Matson Navigation lends support to Project Grad

NAWILIWILI — Matson Navigation presented representatives from the Project Grad programs of Kapa‘a, Kaua‘i and Waimea high schools with an award for their respective programs Wednesday afternoon at the Matson Nawiliwili Harbor offices.

Dewayne Kong, Matson manager of the Nawiliwili offices, said the award was made by the A&B Foundation when Matson was a subsidiary of A&B Hawai‘i.

After Matson became its own entity, he said he remembers the award being made and Matson feels the program to keep high school graduates safe on their commencement night is a commendable effort by the Project Grad coordinators and parent volunteers who work to keep the graduates safe in a drug and alcohol free environment.

“As a former teacher, I know how hard it is to come by money, so Matson hopes these awards will help the Project Grad programs,” Kong said. “A lot of the Matson employees on Kaua‘i either attended or have children attending our high schools around the island and on their behalf. We want to help keep our children happy and safe on their graduation night.”

Kerri-Anne Iwai, a supervisor for the Matson Nawiliwili office is a graduate of Waimea High School and remembers her Project Grad program.

“I was hypnotized and had to do the catwalk as a supermodel,” Iwai told the gathering. “It’s all on video.”

Kong said the amounts may be meager on this presentation, but hopefully, business and the economy picks up and future presentations can become more generous.

“This is just the start,” Kong said. “We look forward to doing this again.”