KIHEI, Maui — The Rotary Club of Kihei-Wailea has come up with a fundraising idea to support the development of "homegrown" teachers and the purchase of a new children's play structure in South Maui.

The club, under the leadership of community advocate Lis Richardson, is spearheading the sale of custom-engraved clay bricks that will be installed along walkways at Kamaole Beach Park III in Kihei.

Proceeds from the sale of the bricks, priced at $100 and up each, will go toward a new teacher scholarship fund and park play equipment for children.

"The bricks were chosen because of the wide appeal to tourists, visitors, foreigners, residents and businesses," said Richardson, the club president. "Who wouldn't like their name or business name permanently displayed in a popular spot on Maui?"

The brick project is "readily supported" by county Parks Director Tamara Horcajo.

"Our parks are a gathering place for our community, and this project is a great example of the public and private sector working together for the benefit of our children," Horcajo said in a club news release.

Richardson said she and her fellow club members were inspired to help Maui residents studying to be teachers after hearing about the efforts of a Kaua'i Rotary club that successfully funded the education of student-teachers on its island. The Kaua'i club called its project "Growing Our Own Teachers."

Rotary club members were told that local teacher candidates are often forced to quit their jobs in the last year of their studies in order to fulfill graduation requirements for a bachelor's degree in education and work full time in a classroom as a student-teacher in the University of Hawai'i Outreach Program.

With no income, the student-teacher often cannot afford the tuition and is sometimes faced with no other option but to quit the program. There are about 10 Maui residents heading into their terms as student-teachers. The students, along with their professor in the University of Hawai'i Outreach Program, are scheduled to speak at a Rotary club meeting in August.

Richardson said her club's brick fundraising project gives people a chance to contribute to education by investing in future teachers.

"Education is obviously important to a lot of people," she said. "This would be a long-term investment for Maui, absolutely."

In celebration of the Rotary Club of Kihei-Wailea's 30th anniversary, members wanted to mark it with the brick fundraising project. They initially were going to raise money just for a play structure in South Maui, but added the teacher scholarship after hearing about the plight of student-teacher candidates. They hope to match or exceed the Kaua'i club's success by raising at least $40,000.

"This brick project has the potential of being quite large," Richardson said. Her club has set a goal of selling 1,000 bricks in the first phase of its fundraiser.

Bricks for that phase are on sale from now until Sept. 15. The personalized bricks, which will be laser-engraved to avoid fading, eroding or chipping, will be sized at 4 by 8 inches or 8 by 8 inches. The first installation of bricks is expected to take place in the early winter.

Although brick prices begin at $100 each, the most popular option is priced at $125 and includes three lines of text and free clip art.

Orders taken during the first phase will include the gift of a free replica miniature brick that normally sells for $20. There are options for businesses to include corporate logos on the larger bricks.

For more information about the brick fundraising project, visit www.RCKW.org. An order form can be downloaded from the Web site.

Order forms also can be obtained by calling Richardson at 344-5777.