The work to serve our community and flow throughout the islands with Aloha never stops!
Sometimes the best way to get ahead is at the start of an endeavor. What better way to help create a stronger future by working with the leaders of tomorrow - our keiki?
Here are a few highlights from our recent activity to support youth and create growth opportunities here in the islands.
Back to School!
As Summer winds down for our keiki, school faculty and staff are hard at work to prepare for the next school year to begin. At home in Hilo at Keaukaha Elementary, we were able to support families by providing our starter packs to help supplement the huge list of supplies needed. We also took our also worked in partnership with Macy's, who joined us to donate backpacks, along with our starter packs and water, to students at Gus Webling Elementary on Oahu.
Mālama i ka 'āina
Our plant team in Hilo has been hard at work this year helping to clean up our beloved Hilo Town.
This Summer, we were joined by HumanitarianXP, a youth group from grades 9-12, who save up and fundraise to travel and to be of service to different communities around the world. They have worked with Habitat for Humanity on the Big Island before and it was awesome to have them join our Kōkua Initiative and the Hilo Crescent City Lions to clean up Queen Lili'uokalnai Gardens.
Brrrr... It's Cold in here!
Waiākea is proud to be a partner of the Hawai'i Theatre Center as they celebrate their upcoming Centennial Anniversary! As part of this partnership, in July, our Kōkua Initiative was the presenting sponsor of PAPA Hawai'i's production of Disney's Frozen Jr. at the historic venue in Downtown Honolulu. The production featured phenomenal performances by talented youth and was part of Hawai'i Theatre's Educational programming. As part of our sponsorship, we also had the opportunity to share the experience with 150 children and their parents.
Started from the Islands, Now We're Here
As we look back at 10 years since we began in Hilo, it is so beautiful to see the impact that our Kōkua Initiative from this small town, is able to have.
"When we all work together, we can create a stronger and more resilient community. Do something in your home town, no matter how small, because a little something to uplift another goes a long way with matters of the heart." Geoli Ng, Director of the Kōkua Initiative at Waiākea.
To learn more about the Waiākea Kōkua Initiative, click here.