LIHU’E — Cindy Oshiro got her husband, Dean, and her 6-year-old son Austin up early yesterday morning to participate in the annual United Way Walk around Kukui Grove Shopping Center. She wanted to impress upon her son, a Tiger Cub
LIHU’E — Cindy Oshiro got her husband, Dean, and her 6-year-old son Austin up
early yesterday morning to participate in the annual United Way Walk around
Kukui Grove Shopping Center.
She wanted to impress upon her son, a Tiger
Cub Scout, the importance of helping the island community.
Through the
walk, United Way raised pledged funds to help other non-profit groups that
provide economic and social services to the community, ultimately benefiting
the island.
That the was the spirit that drove 550 people to participate in
the early-morning, three-mile walk.
Under ominous rain clouds, a small
crowd of people, mostly wearing brightly colored t-shirts, shorts and
comfortable shoes, poured out of the shopping center shortly after 7
a.m.
Although there were water stations along the way, some brought their
own water and snacks.
Some ran. Most walked. Fathers pushed their children
in strollers as mothers either walked at a brisk pace or jogged the distance.
Dave Humphrey of Lihu’e ran the course and was the first to return,
finishing 17 to 18 minutes after he started.
Humphrey, a marathoner who
hails from Colorado, used the walk as a way to prepare for the Honolulu
Marathon in December.
The event went off smoothly, partly because of the
efforts of the Interact Club of Kapa’a High School, comprised of 116 students
who work in community service programs on the island, according to Kaua’i
United Way executive director Scott Giarman.
The youths, wearing orange
shirts, manned water station, got county permits for the walk and helped
coordinate the walk.
“They have been fantastic in helping us,” Giarman
said.
Giarman said 550 people signed up for the walk, generating $30,000 in
pledges, compared with 600 who walked last year and raised $35,000 in
pledges.
For the walk, half of the proceeds will go toward the 25
non-profit organizations and the other half goes to non-profit organizations
that the walkers wish to donate to, Giarman said.
Funds that are raised
remain on Kaua’i, Giarman said. For this year, United Way hopes to raise
$550,000 to disburse among the 25 non-profit groups that provide services to
the community, Giarman said.
They include American Heart Association,
Kaua’i division, American Red Cross ARC of Kaua’i, Friendship Club, Ho’ike
Kaua’i Community TV, Kaua’i Center for Independent Living, Kaua’i Hospice,
People Attentive to Children, Kaua’i Economic Opportunity Inc., Salvation Army,
YMCA and YWCA.
Dickie Chang, who helped spearhead the fund-raising drive,
said those social service programs are invaluable to the community, and that
losing any would be to the detriment of Kaua’i.
“When you talk about the
value of the program, it is irreplaceable,” said Chang, producer and host of
Wala’au, a locally produced and popular television show.
“It is a good way
to give back to the community,” Chang said. “The whole point is to make Kaua’i
a better place.”
The event this year was sponsored by King Auto Center.
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and
lchang@pulitzer.net
