Community groups share $10K

LIHUE — Ann Hashisaka of the Kauai Kookie LLC was happy she came to the Kawakami building Friday morning.

“I’m glad to be able to put a face to someone I’ve read so much about,” Hashisaka told Josie Pablo, representing the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. “You folks do so much for the kupuna.”

The auxiliary was one of seven community organizations sharing $10,000 in awards presented by members of the Kawakami and Furugen families, former owners of Big Save Inc. The awards were coordinated through the Hawaii Community Foundation.

The Boys &Girls Club Waimea Clubhouse, Special Olympics Kauai, Kauai Police Activities League sports programs, the Kapaa High School Computer Science Club, Friendship House, Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital elder care support program and Waipa Foundation are the selected recipients of funds from the N.F. Kawakami, H.S. Kawakami and M. Furugen Fund at HCF.

“You people represent the safety net of the island,” said Derek Kawakami. “It is important that the community knows that the Kawakami families are still committed to the good work of the different community organizations on the island. Continuing our giving honors the values of the founders of Big Save Inc. whom the fund memorializes in its name. You people are the essence of what the Kawakami family believes in.”

Through this fund, the families have donated more than $32,000 to Kauai’s community.

“Before my dad passed, he explained the program,” Kawakami said. “He said he wants the children to stay together after they are gone. By setting up this fund, we care for it, and after us, our children will continue to give — together.”