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Helping hands in Hawai'i tackle service projects | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper
Posted on: Sunday, October 20, 2002

Helping hands in Hawai'i tackle service projects

• Caring communities offer ways to make difference

By Mary Kaye Ritz
Advertiser Religion & Ethics Writer

Maimiti Ho, a 15-year-old Kamehameha student, works on a house in Waimanalo while volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.

Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

Make a Difference Day

Saturday

Sponsored by USA Weekend and the Points of Light Foundation, and supported by Paul Newman and Newman's Own

makeadifferenceday.com

(800) 416-3824
Maimiti Ho has been a very busy 15-year-old.

First, she made several presentations to neighborhood coalitions for her Make a Difference Day project, called "Reach for the Beach", in Waimanalo.

Then, she talked Ace Hardware into donating some supplies for the massive cleanup project, snagged a grant from Friends of Waimanalo and has held weekly planning meetings since August for her core group of volunteers, which now numbers 15 to 20 people.

Oh, and don't forget the weekly appointment at Habitat for Humanity, helping to build a home in the neighborhood, and her Tuesday evening and Sunday morning church obligations.

On Saturday, Maimiti will be joining more than a thousand people across the Islands taking part in a nationwide effort to make the world a better place through community service projects. The effort is sponsored by USA Weekend and the Points of Light Foundation; Maimiti's "Reach for the Beach" project will be among those eligible to earn grants from actor Paul Newman's Newman's Own company.

Good thing Maimiti isn't into video games, or she'd never have time for homework.

"I wish I'd started this when I was younger, because then I'd be more experienced now!" the sophomore at Kamehameha Schools lamented to her friend and mentor, Sonja Evensen, before a crew meeting last weekend.

Evensen smiled indulgently at Maimiti and laughed.

"No, really!" the 15-year-old said, contemplating all the advance work for Saturday's Make a Difference Day.

You could say it's partly Evensen's fault that Maimiti is feeling overwhelmed: The program specialist for the Native Hawaiian Safe and Drug Free organization is the one who taught Maimiti as a sixth-grader the concept of malama, or nurturing, when she was in Evensen's Hui Malama o Ke Kai class. The Waimanalo after-school program conducts workshops to teach fifth- and sixth-graders about nonpoint source pollution.

"This is your back yard," Evensen had told the group, reminding them their job was to take care of it.

That planted the idea, but it didn't germinate until Maimiti went to the beach with a friend and came upon old diapers, cigarette butts and other rubbish along the shoreline.

"Oh my gosh, we're swimming in that!" Maimiti recalls thinking. "It was disgusting."

Now, the project has blossomed into a full-fledged, community-wide networking enterprise. Youth ministry groups from three area churches are involved. So are folks from the Job Corps, who also do Waimanalo Beach cleanups, and Hui Malama o Ke Kai. And the network continues to make new connections.

Evensen tells Maimiti about a lifeguard who offered to hook his ATV up to a wagon to haul the trash. And a family friend recruited her son, a St. Louis High School student, who in turn recruited his friends.

Turns out the St. Louis guys had to burn off some hours of community service hours as a requirement for their religion class. But first, he asked Maimiti if any Kamehameha girls were going to be there.

"I thought, 'Hmm.' I had to call all my friends to come!' " said the teenager, who knew she stumbled onto a good thing.

Maimiti said she learned the gift of reaching out from her parents.

Her mother, who works for Air Canada, brings home people who miss flights. Maimiti laughs when she recalls tripping over perfect strangers as she stumbled out of her room to go to breakfast.

Maimiti is a chip off the old paternal block as well. As chairman of the Waimanalo Neighborhood Board, Wilson Ho is no stranger to public service. He used to take his daughter with him on his Lions' Club outings. Maimiti (whom he named after the Tahitian girlfriend of Fletcher Christian of "Mutiny on the Bounty") recalls bowling with the blind long before she was old enough to hold a bowling ball.

And his philosophy resonates with Maimiti, and with Make a Difference Day: "You don't know what you've got until you meet people who don't have."

• • •

Caring communities offer ways to make difference

O'ahu

Reach for the Beach
A cleanup, picking up rubbish from Waimanalo Beach and painting honu (turtle) designs on 97 beach trash cans.

  • Seeking volunteers? Yes.
  • No. of volunteers expected: 100.
  • For information: 259-7200 or e-mail hawaiiangal@hotmail.com.

