The Rotary Club of Pearlridge (RCOP) took a very positive step on Saturday in their efforts to beautify the Pearl Harbor Bike Path while also restoring the wonderful Hawaiian plants and trees, as well as the waterway at Puuloa Springs near Blaisdell Park in Aiea.
Led by RCOP President Dick Mosko and RCOP Community Service Chair Lasar McCabe, fellow RCOP community volunteers Gordon Arakaki, Ed Kido, Rick Lau, Clarence De Lude, RCOP supporter Mary Villamil and I met Dick and Lasar bright and early Saturday morning for our monthly community service project along the scenic Pearl Harbor Bike Path.
Saturday morning was very special for all of us as we welcomed Mana Loa-Nimitz Lions Club President Dexter Aoki and a very dedicated group of Lions club community volunteers who joined us for the two-hour work day project focused at Puuloa Springs.
The Rotary Club of Pearlridge was also extremely excited to also welcome volunteers from Our Savior Lutheran School’s Interact Club who represent one of three newly certified Interact Clubs sponsored by the RCOP. I serve as the RCOP Interact Club Chair and couldn’t be prouder to see the students and their advisor, Principal Clarence De Lude and school supporters working side by side at Puuloa Springs with community volunteers from the RCOP and Mana Loa-Nimitz Lions.
RCOP membership beginning with Eric Fujimoto has generously donated financial support that will go directly to benefit Interact Club Programs at Our Savior Lutheran School in Aiea, Highlands Intermediate School in Pearl City, and Pearl City High School.
Saturday’s community work day project brought together the Aiea community through the partnership and bond between the Rotary Club of Pearlridge, Our Savior Lutheran School’s Interact Club Program, and the Mana Loa-Nimitz Lions Club.
Our common goal is to strive to serve our community and neighboring communities while building strong and community rooted partnerships and leadership opportunities that begin with supporting and mentoring leadership skills in our students.
Clarence De Lude, Principal, Our Savior Lutheran School and Board member of the Rotary Club of Pearlridge
“I’m really proud of our kids who showed up today. It’s important to teach them Eco management and the younger I think we start them, the better our whole environment will be. Our school is focused on helping Pearl Harbor become clean so we can eat from here again. This used to be our refrigerator for our Ali’i. Our kids come from this community and we want to teach them to take care of it.
Thank you for the money that was donated to the Interact club because that really helps them get started so they don’t have to focus just on fundraising. Now they can focus on getting projects like this. We are looking forward to doing more projects like this one together.”
Oriana Kaaaloa, Treasurer, Our Savior Lutheran School Interact Club
“We’re really happy about the $250.00 that your club gave to us. We’re also really happy to be able to do community work and help out our community.”
Helena Richesin, Our Savior Lutheran School Interact Club
“I’m very happy that we’re cleaning up Pearl Harbor and how much trash there is. It’s very sad just how people litter and don’t clean up after themselves.”
Lasar McCabe, Community Service Chair, Rotary Club of Pearlridge
“Being here today at Puuloa Springs and the Pearl Harbor Bike Path with the Lions and the young people from the Interact Club at Our Savior Lutheran School has been wonderful. We’ve made so much progress and the people who use the path are already thanking us as they go by. We’re just going to try and restore as much of the native Hawaiian plants as we can and make it look nicer for everybody.”
Dexter Aoki, President, Mana Loa-Nimitz Lions Club
“The Mana Loa Lions Nimitz are happy to come out and help out along the bike path at Puuloa Springs with the Rotary club. We are looking forward to future projects like this one and enjoy being outdoors in the community.”
Saturday set us upon a path towards a very promising future serving our community. We are all working together in cultivating and securing the future success for a thriving, healthy, and safe community in which to live in.
“Service Above Self”
Photo by Mary Villamil
Rotary Club of Pearlridge President Dick Mosko (center) is pictured with RCOP
Board Members (L-R) Barry Villamil, Rick Lau, Ed Kido, and Gordon Arakaki
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Mana Loa-Nimitz Lions Club President Dexter Aoki
(2nd from left) is pictured with fellow club volunteets.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Our Savior Lutheran School Principal,and Rotary Club of Pearlridge
Board Member Clarence De Lude is pictured with Our Savior Lutheran
School Interact Club students Oriana Kaaaloa (L) and Helena Richesin (R).
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Pictured: Dexter Aoki and Lasar McCabe
MAHALO Rick!
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]