‘Make A Difference Day’ is this Saturday in U.S.

Americans be participating in the “Make A Difference Day” this Saturday, Oct. 23, a nationwide effort to make their communities a better place to live through community projects.

Kaua‘i residents are ready to follow suit.

Eddie Sarita, who manages the Lihu‘e Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall for the County of Kaua‘i, announced Friday that parents of students, car-sales people and technicians, members of Filipino community groups, members of a halau and Koloa softball team and individuals have committed themselves to erecting fences, painting county structures, and cleaning up landscaped areas and parts of Rice Street.

“The day is meaningful for us on Kaua‘i. These projects will benefit our island,” Sarita said in an interview. “It is making improvements in our various communities, and we are building community spirit and pride.”

The yearly “Make A Difference Day” is sponsored and supported by the USA Weekend magazine, and the Points of Light Foundation, which is associated with actor and entrepreneur Paul Newman, and Wal-Mart.

The event has involved participation by thousands of Hawai‘i residents in the past.

For four hours last year, Kaua‘i residents trimmed bushes and hedges that are part of the Gateway Project, an undertaking to beautify roads that lead to the Lihu‘e Airport.

For this year’s project, the work will take place in various communities from 8 a.m. to noon this Saturday, Oct. 23.

Sarita ticked off the list of projects:

• Members of King Kaumuali‘i Elementary School’s PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association) are to erect a net fence at the Peter Rayno Sr. Park in Hanama‘ulu;
• Employees at Kauai Toyota are to clean both sides of Rice Street from Kaumuali‘i Highway to an area near Kapule Highway, a distance of about 1 1/2 miles;
• Rosie Bukoski and members of the Na Kolohe Women’s Softball Team and community members will clean up areas around the basketball and tennis courts at the Anne Sinclair Knudsen Park in Koloa (Koloa ball park). In addition, the group will clean up a walking bridge by the tennis courts, which are located off Maluhia Road;
• Kehau Cummings and her hula halau will erect a chain-link fence on the grounds of the Anahola Clubhouse;
• Linda Dela Cruz and the Kekaha ‘Ohana, a community group, plan to landscape a county park by the “First Ditch” in Kekaha;
• Members of the Kauai Filipino Chamber of Commerce, led by Oscar Portugal, will paint the lobby of the county’s convention hall;
• Members of Kauai Filipino Community Council are to spruce up landscaping at tennis courts by the convention hall;
• Adeline “Dely” Sasaki will be working with a Filipino club to clean up the Hanama‘ulu Beach Road;
• David and Kathie Gissing of Kapa‘a will clean up Kuhio Highway from Kealia to Anahola, a distance of two miles.
• Officials of the Koke‘e Museum, state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of State Parks, and the Koke‘e Lodge are working together to continue work on the Nature Trail and the Pu‘u Hinahina Trail at Koke‘e. In addition, the museum and lodge are inviting the public to an early Halloween Party. Events planned include a pumpkin-carving contest at noon. For more information, please call 335-9975.

Sarita said he would like to get more volunteers involved in the projects. Those willing to do so can contact him at 241-6623.

Points of Light Foundation will make donations toward projects that “look the best,” Sarita said.

Newman has donated $10,000 to the top 10 honorees in the past, according to news accounts.

Sarita said he plans to submit applications for all the projects to the foundation.

“People should take before-and-after pictures of their projects, and send me the photos,” he said.

“People can not only help the community, but win some money,” Sarita said with a smile.

Lester Chang, staff writer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) or mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net.