COMMUNITY & INTERNATIONAL SERVICE PROJECTS
Upcoming projects 2019
- January 29, 2019: Books 4 Kids Hale Navy Keiki School POC: Glory.king@aol.com
- March 6, 2019: Rotary Readers @ Waikiki Elementary School @ 10.00AM
POC: Sylvia Makk makkart@aol.com - April 3, 2019: Rotary Readers @ Waikiki Elementary School @ 10.00AM
POC: Sylvia Makk makkart@aol.com - May 1, 2019: Rotary Readers @ Waikiki Elementary School @ 10.00AM
POC: Sylvia Makk makkart@aol.com
Why do kids need books?
- Books create warm emotional bonds between adults and kids when they read books together.
- Books help kids develop basic language skills and profoundly expand their vocabularies — much more than any other media.
- Books are interactive; they demand that kids think. Fiction and nonfiction books widen our consciousness. They give us new ways to think and new ideas. They expand our universe beyond time and place and inspire our own original thoughts.
- Books develop critical thinking skills. A book is read by an individual. It has no laugh track or musical score that emotionally primes a reader’s reaction. You alone decide what you think about a book and its contents with no one leaning over your shoulder telling you how to think.
- Books develop and nourish kids’ imaginations, expanding their worlds. Picture books introduce young children to the world of art and literature. Novels and nonfiction books stimulate kids’ sensory awareness, helping kids to see, hear, taste, feel, and smell on an imagined level. Books inform our imaginations, inspiring creativity.
- Books let kids try on the world before they have to go out into it. Books give kids an opportunity to experience something in their imaginations before it happens to them in real life. Books help prepare kids for their next stage of maturity, vicariously preparing for the “grown-up” world.
- Books help us to understand ourselves, to find out who we are. Books strengthen our self-confidence and help us to understand why we are who we are. They help us discover where we come from and help us figure out where we want to go.
Books help children and adults to open up, to move beyond self-absorption and connect to other people. Books show us the inner workings of multiple perspectives and let us know there is more than one way to view the world. Books build connections and broaden our capacity to empathize; they help us to understand others. Books help us to become more compassionate. - Books help kids to chart their own moral and ethical course. Books help us to reflect on right and wrong, good and evil. Books can offer guidance and help us to determine our life priorities, our own set of values.
- Books answer questions.
- Books create questions.
- Books provide the opportunity to share cultural experiences. When kids read the same book, enjoying a common reading experience, peer bonds are built within a generation. When children, parents, and grandparents share classic books, extended familial and community bonds are formed creating a shared frame of reference.
- Books offer a wide breadth of information, experience, and knowledge. But unlike many electronic mediums, books also offer a great depth of information, experience, and knowledge. Books inform us about other people, other countries, other customs and cultures. Books help us to teach ourselves about history, the arts, science, religion, nature, mathematics, and technology –– anything and everything in our universe and beyond. Books also help us to understand the effect that all those things have on us and our world.
- Books entertain and offer a great escape. They make us laugh and giggle. They make us cry.
- Books — unlike many other entertainments –– are free for everyone. You can find the book you need, for free, at your neighborhood public library.
- Books are great companions. You are never lonely when you have a book to read.
- Books comfort us. Books help us understand that no matter who we are, or what our experiences may be, we are not alone in the world.
BOOKS INSPIRE US TO DREAM.
BOOKS GIVE US THE TOOLS TO ACHIEVE OUR DREAMS.
Excerpt from the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance
Angel Tree-Family Assessment Center and Family Promise of Hawaii
December 23-24, 2018
Thank you to Waikiki Rotarian Richard Fikani who planned the 2nd Annual Angel Tree Program that was held on December 23, 2018 at 6:30 pm at the Family Assessment Center. The Angel Tree Program provides the parents and their children with a hot meal (chicken katsu, chop steak, fish, rice, noodles, macaroni salad and a juice drink). A Christmas Movie is shown to everyone in attendance. Each child receives a Christmas candy, snacks, a gift and a book from Santa Claus.
Twenty-one children received Christmas candy, snacks, a gift and a book. Ten parents and two staff members were in attendance.
The Family Assessment Center is designed to help connect these families with permanent housing through our housing placement programs and collaboration with other social service providers. The center will temporarily house up to 50 people or approximately 15 families at a time.
