“Olivia is definitely a fighter and is very courageous as she battles this cancer,” her family explained.

WEST MAUI — The Bianco Family thanks the Maui community for its generosity and outpouring of love, letters and donations.

“It really shows how much compassion Lahaina and Maui have for one of their own,” the family noted.

Seven weeks ago, Olivia Bianco, 5, had a brain tumor removed at a California hospital. The daughter of Momoko and Alex Bianco of Kahana is a kindergarten student at King Kamehameha III School.

“Olivia has yet to speak a word, though she can understand everything you tell her. She squeezes your hand or nods to communicate, and when happy she will smile. She cannot yet sit up on her own, though with daily physical therapy, this will happen as she regains her strength,” the family reported.

“Every day, she has progress and milestones. She just recently started her second round of chemotherapy.”

Momoko and Alex use www.caringbridge.org to write journal entries to update everyone on Olivia’s progress. To follow along, go to the webpage, search for Oliviabianco (one word) and then register to gain access.

“You can even post words of encouragement to Olivia and her family. Please continue to pray for Olivia and her family for her full recovery,” noted family friend Kay Ryan.

“So far, we have had some very successful fund-raisers with great turnouts. We are going to keep going until we are able to bring Olivia home to Maui.”

Friends of Olivia and her brother, A.J., can join in at Kamp Kumulani at the Napilihau Recreation Center on May 30 to June 3 for an “Offering for Olivia.”

The “Kokua 4 Olivia” golf tournament is set for Saturday, June 4, at The Plantation Course in Kapalua. The four-person scramble event will begin with a shotgun start at 7 a.m. Cost is $130 per person; for information on the golf tournament, contact Troy Abrew at 276-0802 or troyabrew@yahoo.com.

Friends are also planning a benefit dinner with auction. To donate an item for the auction, or make a monetary donation to the Bianco Family, make checks out to Alex Bianco and mail them to Kay Ryan, P.O. Box 12661, Lahaina, HI 96761. For information, call Ryan at 669-0451 or e-mail kay@mauikay.com.