Second City Spotlight: Kapolei Keeps Keiki Healthy
Rep. Sharon Har
For the second year, families converged at Kapolei High School March 15 to attend Kapolei Keiki Wellness Day.
The annual event is a valuable resource for West Oahu families who face unique pressures and stresses, such as extended commutes and long distances from services, that come with living in the Second City.
This week, I would like to shine the Second City Spotlight on the cadre of supporting organizations and volunteers who made Kapolei Keiki Wellness Day possible.
Rep. Sharon Har poses with McGruff the Crime Dog and stresses the importance of crime-prevention education March 15 during Kapolei Keiki Wellness Day at Kapolei High School.
With a focus on the overall wellness of our children, it was important to offer more at this event than just health or exercise.
This year’s event featured 38 different participants, who offered a range of information and services spanning cyberbullying, helmet safety, fire safety and dental hygiene.
The goal of the event is to be a one-stop shop for West Oahu families of all ages and sizes who may be pressed for time in their busy schedules to access these readily available sources.
With more than 600 attendees at last year’s event, it was immediately clear that this year’s program would have to move to the football field at Kapolei High School if we were going to successfully host it.
Fortunately, principal Elden Esmeralda and PCNC Lolita Takeda stepped up to assist with the volunteer help of the school’s National Honor Society.
(above left, in blue) Rob Hesia from state Department of Education’s Leeward District Health and Wellness Program and Rep. Sharon Har (standing) watch over 5-year-old keiki competing in a sit-up competition at Kapolei Keiki Wellness Day. PHOTOS FROM REP. HAR’S OFFICE.
Additionally, our very own Youth Challenge Academy assisted with the setup and breakdown of tables and other equipment, after beating the Kapolei High School JROTC in a push-up competition.
An event of this magnitude would not have been possible without the generous support of many of its sponsors: Kapolei High School, McDonald’s Kapolei, Hawaiian Electric Company, Meadow Gold Dairies, Costco, Walmart and Service Printers Hawaii Inc.
The new city of Kapolei is a community with a significant younger demographic.
In fact, about 30 percent of all residents of Kapolei and Makakilo are under the age of 18.
This is above the statewide average of 22 percent.
As our city continues to grow, it is essential that our parents and families have valuable resources and information in order to ensure their kids are healthy, safe and well. We look forward to providing families with more resources and a great experience in 2016. Contact Rep. Sharon Har (D-District 42 — Kapolei and Makakilo) by phone at 586-8500 or email at rephar@capitol.hawaii.gov.
