LIHUE — Sen. Ron Kouchi has been approached by at least three people interested in helping cool off local classrooms. “Victor Lawson, the owner of Garden Island Auto Sales, and I frequently meet on the airplane while making interisland trips,”
LIHUE — Sen. Ron Kouchi has been approached by at least three people interested in helping cool off local classrooms.
“Victor Lawson, the owner of Garden Island Auto Sales, and I frequently meet on the airplane while making interisland trips,” Kouchi said Monday. “We discuss issues, one of them being the heat levels at the schools on Kauai. He later sent me an email telling me he would like to contribute $1,000 to help with the heat problems at the schools.”
Kouchi advised him to go to The Hawaii Community Foundation and the Aloha Angels program.
“Darci Yukimura of the Hawaii Community Foundation and the Aloha Angels have a priority list,” Kouchi said. “The funds could be applied toward a fan, or air conditioner, or an upgrade of the school’s electrical system to prepare it for an air conditioner upgrade.
Yukimura works with Kauai Complex Area Superintendent Bill Arakaki in determining the needs for schools.
Ric Cox of the Aloha Angels program said Lawson, Mel Chiogioji and Milton Choy are among the top individuals who have contributed more than $3,000 to help students cope with hot classrooms.
“We’re extremely grateful to these individuals for their concern and help with the heat problem,” Arakaki said. “With the help of Sen. Kouchi, Ric of Aloha Angels, and the Hawaii Community Foundation, we can help the students learn.”
Cox said earlier, parents at Hanalei Elementary School purchased air conditioners for most of the classrooms there.
“Victor said he is hopeful that his contribution will spark other people to step forward and help,” Kouchi said. “People who want to help with the heat issue now know they can send their contributions to either the Aloha Angels, or the Hawaii Community Foundation where it will be administered properly.”
The contributions toward the heat abatement issue brings the total raised by Aloha Angels to $333,000 for Kauai teachers and students since April.