Helping the Homeless
The Student Council at Hongwanji Mission School will hold a car wash at the Enchanted Lake Shell Station, 1025 Keolu Drive, to raise money for the Institute for Human Services.

Kaka'ako Ocean Fest fund-raiser
The Kaka'ako Ocean Fest from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. will take place at Kaka'ako Gateway Park. A portion of the proceeds raised from the event will benefit the Children's Discovery Center. There will be family activities, entertainment by Auntie Genoa Keawe, historical tours of Kaka'ako, food booths, games, live turtle display, pressed seaweed note cards, seaweed display and ogo sale.

Waikiki Beach Cleanup
The Waikiki Ohana Workforce is teaming up with the city to clean Waikiki Beach and to mark storm drains. Hundreds of volunteers will meet at the Duke Kahanomoku statue at 7 a.m. to clean Waikiki beaches until 9 a.m. At 9:30 a.m., select volunteers will install markers on Kalakaua Avenue storm drain openings with a message in both Hawaiian and English that reads: "Dump No Waste, Take Care of Our Ocean," a reminder to visitors and businesses that trash and pollution can eventually lead to our oceans via storm drains.

  • Seeking volunteers? Yes.
  • No. of volunteers expected: 300.
  • For information: 971-6890 or e-mail kathyw@hawaii.rr.com.

Children's Fair at Kuhio Park Terrace

The Beta Zeta Chapter of Pi Lambda Theta will hold a children's fair at Kuhio Park Terrace, a low-income housing community. The fair will feature educational booths, arts and crafts, interactive outdoor games, books and fingernail painting, as well as cooking demonstrations.

Project Love Bags
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been spearheading a project to create hand-sewn fabric bags — each containing a stuffed toy and a soft blanket — for the Children's Justice Center of O'ahu, which then gives them to the thousands of foster children. Work sessions are under way for groups to make/sew bags and blankets using donated fabrics. New or gently used huggable stuffed toys will be collected and cleaned. On Make a Difference Day, volunteers will gather to assemble at least 500 bags.

  • Seeking volunteers? Yes.
  • No. of volunteers expected: 150.
  • For information: 735-2600 or e-mail meiohana@aol.com.

Books to the Philippines
St. Patrick School, 1124 Seventh Ave., will be collecting books to send to a school in Castillejos, Philippines.

  • Seeking volunteers? Yes.
  • No. of volunteers expected: 33.
  • For information: 734-8979 or e-mail leismile@yahoo.com.

Hokulani Elementary School spruce-up
Volunteers will revamp the school's peace garden by weeding, mulching and installing more native Hawaiian plants. They will also trim trees, spread top soil, install smooth rocks in erosion patterns in the Hawaiian garden. There will also be painting of posts, and installing new fans in the multipurpose building. Weed lawn and install grass plugs

  • Seeking volunteers? Yes.
  • No. of volunteers expected: 100.
  • For information: 544-9553 or e-mail rliggett@gte.net.

Fire Prevention/Fire Safety Education Day
The Navy Wives Club of America Ohana Manawalea #307, the local Webolo troop and the Pearl Harbor Fire Department plan an afternoon of fire prevention and fire safety education at the Navy Exchange. A fire engine will be available for children to explore while meeting firefighters, and a table will be set up with education information. Hot dogs and sodas will be available to anyone who would like them, accepting donations for the NWCA community assistance fund for helping military families in an emergency.

  • Seeking volunteers? Yes.
  • No. of volunteers expected: 15.
  • For information: 422-7120 or e-mail ajanehere@cs.com.

More Than Words
Volunteers at Lutheran High School, 1404 University Ave., will feed lunch to, provide care packages for and entertain 200-400 homeless. There will be live music and hula performances on our auditorium stage to entertain guests and workers alike.

  • Seeking volunteers? Yes.
  • No. of volunteers expected: 100.
  • For information: 391-5882 or e-mail WHSchrief@aol.com.

A New Face for a Needy School
The St. Francis School 'Ohana will organize a "paint-lift" for Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, 91-1010 North Road in 'Ewa Beach.

Refurbish Pre-school Playground
Volunteers will repair and repaint playground equipment at Good Shepherd Lutheran Pre-School, 638 N. Kuakini St., from 9 a.m. to noon. The pre-school has not used the equipment for over one year due to chipping of paint and rust.

  • Seeking volunteers? Yes.
  • No. of volunteers expected: 10.
  • For information: 544-0852 or e-mail cwhite@lava.net.