The 2nd Annual Angel Tree Program expanded this year. On December 24, 2018. the 2nd Annual Angel Tree Program also provided a gift and a book to the Family Promise of Hawaii After Care Program.
Ten children at the Honolulu and Kailua Shelter Programs received Christmas candy, a gift and a book.
Fifteen children at the Diversion Program received Christmas candy, a gift and a book.
Since opening in 2006, Family Promise of Hawaii has assisted hundreds of homeless families with much-needed programs and services that help them transition into affordable housing. We shelter up to 28 people (8 families) each week, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Mahalo Richard and your wonderful family for all that you do for our community.
Completed projects 2018-2019
Toys and Books 4 Tots
December 19, 2018
Waikiki Rotarians donated hundreds of Toys, nearly 200 New Hard covered Books and contributed $200.00 to the Toys for Tots program. Mahalo to the Waikiki Rotary Club once again for your generosity and loving kindness for the wonderful toys for needy children.
Books 4 Kids — Kuhio Elementary School
December 14, 2018
Waikiki Rotarians donated over 250 books to all the students at Kuhio Elementary school and to several preschools in the area. Thank you to our many volunteers that always go beyond Rotary’s motto “Service above Self”. The Rotary Club of Waikiki is a strong supporter of literacy projects in school and at home. We give books to students so they develop a lifelong love of reading and books.
Waikiki Rotary Readers — Waikiki Elementary School
December 5, 2018
Waikiki Rotarians shared stories to 5 year old students today at Waikiki Elementary School by reading aloud some of their favorite stories.
Thank you to our volunteers who understand the The Benefits of Reading Aloud. When kids sit next to a caring adult and hear engaging stories, they develop positive associations with books. Reading aloud to a child strengthens the part of their brain associated with visual imagery, the ability to understand stories and word meaning. When you read to your five-year-old, they pick up on important book smarts, like how to hold a book, which direction to turn the pages, what an author is and where to find the title. These skills are called 'concepts about print', and they help kids prepare to be successful independent readers.
Serenity Park Work Day
December 1, 2018
About a dozen Rotarians gathered on the North Shore of Oahu at the abandoned Crawford’s Convalescent Home to work on a project for Ho ‘ola Na Pua, a local non-profit. Ho ‘ola Na Pua is renovating the abandoned home to provide a shelter for women who have escaped from sex trafficking. The Rotarians are working on a D5000 project to build a Serenity Gardens where the women might meditate, relax and recover. The Serenity Gardens project is set to last several months and will be completed in May of this year.
Thank you to our club volunteers: President Stephen Morgan. Kathy Higa, Janet Scheffer and friend, Jade Powers and daughter, Paul McGillicuddy. Other volunteers that also helped included: Mark Merriman, DG Win Schoneman and Lyla Berg.
Books 4 Kids — Waikiki Elementary School
November 29, 2018
Rotary Club of Waikiki delivered over 600 books to the students at Waikiki Elementary School today. It’s always a great day when we have the opportunity to share the gift of reading and seeing the excited faces of the students while they select a book of their very own to keep and take home. Thank you to our many volunteers.
A message from Waikiki Elementary School... Dear Rotary Club of Waikiki: On behalf of Waikiki School, thank you very much for once again providing the wonderful holiday gift of reading. The time that the Waikiki Rotarians spent ordering, labeling, and distributing all the amazing books was well worth it when you see the smiles and expressions of children being immersed in a good story. As a school administrator, we see the benefits, long after you've left our cafeteria, of children reading in the hallways, in the classroom, and on one of the many shady benches scattered across our playgrounds. Mahalo for this relationship between the Rotary Club of Waikiki and Waikiki School, and we look forward to finding avenues to strengthen the bonds between our two organizations. Thanks Much, Ryan Kusuda, Vice Principal Waikiki School
Food Drive — Waikiki Community Center
November 24, 2018
The Rotary Club of Waikiki collected canned foods over a two week period and delivered them to the Waikiki Community Center on 24 November 2018. Hundreds of cans were collected and the Waikiki Community Center was very grateful for the delivery.
