Koloa School honors volunteers

KOLOA — More than 100 volunteers at Koloa Elementary School were presented with lei and thank-yous at a Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast on Friday that was hosted by the school.

“Like the lei you wear today made by our kindergartners, each flower has a personal beauty and contribution to the entire gift of the lei,” Principal Debbie Lindsey told the volunteers.

 “You cannot have a lei of one or two flowers. It takes many to make the lei, and together it creates a beautiful adornment,” she said.

Lindsey said when she started at Koloa School, there were about 100 volunteer hours logged.

That was six years ago, and on Friday, her count revealed more than 100 volunteers logging more than 1,000 hours of service.

“Your contributions to Koloa School, no matter how big or how small, are considered, in my opinion, to be gifts of charity,” Lindsey said.

“Charity has been defined as ‘the highest, noblest, strongest kind of love.’”

In addition to the special breakfast prepared by the school’s cafeteria staff members — which at one point  was being served by Lindsey —  the volunteers were treated to musical performances by the school’s student body, the ukulele band and choir.

Some students demonstrated what they had learned from studying international dance.

“This is an example of global learning,” Lindsey said.