By Barry Villamil, Past President, Rotary Club of Pearlridge
I am so proud of the Pearl City High School Interact Club who received well-deserved recognition Thursday morning, May 14 while being presented an Honorary Recognition Certificate from the Hawaii State Senate for their hard work in making a difference and changing lives of those in need in Hawaii, USA, and Internationally through their leadership and heartfelt service projects.
The HRC presentation was made by Senator Rachele Lamosao Thursday morning in the PCHS admin courtyard. Senator Lamosao stepped in for Senator Brandon Elefante who was not available to present the Honorary Recognition Certificate. Senator Elefante’s office drafted the HRC. Mahalo to Senator Elefante office manager Janice Salcedo for her coordination in making the HRC presentation a reality.
Mahalo to Pearl City High School Interact Advisor and teacher Mr. Dane Souza for his leadership, guidance, and support towards the success of the 2025-2026 PCHS Interact Club that was led President Jaylin Shirafuji and her outstanding leadership team of Officers, Committee Chairs, and membership which has grown in 2025-2026 to over seventy members. 2026-2027 President Reagen Chang will lead the PCHS Interact Club through the upcoming school year.
2025-2026 service projects included the following:
Service Activities
– Christmas card making at elementary schools
– 5 elementary school A+ visited to make cards.
– Workdays for club members every week after school.
– Cards were donated to kids spending the holiday season in hospitals across
the country.
– >1100 cards created.
Fund Raisers/Drives
– Halloween Candy Drive: We collected Halloween candy that was no longer
wanted and donated it to Hawaii’s Ronald McDonald House.
– 3142 pieces of candy were donated.
– We entered every doner to a raffle for $50 and $25 gift cards.
– Hawaii Food Bank: All money made selling birria tacos at Cultural Day was
donated to the Hawaii Food Bank.
– $1,250 raised
– Pays for over 2500 peoples’ meals
– Book Drive: We collected books for Books for Africa from the local elementary
schools.
– 6,931 books collected.
– Covered the mailing/shipping cost.
– Service opportunities after school for book sorting
The Pearl City High School Interact Club define youth leadership in Hawaii and around the world while being a part of the Rotary Club of Pearlridge and Hawaii Rotary District 5000. I am truly fortunate and grateful for having the opportunity to serve as a Rotary Club of Pearlridge Interact Director alongside the late RCOP Past President and Hawaii Rotary District 5000 District Governor Dick Mosko who put his heart and soul into mentoring and supporting four RCOP Interact Clubs:
PCHS Interact Club
Highlands Intermediate Interact Club
Our Lady of Good Counsel Interact Club
Cross Academy Interact Club
Mahalo to PCHS Vice-Principal Denise Canon and Hawaii State House Representative Cory Chun for supporting the Hawaii State Senate Honorary Recognition Certificate presentation to the Pearl City High School Interact Club on Thursday.
SERVICE ABOVE SELF
PROUD TO BE A ROTARIAN
VIDEO HRC PRESENTATION LINKS BELOW:
https://www.facebook.com/100000915852074/videos/pcb.35998392533107820/1495834228681789
https://www.facebook.com/100000915852074/videos/pcb.35998392533107820/2103048460268808
https://www.facebook.com/100000915852074/videos/pcb.35998392533107820/807640188866900
https://www.facebook.com/100000915852074/videos/pcb.35998392533107820/1003447172366552
Photos and videos by Barry Villamil