Books 4 Kids — Likelike Elementary School
November 8, 2018
Over 350 books were given to all students at Likelike Elementary School as part of the Rotary Club of Waikiki's commitment to bring new books into the hands of kids in need. Literacy is one of our top priorities of the Rotary Club of Waikiki and this project is just one of those projects. Thank you to our many volunteers!
Dictionary Project — Lanakila Elementary School
November 7, 2018
Waikiki Rotarians Stephen, Lisa, Nora and Gloria presented nearly 70 dictionaries to the students at Lanakila Elementary School. Students were asked to sign each book with their names and a brief lesson was given on how to use a dictionary and the many benefits of a dictionary in school and at home. The students were asked to find various words to demonstrate their comprehension. The fun part was when they discovered all the cool information that's in this very special Gazetteer.
Rotarian Lisa reviews the Rotary 4 Way Test with the third grade students at Lanakila Elementary
President Stephen Morgan presents dictionaries to the third grade students at Lanakila Elementary School...they are so excited!
Rotary Reads — Waikiki Elementary School
November 7, 2018
Rotarians Patti Mitchell and PP Carol Riley read to the kindergarteners at Waikiki Elementary School today. Reading to children gives them the skills needed for when they start to read themselves.It is important that children learn to follow words across the page from left to right, and turn pages which are pre-reading skills that benefit children and help them to become better readers. Reading aloud is not just fun-It's critical to improving kids abilities as readers. Reading aloud helps develop kids vocabulary skills, increase knowledge and boost their love of books and reading!
Dictionaries to Kalihi Waena Elementary School
October 31, 2018
Waikiki Rotarians Stephen, Lisa, Carol and Gloria delivered over 100 dictionaries to the third graders and teachers at Kalihi Waena school today. A short lesson on the use of a dictionary and shared some of the wonderful information that can be found in this Gazetteer.
The idea for the Dictionary Project began in 1992. Since that time, more than 17,000,000 dictionaries have been given out including the 2,397,306 given out in 2011 alone. Rotarians across the country and in Hawaii have been donating dictionaries to elementary schools since 2002-2003, with a total thus far of 7,404,618 dictionaries. Each year Rotarians as a whole give more than one million dictionaries. In Hawaii nearly 18,000 are given out each year.
This Rotary year the Rotary Club of Waikiki provided over 850 dictionaries to third graders and teachers at 10 local schools. This project is one of many literacy projects our clubs provides for the Kids in Hawaii.
Dictionary Project — Puuhale Elementary School
October 24, 2018
We had another exciting great day to give dictionaries to the students at Puuhale Elementary School. The students and teachers and yes, our volunteers, had a wonderful time learning how to use a dictionary, to look up words and definitions and see all the fantastic information to be found in this special one-of-a-kind dictionary. Thank you Rotary Club of Waikiki and to our volunteers President Stephen, PDG Roy, Nora and a special guests from Taiwan PP Alfred Liu.
Children and Youth Day @ Hawaii State Capitol
October 7, 2018
Community Service Director Paul reported that his team of 12 Waikiki Rotarians had a very successful day manning the information booth for Children's Youth day at the Hawaii State Capitol. It was a hot day and the volunteers were busy: finding a lost child, finding two lost cell phones, helping with trash pickup, and lots of other things. He said there were about 50,000 people in attendance. They answered myriads of questions for directions ATM’s, first aid, concert stages, activity booths etc. They provided hundreds of goodie bags to families and kids.
In 1994, the Hawai‘i State Legislature and Governor established Children and Youth Day (CYD) in Hawai‘i as the first Sunday of every October to celebrate and honor our children and youth and the special contributions they make to our community. After much community discussion, Act 30 of 1997 was passed to dedicate the entire month of October as Children and Youth Month in Hawai‘i. Children & Youth Day happens on the first Sunday of October, each year. CYD is a time to recognize the potential and special gifts of our keiki (children) and ‘opio (youth). It is a time for them to shine and share their bountiful energy with their community.
Rotary Reads — Waikiki Elementary School
October 3, 2018
Waikiki Rotarians read stories aloud today to the kindergarten students at Waikiki Elementary School. This is a monthly program of the Rotary Club of Waikiki to share a story to wonderful students that are eager to learn and listen and to imagine.
Thank you to our readers Carol, Uncle Bob, Janel and Patti and a big Mahalo to our chair Sylvia Makk.
