Volunteer Spotlight

Riki Irie

CASA Volunteer since 2016

"The Beauty of Giving Back"

 Riki and Kevin

 Many of you already know CASA volunteer Riki Irie as the owner of the esteemed Malama Day Spa in Astoria. Riki has been a CASA volunteer since December 2016 and we are happy to let you get to know her a little bit better.

Riki comes from a family with roots in Hawaii. She was born there and spent her early years on Oahu with her parents and brother.  When Riki was about 10 years old, her parents decided that she and her brother would get a better education in Missouri, her mother’s home state. Her parents made the huge sacrifice to move mom and kids to Missouri, while dad stayed in Hawaii to continue with his career and support his family. Riki learned early on the personal sacrifices that caring parents will make for their children. Of course, as soon as the kids finished high school, her parents re-united in Hawaii and Riki enjoys visiting her parents as often as possible!

After high school and after getting an AA degree, Riki decided to obtain her professional licenses as an aesthetician. As a typical insecure high school girl, her interest in make-up arose out of her desire to change her looks (especially her dramatic eyebrows), but with some maturity she found that enhancing her clients’ appearance, and the satisfaction of making her clients happy, were the fulfilling aspects of her occupation. Her “weird obsession” with eyebrows has become the linchpin of her business including her newly launched microblading service.

Riki came to Astoria in 2010. As Riki says, since arriving here she “has never wished to live anywhere else for a single day.”  Malama Day Spa is her first independent business venture, and she is extremely grateful to her colleagues, clients and the community for supporting her business, helping her create jobs and give others enjoyment.

So, how does this young woman run her businesses, keep up with her family and friends, enjoy her musical hobbies, and be an outstanding CASA? Riki does it all with grace. Riki decided to be a CASA after being a Lunch Buddy, knowing she wanted to give something back to children and to focus on something outside of herself. While it was an impulse decision to attend training, she stuck with it and took her first case immediately after being sworn in.

Riki thinks it’s actually easier to be a CASA than to be a Lunch Buddy in terms of scheduling, since most hearings are set far in advance and the visits with the child and foster family and others can be done on the CASA’s schedule.  She said, “Everyone is busy but this is a chance to prioritize your time to be a part of a positive change for someone.” Her parents taught her the importance of giving back and putting yourself in another person’s shoes. 

Last year, Riki shaved off all of her beautiful long hair to help raise funds for an ill child. When her CASA child noticed the dramatic change, Riki had a chance to explain why she took action to help another. She feels she has helped support this little girl’s self-esteem and Riki has taken great pleasure in seeing the tremendous strides that this child has made with the love and care of her foster family.

While it is a big emotional commitment, Riki says that being a CASA has made her a “better citizen of the world” with more compassion and less judgment. She hopes that others will consider becoming a part of positive change for a child in need through CASA. She is a great example of someone who joyfully makes the time for something she cares about. We love having Riki in our CASA family!