Wealth is in their hearts
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
LA'IE — Children who know what it means to go without were among the more than 200 who shared what they have with needy families during a Christmas gift collection drive at La'ie Elementary School.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser
Between 200 and 300 gifts poured into the campus in less than two weeks and included cans of soup and boxes of macaroni-and-cheese mix along with toys, clothing, diapers and other necessities.
La'ie sixth-graders Meagan Mahe, Jaudana Mahoni and Alana Aluli sort presents that will be distributed to disadvantaged families in the community. The three girls are officers on the school's student council, which organized the project.
The children were encouraged to share what they have, and some of the neediest were willing to give, said Tania Mahoni, a La'ie parent who helped the school's student council organize the drive. In fact, some of the givers may become recipients of the generous collection, Mahoni said.
Student council secretary Alana Aluli, 11, said she was amazed by the number of gifts donated, and that changed the way she thinks about her classmates.
"They have great hearts and they really understand people that don't have much," Alana said.
About 30 feet of hallway floor space in the school's office building was stacked with colorfully wrapped gifts, spilling out from under a modestly decorated tree.
The gifts will be split four ways, with some going to a family from the Lokahi Tree fund-raiser and the remaining going to three families from the school, Mahoni said. The students weren't told that children from their school might be getting the gifts so it was especially touching to see them bringing in the cans of soup and boxes of macaroni, Mahoni said.
"The most impressive thing was to see the kids who didn't have much themselves wanted to give," she said. "It's good to see they understand the concept. It doesn't have to be a huge thing. It can be just any little thing."
La'ie is a high-poverty community with 69 percent of the students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. But it is also a community that helps its neighbors, Mahoni said.
The families receiving the gifts will remain anonymous.
Tania Mahoni
The children brought in a lot of basic needs such as pots and pans, blankets and sheets, and toiletry. But there were lots of toys, said Mahoni's 11-year-old daughter, Jaudana, who is student council vice president.
The council selected the project, organized it and sorted the gifts yesterday with the intent of taking the Lokahi packages to Honolulu, Jaudana said. Thursday evening the remaining gifts will be left on the doorsteps of the La'ie families.
Jaudana said the council plans on collecting gifts again next year.
Student council president Meagan Mahe, 11, said she had hoped to collect 100 gifts and everyone was surprised by the turnout. Meagan said the project makes her feel a little like Santa Claus and she thought it was a great idea.
"Lots of families get to help out in making it a great Christmas for families who are less fortunate," Meagan said.
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.