Fall Blast 2002
A canned food drive in front of the state Capitol to benefit the River of Life Mission and their homeless feeding program. Motorists will be able to drop off food at a drive-through area in front of the Capitol, 415 S. Beretania St., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cheer Up Seniors in Retirement Home
The Religious Science Church of Honolulu — The Center for Positive Living will meet at the Lunalilo Retirement Home, 501 Kekauluohi St. in Hawai'i Kai, deliver homemade goodie bags and present an hourlong musical program with singing and hula.

Paint Exterior Buildings at Kalaheo High School
Volunteers will do landscaping of grounds and painting of exterior walls of Kalaheo High School, 730 Iliaina St., Kailua.

730 Iliaina St.
Thank the Marines & Navy at Kane'ohe Kainalu Elementary of Kailua's Room 8 kindergarteners will make gift bags, issue invitations to read to their class or become a penpal, and a "helping hands" lei poster stating "Mahalo for Making A Difference," to their friends in the armed services.

  • Seeking volunteers? Yes, but only within their group.
  • No. of volunteers expected: 5.
  • For information: 266-7835 or e-mail cheryl_parker@notes.k12.hi.us.

Weed Removal at Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden
Volunteers will help rake the weed Elodea, the aquarium plant that has become an invasive species in the watershed, from the flood control lake shore at the Kane'ohe gardens, 45-680 Luluku Road, from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers are asked to come prepared with gloves, walking shoes, insect repellent and raingear, plus rakes if available. Catch-and-release fishing is available from noon until 3 p.m. and bring binoculars for birdwatching, especially to see endangered Hawaiian coots.

Renovating Charter School Classrooms
Hakipu'u Learning Center is seeking volunteers to clean out, renovate and set up its intermediate/high public charter school on the campus of Windward Community College. Their classrooms/offices/library have been condemned and they have until December to set up an unused building on the same campus. They'll be working at the Windward Community College's Bishop Building, 45-720 Kea'ahala Road in Kane'ohe.

  • Seeking volunteers? Yes.
  • No. of volunteers expected: 50.
  • For information: 247-6796 or e-mail jalin@hawaii.com.

Hawaii Computers for Kids Recycling Day
The Hawaii Computers for Kids Program is seeking donations to recycle computers for schools. This will be its first islandwide Recycling Day and they're looking to gather 2,500 computers, monitors, printers, and supplies for transfer to K-12 schools statewide. The Recycling Day donations will be handed over to schools for evaluation, setup, and software loading by students trained under CFK.

  • Seeking help? Need used computers. Drop them off at CompUSA, 604 Ala Moana.
  • For information: 521-2259.

Create a Path by He'eia Stream
Volunteers will clear California grass and chip stacks of old mangrove trunks removed along He'eia Stream, 46-465 Kamehameha Highway in Kane'ohe. If time and manpower allow, they will begin to lay down the chipped mangrove trees as a path along the stream.

Books for Our Community and Schools
The Wai'anae Ahupua'a Council and the Wai'anae Neighborhood Board will collect books and any reading material appropriate for children and adults at Wai'anae Mall and then share them with schools and teachers. Last year, they collected more than 7,000 books and shared them with 11 schools. Any books not taken by the Wai'anae Coast schools are then donated to other schools in Hawai'i or the Friends of the Library.

  • Seeking volunteers? Yes.
  • No. of volunteers expected: 30.
  • For information: 668-8647 or e-mail advocatehi@hawaii.rr.com.

Pamper the residents at convalescent home
Volunteers will give free facials and/or hand treatments for residents at a convalescent home near Kuakini Hospital.

  • Seeking volunteers? Yes, but only within their group.
  • No. of volunteers expected: 4.
  • For information: 623-6788 or e-mail lpojas@aol.com.

HUGS project
Volunteers will be helping to paint the home office of HUGS (Help, Understanding & Group Support, a program for seriously ill children) and design and build a wheelchair ramp. They'll also be collecting "kokua food care packages" and donations for the office's library.

  • Seeking help? Yes, they're collecting donations of food (cans of vegetables, fruit or meat; rice; pasta; cereal; snack items for keiki; cake mixes and frosting) and other items (new books, games or toys). Drop them off at the HUGS office, 3636 Kilauea Ave., 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • For info: 525-6799 or e-mail dfernand@honolulu.gannett.com.

