HANALEI — Hanalei School is getting about $2,000 in donations from Oahu students after Kauai’s mid-April flooding closed the school for four days, soaking supplies and contaminating classrooms.
The school reopened April 23 after staff and community members cleaned the campus, and a temporary education site remains open at Hanalei Colony Resort for students residing in Waikoko, Wainiha and Haena, areas heavily impacted by the landslides that closed Kuhio Highway.
On Oahu, students at Pearl City High raised $1,500 and students from Lanakila Elementary have raised about $500 after hearing about the heavy rains’ impacts on the school.
Students at Pearl City High School, along with their teachers Daphne Okunaga and Jami Higashi Lee, launched their fundraiser by walking around campus asking students if they would like to donate to Hanalei School.
“Imagining not having the necessary tools and equipment to learn was heartbreaking,” said Pearl City High senior Paulsson Solomon. “It was uplifting to see our classmates and staff giving without hesitation. It didn’t matter if the donation was loose coins from their bag or $20 bills, all the donations came from the heart.”
After hearing about the flooding on Kauai, students at Lanakila Elementary decided to make Hanalei School the beneficiary of their upcoming #MaySuperFest Fundraiser on May 18. Lanakila students created crafts such as glitter slime, Perler bead works, friendship bracelets, graduation lei, upcycled containers, and knit bunnies to be sold at the event. Based on projected sales, Lanakila anticipates raising $500 or more to benefit Hanalei Elementary.
“At Lanakila, we’ve been making a lot of things in MakerSpace including keychains, magnets and 3D prints to raise money,” added fourth grader Connery Ortiz. “We wanted to raise funds for our school so we could cool our classrooms, but when we heard about Hanalei students we wanted to donate our money to them so they can get new supplies.”
Kauai Complex Area Superintendent Bill Arakaki said he is humbled and proud of the student-led efforts to help fellow schools through disaster relief.
“It has been a trying time for the state with the natural disasters impacting our islands, but these students have shown that we look out for each other and come together to support those in need,” Arakaki said.
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Jessica Else, environmental reporter, can be reached at 245-0452 or jelse@thegardenisland.com.
