POIPU — Christmas is long over, but its effects came to life Wednesday when The Shops at Kukuiula presented a check for $2,005.48 to Koloa School, representing the annual Holiday Gift Bag fundraiser and matching funds from The Shops at
POIPU — Christmas is long over, but its effects came to life Wednesday when The Shops at Kukuiula presented a check for $2,005.48 to Koloa School, representing the annual Holiday Gift Bag fundraiser and matching funds from The Shops at Kukuiula.
“Koloa Elementary School is very grateful and appreciative of the partnership we have had with The Shops at Kukuiula over the past eight years,” said Linda Uyehara, Koloa School principal. “Funds raised from the holiday gift bag sales will go toward the school’s after-school clubs to provide co-curricular activities for Koloa School students.”
Uyehara said some of the clubs include art, ukulele band, media production, drama, Spanish and cooking.
Under the direction of kumu Rachel Iha, the Koloa Keiki Ukulele Band took out instruments and provided a mini concert of May Day tunes on Wednesday in the time slot traditionally set aside for the Chef’s Demo.
The band — drawing comments from Merriman’s customers on how good the students are — set the stage for the kindergarten classes, which drew from the Disney movie “Moana” and presented “How Far I’ll Go.”
In December, select merchants at The Shops at Kukuiula distributed holiday bags hand-decorated by Koloa School students. Each unique bag was available for a minimum donation of $1.
“We look forward to continuing the partnership between our merchants and Koloa School in support of the education of our community,” said Helaine Perel, the real estate manager of The Shops at Kukuiula.
Uyehara said it truly takes a village to raise a child, and Koloa School thanks our community partners who help us fulfill the school’s mission: “The Koloa School ohana cultivates respectful problem solvers and independent thinkers who meaningfully contribute in our global society through high expectations.”
