Area Businessman Steps Up To Support Leilehua High School
A post on the charitable website SupportMyClass.org inspired a Waipahu business owner to donate a $1,400 power washer to Leilehua High School’s Agricultural Learning Center.
Michelle Garcia (left), community development director of SupportMyClass.org, and Leilehua High School teacher Jackie Akuna show off the school’s new power washer. Photo from David Sayles.
Mike Ward, owner and operator of Aloha Power Equipment, said the gift is in keeping with the company’s commitment to the community.
“Reflecting our company’s beliefs, we feel that giving is one of the most basic ways to contribute to the community. Whenever we can, we will,” said Ward, who started the electric equipment store in 1985.
Taking receipt of the donation was Jackie Akuna, a second-year teacher at Leilehua High School and head of the learning center. She had requested the power washer to help her students maintain the 3.5-acre farm.
The Agricultural Learning Center provides opportunities for interested students in the Central Oahu district to gain experience in the business of agriculture.
Students learn about a variety of hands-on agricultural activities including crop fielding, hydroponic greenhouses, ti leaf preservation, beekeeping, Kikuyu grass pasturing, tree keeping, composting
and animal husbandry. Harvests from the farm are provided to the school’s culinary program, where students cook what they grow. Remaining crops are sold at Wahiawa
Farmers Market. SupportMyClass is a public charity operated by the Hawaii Children’s Foundation, which helps teachers throughout Hawaii acquire the materials they need to create greater learning experiences for their students.
Donors can support a teacher by visiting the site and making a contribution to individual requests. When the monetary goal is met, the requested items are bought and given to the teacher.
