Posted on: Saturday, June 30, 2001

Stolen playground equipment replaced

By Jessica Webster
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Headstart kids who lost playground equipment to thieves last weekend are now barely aware that burglary was a bad thing.

When they woke up from their naps at the Barbers Point Elementary School classroom yesterday, their playground had been refurnished with a massive jungle gym, a medium-sized jungle gym, a merry-go-round, a slide, a playhouse and two new play cars.

Their new playground is now bigger and shinier than the old one.

Two families from Hawai'i Kai and Pearl City donated the playground toys, permanent replacements for the $1,300 worth of stolen equipment.

And this was only the beginning.

Radio stations helped raise money for the Barbers Point Headstart program. Teacher Chanelle Kaneshiro said she didn't have a definitive total for the amount of pledges made by businesses and individual, but the highest she has heard is $12,000. Her best estimate is closer to $8,500.

"The kids were very excited," said Kaneshiro. "It's just been wonderful, and the numbers are still climbing."

Roland Gella, director of Headstart in Hawai'i, said leftover money will most likely be distributed to the other 80 Headstart centers on O'ahu.