This is one of the most rewarding projects we participate in! We really do make a difference in the world and it doesn’t involve money ... just our time and attention. These children and the teachers recognize us and adore us.. Here is yet another chance for Rotary to change lives for the better.
~ Patti Mitchell, Rotary Youth Chair
Dictionary Project — Likelike Elementary School
September 26, 2018
The Rotary Club of Waikiki provides dictionaries to every third grader every year to Likelike Elementary School in Palama-Kalihi, Oahu. Rotarians Mela, Nora and Gloria presented dictionaries and gave the students a brief overview on the use of the dictionaries, we looked up words and shared fun facts that can be found in the dictionary. Always a great day to share the gift of a dictionary.
We give dictionaries because it is the best learning tool a students can have throughout their learning years. This is a special dictionary it has more than words and definitions, it also contains the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Multiplication tables which the third graders are learning this year. It also includes information on U.S. States, Facts about Countries and Locations, Maps, Planets (did you know Pluto is no longer a planet?) Biographies on all of our U.S. Presidents, Metric, Braille, Sign Language and so much more.
The goal of this program is to assist all students in becoming good writers, active readers, creative thinkers, and resourceful learners by providing them with their own personal dictionary. The dictionaries are a gift to each student to use at school and at home for years to come. Educators see third grade as the dividing line between learning to read and reading to learn, so we encourage our members to give dictionaries each year to children in the third grade.
Recognition Luncheon-Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation Scholarships
September 18, 2018
The Hawai‘i Rotary Youth Foundation (HRYF) Scholarship Committee honored 48 scholarship winners at a recent luncheon.
The Ala Moana Hotel was the venue for a wonderful luncheon celebrating the students from Rotary District 5000 who were awarded HRYF Scholarships. The event was funded by Foodland, Hawaii. Waikiki Rotarian Sally Blanchard, HRYF Chair was represented at the luncheon by Waikiki Rotary Youth Chair Patti Mitchell. Pakalani Kam from Sacred Hearts School was the recipient of the $5,000.00 scholarship who represented the Rotary Club of Waikiki. She is not only a scholar but a star Soccer Ball Player. She is attending the University of Hawaii.
Above left to right: Mahea and Pakalana Kam, Kaleikaumaka Cruz, Beeper Nakamaejo and Patti Mitchell
Dictionary Project - Kalihi Kai Elementary School
September 18, 2018
Rotarians Patti, Nora, Rhodora, Stephen and Gloria presented dictionaries to the third grade students and teachers at Kalihi Kai Elementary.
The students were so excited to receive their very own dictionary. One student was actually using her brother's dictionary when he received it 3 years ago from the Rotary Club of Waikiki, he is now in the sixth grade and you could see that he used the dictionary a lot.
Why are we giving dictionaries...A dictionary is perhaps the first and most powerful reference tool that a child should own. Its usefulness goes beyond the spellings, pronunciations, and definitions it lists; it is a companion for solving problems that arise as a child develops his or her reading, writing, and creative thinking abilities. Students benefit from an increased self-reliance and resourcefulness inspired by the maxim "look it up". Teachers benefit by knowing that their students have consistent access to a tool for homework and in-class explorations. We emphasize the importance of using a dictionary to make sure that all words are spelled correctly.
The program is an opportunity for children to expand their vocabulary and for many to actually own a dictionary. A strong vocabulary is an essential tool for gaining knowledge. The limits of an individual's language are the limits of his world. A large vocabulary does not guarantee success but a small vocabulary limits the use that a person can make of his or her natural abilities. Low vocabulary decreases the effectiveness of inborn gifts in any civilization.
Dictionary project - Kapalama Elementary School
September 13, 2018
It’s always a great day when we can share the gift of a dictionary to all third grade students and teachers at Kapalama Elementary School. Over 100 dictionaries were given to excited students and teachers.
Our volunteers Patti M, Nora, Paul, Jim, Bob and Gloria presented the dictionaries to the students, gave a brief lesson on the use of this amazing learning tool, looked up words, reviewed the table of contents and reviewed other sections of the dictionary. It was a great day and we all left with smiling faces.
A dictionary is a very important tool for anyone who is learning a new language. ... find the English translation of a word in your language. check the spelling of a word. check the plural of a noun or past tense of a verb. find out other grammatical information about a word.
