NUKOLI’I — Throughout the year there are many events that help shape the character of Kaua’i’s young boys. Many of the events are spear-headed by the Boy Scouts of America program under the Aloha Council, Kaua’i Chapter, and once annually,
NUKOLI’I — Throughout the year there are many events that help shape the character of Kaua’i’s young boys.
Many of the events are spear-headed by the Boy Scouts of America program under the Aloha Council, Kaua’i Chapter, and once annually, the council takes time to recognize both the achievements of the young boys as well as the dedication and commitment of adults who spend countless hours shaping the young boys to become productive citizens.
Mike Goto, the Kaua’i district commissioner, was presented the Award of Merit for his unselfish service to Scouting. In making the presentation, Kaipo Kealalio III, the Kaua’i district executive, pointed out that Goto has one of the awards for Maui, but had yet to be recognized on Kaua’i for his efforts with the Scouting program.
Henry Kula Schumacher was presented with the Silver Beaver award, the highest award possible in the Scouting program, for his “distinguished service to young boys.”
But character development extends beyond human effort, and to help realize this, the program featured a keynote speaker who delved not only into the double meaning of “be prepared,” the Scouting motto, but also into ways the Scouting program can help raise funds.
To extend the definition offered by Peter Salvio, the keynote speaker for the annual Boy Scout Recognition Dinner, these are the “rare nuts,” — referring to those being honored.
Salvio, who recently established a Kaua’i branch of his O’ahu real estate operation, spoke of his personal experiences in helping raise funds for organizations.
Salvio’s firm has given back more than $130 million since 1980, and cited one of his recent projects on O’ahu where a plantation camp was on the verge of being razed.
Through his personal involvement and collaboration between principals involved in the camp, Salvio said, the camp that everyone wanted to save, but nobody wanted to help, is currently being developed, and once the sale of the houses and property are finalized to the current camp tenants, the project will yield between $7 million and $10 million to the homeowners.
He plans to do similar developments here, but will concentrate on affordable housing.
The Scouting program is one example of an organization that needs to raise funds to support its operations, and Salvio’s suggestions hit home.
Kaua’i District Chairman Tom Shigemoto explained that a lot of Kaua’i’s funds are covered by the Aloha Council, but Kaua’i needs to be more selfsufficient.
To this end, Salvio’s suggestions of Christmas tree sales and minilandscapes hit home, as did one of his suggestions on how people considering the sale of real estate can benefit the Scouting program. Through a unique listing program, a percentage of the sale is earmarked for a charitable cause of the listor’s choosing under his firm’s Community Service Listing program.
Additionally, Pack 148 and Troops 148, 133, 270 and 334 were presented the “Friends of Scouting” award for their contributions towards the financial success of the Scouting program. This year’s goal is $35,090.
For now, Salvio said, “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery. The Boy Scouts are looking for the rarest nut. Be prepared.”
