Area Golf Tourney Funds Watershed Restoration, Nonprofits

The recipients of funds raised by Pacific Links Hawaii are (from left) Billy Richards of Partners In Development, Eric Enos of Kaala Farm, John Leong of Kupu, Pacific Links Foundation board of directors member Ku’uhaku Park, Matthew Bauer of Kupu, Pacific Links Hawaii COO Micah A. Kane, Pacific Links Foundation board member John DeSoto, Cynthia Rezentes of Mohala I Ka Wai, Sachi Kaulukukui of Nanakuli Pathways to Health, and Kimo Kai of UH-West Oahu. Photo courtesy of Bennet Group.

Pacific Links Hawaii Foundation recently presented local nonprofits with funds raised through last year’s championship tournament at the PLH Kapolei Golf Club.

A total of $200,000 was donated, and more than $100,000 is going to Kupu, Kaala Farm and Mohala I Ka Wai to support their watershed restoration work in West Oahu.

“We are so grateful to the Pacific Links Hawaii Foundation for believing in our organization and efforts to train Hawaii’s next generation in natural resource management, renewable energy, energy conservation and other green job skill sets,” stated Kupu executive director John Leong.

“With this contribution, not only will we be able to make great strides toward reviving our watershed, but we will ensure that future generations will be able to steward our natural resources responsibly.”

“It’s something that I think here in paradise we have taken for granted. We can’t just assume that our watershed, our lands that give us life-giving water, are going to be safe,” stated Gov. Neil Abercrombie. “The government cannot do it alone. We’ve got to work to put together a combination of organizations, including the Pacific Links Hawaii Foundation, that are all committed to doing great work.”

The other beneficiaries, many of which are based in West Oahu, are Family Programs Hawaii, Partners in Development, University of Hawaii West Oahu, Nanakuli Pathways to Health, Hoa ‘Aina O Makaha, After-School-All-Stars Hawaii, Waianae District Comprehensive Health and Hospital Board and Kapolei Community Development Corporation.

“It’s our mission at Pacific Links Hawaii to foster environmentally responsible practices for land management, preserve Hawaiian culture and create opportunities for keiki,” stated Pacific Links Hawaii COO Micah A. Kane.

“We’re thrilled about this opportunity because it allows us to come together with different organizations that, when working together, can accomplish great things for the community and generations to come.”