Groups Unite To Clean Numerous Kapolei Parks And Schools
The following is a submission from E Ola Pono Ma Kapolei member Lolita Takeda regarding a recent community work day that the group conducted.
“It was a wonderful day at Kalaeloa Heritage Park. Even though everyone worked hard under the heat of the sun, everyone seemed to enjoy it,” said cultural practitioner Shad Kane. Heritage Park was one of the sites in Kapolei that was the focus of E Ola Pono Ma Kapolei’s (EOPMK) Oct. 5 Community Workday.
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E Ola Pono Ma Kapolei is a drug-free coalition that aims to prevent and reduce youth substance abuse in Kapolei 96707. The Coalition envisions Kapolei to be a unified and thriving community where people are resilient, living healthy and drug-free.
Kapolei High School (KHS) students and staff started their fall break by giving back to the community. Joined by more than 300 volunteers from different groups and business partners, 200 KHS students worked to clean and beautify seven Kapolei parks, the high school and Kapolei Middle School (KMS).
“KMS appreciates the community support it received from New Hope Leeward Church, California Pizza Kitchen Kahala, Central Pacific Bank, KMS staff, parent and student volunteers. The inside of the art and music buildings were painted, as well as re-striping in the front parking lot, including the emergency curbing and handicap areas. Principal Bruce Naguwa was very pleased to see the dramatic change that took place in the school throughout the morning,” stated Terry Bunkley, KMS Parent Community Networking facilitator.
After a morning of hard work, everyone gathered at KHS cafeteria for lunch and entertainment. The volunteers appreciated the delicious shave ice served by Performing Arts Center of Kapolei (PACK). Everyone also enjoyed music by Jon Kaina and entertainment by PACK during lunch.
Mahalo to everyone who came to this special and extraordinary event. It’s not every day that more than 500 people from different groups come together to make a difference in their community.
Other groups of volunteers came from Coalition for Drug Free Hawaii, Hawaii National Guard & Youth Challenge, YMCA, AYSO, Ahahui Siwila Hawaiian Civic Club, The Bushwackers (an archery club), HPD, Hope Chapel Second City, Goodwill Industries, Grace Pacific and StorSecure Self Storage, state Rep. Sharon Har, City Councilwoman Kymberly Pine, City Councilman Ikaika Anderson and friends, also came to work and support the workday.
Special thanks to our sponsors: Hawaiian Electric Company, Grace Pacific, James Campbell Company LLC, DR Horton-Schuler Homes, Hunt Companies, DeBartolo Development, Menehune Water Company, Trees of Hawaii, Island Ready-Mix Concrete, Delta Construction, Aloun Farms, Costco, McDonald’s, Wal-Mart and Olelo Community Media.
Also a big mahalo to Midweek West Oahu Islander for helping to spread the word, which helped us recruit volunteers during the last couple months.