Dictionary project - Navy Hale Keiki School
September 8, 2018
Rotarians Patti Mitchell and Dave Livingston presented dictionaries to the third grade students and teachers at Navy Hale Keiki School in support of our military families. They shared a brief lesson on the importance of using a dictionary, a review of all the many things that can be found in this special edition of the Students Dictionary.
A dictionary is important as a quick reference book and a great learning tool.
Dictionary project - Waikiki Elementary School
September 5, 2018
The Rotary Club of Waikiki recently donated over 100 dictionaries to third grade students and teachers at Waikiki Elementary School. Rotarians Chuck, Kathryn, Jacob, Jade, Stephen, Dave, Pam, Patti and Gloria provided a brief lesson on the importance of using a dictionary; they looked up words, reviewed information on states and countries, the multiplication tables and so much more. The students were overwhelmed to receive their gift from the Rotary Club of Waikiki.
A dictionary is a compilation of words ranging from letters A-Z. When reading or writing an article, deciphering a word or phrase, the use of a dictionary could be of great help. Primarily, its purpose is to give meanings to words. However, there are many advantages of using a dictionary:
- Right pronunciation. Through the aid of a dictionary, you can check out a word’s right utterance. For that it will assist you in the right pronunciation of words
- Which part of speech. It could inform you as to which part of speech does a certain word belong. May it be a verb, noun, adjective or a combination of these three? One more thing, it could also be a guide as to how should a particular word be used.
- Correct spelling. Linguistically speaking, it is no doubt that a dictionary could help us out in knowing the proper spelling of words. In this connection, it will guide us in writing a word or phrase.
Truly, a dictionary is of great help to everyone especially to students who are learning a language. It is also helpful in enriching our vocabulary. So, remember to bring a dictionary with you.
Dictionary project — Kuhio Elementary School
August 29, 2018
The Rotary Club of Waikiki donated a Student's’ Dictionary to all third grade students and teachers at Kuhio Elementary School. Waikiki Rotarians President, Stephen Morgan and PP, Joe Gedeon, talked about Rotary and the good work we do in our community, gave a short tutorial on the importance of using a dictionary and proceeded to tell the student on all the information they can learn from this wonderful learning tool. The Rotary Club of Waikiki has participated in the Dictionary Project since 2004. It’s always a great day to share the love of reading and this great dictionary to the students at Kuhio Elementary School.
School supplies delivered
July 31, 2018
As you can imagine, there are many barriers to homeless children getting a good education and obtaining proper school supplies should not be one of them.
At the School Supply Drive at WalMart we collected $1027.61 which was used to purchase 109 backpacks which were stuffed by Paul McGillicuddy, Stephen Morgan, Ikko Tomita, Nora Chen, Patti Mitchell and Lisa Ahmed and were delivered on 31 July.
School supplies were donated to: Kalihi Kai Elementary, Waikiki Elementary, Tripler Fisher House and to The Hawaiʻi Homeless Outreach and Medical Education (HOME) at the John A. Burns School of Medicine. Providing supplies for the kids at the Kakaʻako Family Assessment Center, the Oneluaena and Onemalu Shelters in Kalaeloa, the Waianae Paiʻolu Kaiaulu Shelter, and the IHS Women’s and Children’s Shelter. And 3 backpacks for 3 special grandkids of the cashier where Lisa purchased the backpacks – A really neat act of kindness.
School Supply Drive at Walmart – Keeaumoku, Honolulu
July 28, 2018 | 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
SUCCESS! What a GREAT day to have a School Supply Drive to help Children in Need for a better Education.
The Rotary Club of Waikiki was in full force at Wal-Mart Keeaumoku to help collect school supplies for children in need. We want to sincerely thank the amazing and generous Wal-Mart Shoppers who made this project a HUGE success. We have never seen so many contribute from their hearts to give to this wonderful project.
We also thank our faithful volunteers; without our volunteers and our project chair Paul McGillicuddy we could not have accomplished this extraordinary task.
We collected a large suburban SUV full of school supplies and collected over $1,000 in cash. With the cash, 109 backpacks were purchased and packed with school supplies. The school supplies were given to The H.O.M.E Project, Kalihi Kai Elementary School, Waikiki Elementary School, and Fisher House at Tripler.
