Posted on: Monday, January 24, 2005

Students undaunted after theft

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

Sixth-graders at Hokulani Elementary School, undeterred by the theft of money they had collected for Aloha United Way in December, have held bake sales to make their fund-raising goal.

School principal Donna Lum praised the students for coming back from the setback of losing their project money and of having their classrooms trashed sometime between Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. The students continued their fund-raising with public support, following an Advertiser story on Jan. 4, which included $250 from a Hilo, Hawai'i, donor who requested anonymity, and money from a credit union's staff and a senior-citizen progressive tutor group at the school. Lum did not want to say how much money the students had raised since the theft.

"The sixth-grade project grew into a partnership with the community to reach a goal beyond the one first set," Lum said. "It's a valuable lesson to see the students rise above adversity and remain steadfast to attain their goal."

The students also received items to auction from a credit union employee, and money raised went into the school's Indian Ocean tsunami relief fund, Lum said. Hokulani, which is below St. Louis Heights behind Kanewai Park, is one of six schools selected for the National Football League Boys & Girls Club book and sports equipment collection drive, Lum added.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8181.