Big Island

Project CRIB (Creating Readers In Babies)
The Aloha Kids 4-H Club's literacy project for Kona Community Hospital. The Captain Cook-based club won a $2,000 National 4-H Council literacy grant for the project, and a core group of 11 8- to 10-year-old girls have sewed burp pads to be included in a gift bag. The bag, which will be delivered to families of newborns, will also have a new infant book, a bookmark, and a brochure on the importance of early childhood reading.

  • Seeking volunteers? Yes.
  • No. of volunteers expected: 40.
  • For information: (808) 323-9811 or e-mail CLMLBYARS@aol.com.

Halloween Party at Homeless Shelter
The Human Service Club from the Hawai'i Community College in Hilo will host the third annual Halloween Party at the Homeless Shelter, 115 Kapiolani St. There will be games, prizes, crafts and refreshments for the families living in the shelter. The Human Services Kokua Club puts on the party, but it also seeks community donations.

  • Seeking volunteers? Yes.
  • No. of volunteers expected: 20.
  • For information: (808) 982-6591, or e-mail rhiwata@aol.com.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month Event
The Crossroads Shopping Center in Kona will host an information fair and kids events as part of Domestic Violence Awareness month.

  • Seeking volunteers? Yes.
  • No. of volunteers expected: 100.
  • For information: (808) 933-9772 or e-mail amoon@bigisland.com.

West Hawai'i Domestic Abuse Shelter Renovation Project
The shelter, which serves about 100 women and 100 children a year, is a 30-year-old house with one bathroom and three bedrooms and is in need of repairs. A group will be painting the interior and exterior of the house.

  • Seeking volunteers? Yes.
  • No. of volunteers expected: 50 volunteers, but the exact location of the home must be kept confidential.
  • For information: Turning Point for Families, (808) 935-8229 or e-mail tpffigandhi@hotmail.com.

Bring flowers and songs to the elderly
A dozen 4-H boys, ages 7 to 8, will visit the elderly Regency at Hualalai retirement community, 75-181 Hualalai Road in Kailua,Kona, to bring them flower arrangements and perform a short program of songs and dances.

  • Seeking volunteers? Yes, but only from within their group.
  • No. of volunteers expected: 24.
  • For information: (808) 322-4892 or e-mail doreeni@hawaii.edu.

Toys for Food
Troop 797of the Big Island Girl Scouts is holding a garage sale to make money for the Food Bank, and seeking donations of food and exchanging toys for food. The garage sale will take place on Ahikawa Street in Kailua-Kona.

  • Seeking volunteers? Yes.
  • No. of volunteers expected: 12, or donate to the garage sale.
  • For information: (808) 325-0579 or e-mail holistic@konacoast.com.

Raising Funds for the Waikoloa Community Learning Center
A portion of proceeds from a fund-raiser (sunset barbecue, entertainment, trail rides and activities for kids) will go to the non-profit Waikoloa Community Learning Center, a non-profit organization that provides enrichment and mentoring programs for the community. The locations are NK Ranch in Papaloa and 68-1730 Ho'oko St. in Waikoloa.

  • Seeking volunteers? Yes.
  • No. of volunteers expected: 50.
  • For information: (808) 937-4224 or e-mail Atsumi1@iwon.com.

Community recycling project
The Puna Mauka Recycling Committee is organizing a community recycling project from 11a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mountain View Park. Activities include talks and demonstrations about ways to make recycling easier and composting fun.

  • Seeking volunteers? Yes.
  • No. of volunteers expected: 10.
  • For information: (808) 961-2825 or e-mail sbusek@aol.com.

Book drive
The Hilo Hongwanji Jr. YBA and Waiakea High School Key Club will collect books donate to preschools in our area.

  • Seeking volunteers? Yes, but only within their group.
  • No. of volunteers expected: 20.
  • For information: (808) 959-0457 or e-mail lynn_nakagawa@yahoo.com.

Plant It Hawaiian
Volunteers will plant more than 300 native Hawaiian endemic and endangered plants on a school campus in Laupahoehoe.

Kaua'i

Reuse, Reduce & Recycle
A schoolwide recycling program with Kalaheo Elementary School, 4400 Maka Road, will culminate in a celebratory event at the school with balloons, readings and fun. The community is invited.

  • Seeking volunteers? Yes.
  • No. of volunteers expected: 20.
  • For information: (808) 332-6801 or e-mail dmhansen5@aol.com.

Moloka'i

Recycling and Reusing School Supplies
Volunteers will collect used backpacks, binders, and other school supplies from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kualapu'u School, 260 Farrington Ave., and at Kauanakakai Library. The supplies will be cleaned up, refurbished and distributed through the local school system.
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