'Ohana at schools embrace Marines

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer

A military program that has Marines volunteering for projects at local schools is reaping unexpected benefits for troops and students alike.

As part of the Adopt-A-School program, Marines are painting rooms, installing benches, clearing brush and putting up tetherball sets for a number of schools. But they're also talking to students, participating in their games and helping them learn to read.

"They've become like big brothers to many of the boys and girls," said Ann Marie Duca, principal at 'Ahuimanu Elementary School.

Kane'ohe and Camp Smith Marines have spent hundreds of hours and more than $23,000 from a federal program in their efforts to improve six Windward schools and one in 'Aiea. The ongoing program has opened community doors to these young troops and, in turn, they are made to feel part of the school family.

Gerald Smith, principal at Waiahole Elementary School, said the Marines not only put in the labor but also "did things with the kids — ate lunch with the kids, answered the kids' questions, became an adult role model."

The school has promised them a "home" whenever they want to visit, Smith said.

At 'Ahuimanu the Marines, who help in reading programs, cleanups and a fund-raiser, have developed a close relationship with the school, said Duca. When their unit was shipped to Okinawa, the students would write to them. Two Christmases ago the children's families sent packages to the unit, with the gifts arriving by helicopter on Christmas Eve.

"We were told they were the envy of other companies because they had this school in Kane'ohe who cared about them," Duca said.

The Marines will direct a total of $99,000 toward school projects this year and donate their time tutoring, teaching drug awareness and offering career guidance, according to Gunnery Sgt. Rhys Evans, who said the troops nonetheless get more than they give.

"These Marines on this base fully enjoy going out there and interacting with the children," he said. "The (schools) might think it's nicer that we're here, but sometimes the Marines feel born rich just by doing what they're doing."

The federal money for the projects comes through the Joint Venture Education Forum/U.S. Pacific Command. The forum was created in 1999 as a cooperative effort between the state Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Defense with the goal to improve education in Hawai'i.

"The military, in their effort to make a stronger connection with our community, has done just that," said Cory DeJesus, administrative services assistant at the Rev. Benjamin Parker Elementary School, who coordinated projects with the Marines for Castle Complex schools. "And the kids are so grateful and appreciative."

At Benjamin Parker, the Marines who were to help the school were deployed elsewhere before the projects were completed, but parents and staff were able to finish the work, DeJesus said.

"The hard part was already done," she said. "Having them purchase our supplies was half the battle."

The Marine unit saved the school $1,400 in wood chips used under playground equipment. It also brought along rakes, shovels and wheelbarrows for maintenance.

At Waiahole Elementary, Marines temporarily fixed an outdoor stage so the school could hold its May Day program there, Smith said. After the program they returned and poured a 20-foot-square concrete slab to replace the stage.

They also built tables and benches, recycling bins and shelves and put sides on a garden shelter to make it usable as an outdoor classroom, he said.

The Marines have partnerships with 22 schools — 19 in Windward and three in Leeward — said Maj. Cathy Close of the public affairs office at Marine Corps Base Hawai'i.

"We purchase the supplies and the Marine units go out and help with whatever project they choose," Close said. "But it's not just money — there's some groups that go out to tutor every Thursday."

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.