Iwie Tamashiro, the director of the diocesan Ministry for Persons with Disabilities, has been given the Diocesan Women’s Concerns Committee’s 2005 Mustard Seed award.

The honor is the committee’s yearly recognition of a Catholic woman in Hawaii “whose faith inspired activities and behavior benefits others.”

Through her Ministry for Persons with Disabilities, Tamashiro has assisted parishes in opening their doors to those with mobility, hearing, sight, developmental and emotional disabilities. Through her work, parishes have appointed advocates for persons with disabilities, installed wheelchair ramps, bought listening devices and large print missalettes for those with hearing and sight impairments, and have instituted sacramental programs for persons with developmental and other disabilities.

Because of her family’s history with cancer, Iwie has encouraged her family to participate in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Mililani. Last year she became the coordinator of the event which recognizes cancer survivors and their caregivers and raises money for research.

As the wife of a Hawaii National Guard battalion commander who was recently sent to the Middle East, Tamashiro has taken on an additional role of coordinating care for the wives and families of the recently deployed men and women.

Tamashiro also uses her talents as a certified sign language interpreter in her parish, for diocesan functions and for community events including the Easter Sunrise Service at Punchbowl. She credits her experience in signing an entire Engaged Encounter weekend for a deaf couple with the seeds of her conversion to the Catholic faith.

“Each of these roles draws on the many talents and gifts that Iwie so willingly shares with others in need,” said a statement by the Women’s Concerns Committee, a group that addresses the needs and challenges of Catholic women in Hawaii.

“Iwie is truly that Catholic woman in the Diocese of Honolulu whose faith inspired activities and behavior benefits others. Like the mustard seed, she demonstrates the difference that one person can make in the lives of others,” it said.