passionate advocate for all human life, from conception to natural death.”

“He was a tireless opponent of physician assisted suicide,” said Rosati, “and also worked alongside Rep. Arakaki on the health committee to protect the sanctity of life, religious freedom in health care and the message of abstinence for Hawaii’s youth.”

Hawaii Family Forum is a non-denominational educational organization that acts as an advocate on behalf of Hawaii’s families. The Hawaii Catholic Conference is the public policy arm of the Diocese of Honolulu.

Last year’s Friend of the Family awardees were state attorney general Mark Bennett and city prosecutor Peter Carlisle.