NAWILIWILI — At what began as a simple certificate ceremony, County Councilmember Derek Kawakami floated an idea that could see Kaua‘i High School teens set the agenda for an informal council meeting. The setting was the council meeting and the
NAWILIWILI — At what began as a simple certificate ceremony, County Councilmember Derek Kawakami floated an idea that could see Kaua‘i High School teens set the agenda for an informal council meeting.
The setting was the council meeting and the certificate marks next week as Key Club Week.
Following the approval of the certificate announcing Key Club Week, Kawakami proposed an “Engine Room” project to the Key Club members, sponsors and advisors.
Kawakami said he heard about this project where young people could get involved in government, and based on this, the Engine Room would have the council set aside one day a month, perhaps a Thursday, where the young people would set the agenda for discussion.
“This is just a proposal,” Kawakami said. “But I’m sure I could get council members to buy in on this program, and I know the Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. is strong on youth, so could have members of the different departments on hand to listen to concerns that could range on anything young people have a concern with.”
Council Chair Kaipo Asing agreed.
“This is a fabulous idea,” Asing said. “They now need to make the decision on their future.”
The Key Clubs of Kapa‘a and Kaua‘i high schools contributed more than 4,200 volunteer hours in 2009, said Kawakami.
Kawakami authored a certificate announcing Key Club Week, and presented it to members, advisors, and sponsors of the Kaua‘i High School during the Kaua‘i County Council meeting Wednesday.
David Ochoco, the regional governor, accepted the certificate for the Kapa‘a High School chapter.
“This kind of volunteer hours amounts to a tremendous contribution to the community,” Kawakami said, adding that if each of the 188 members in the two schools volunteers five hours a week, Key Club members are doing something every other night, amounting to 940 volunteer hours.
Key Club numbers more than 250,000 throughout the world and are involved in service projects ranging from highway cleanup, car washes to tutoring.
This range was demonstrated as Kawakami read off the schedule of the two Kaua‘i chapters for the month of October. Projects range from working with elementary-school students in literacy programs to visiting kupuna at the Regency at Puakea in Puhi.
Council Vice Chair Jay Furfaro said he is impressed there was a person assigned to keep track of each member’s hours as well as seek out projects so the club would be able to satisfy its monthly “quota” of hours.
Councilman Dickie Chang added the dollars saved by the volunteerism is tremendous, and encouraged the members to work with Waimea High School to establish a chapter on the Westside, adding that there are a number of projects students and volunteers could tackle.
Councilman Tim Bynum said the Key Club of Kaua‘i High School has taken the Mayor’s Aloha Garden project under its wing, and was disturbed when someone criticized the project.
Ochoco said he responded to the critic’s letter and said taking the garden on as a responsibility has taught him the importance of donating.
“Tyler Navarro and Sheldon Chu headed the program with the Aloha Garden last year, and whatever was produced was donated back to The Salvation Army,” Ochoco said.
“This year, we have three students who have taken over the responsibility as a senior project.”
Furfaro agreed, adding that as a Salvation Army board member, he personally has tasted the fruits of the students’ labor from the garden.
The Key Clubs of both Kapa‘a and Kaua‘i high schools are sponsored by Kiwanis International of Kaua‘i.
