MAYOR ANNOUNCES SECOND ROUND OF

COMMUNITY BENEFITS FOR LEEWARD COAST

NANAKULI – Mayor Mufi Hannemann today announced the non-profit recipients of $1 million in City community benefits grants for the Leeward Coast area.  He also unveiled the projects to be included in the $1.5 million in supplemental parks improvements, which is the other half of the community benefits package.

This is the second year of the Hannemann administration’s community benefits program.

Mayor Hannemann said, “These grants to the non-project organizations serving the Leeward Coast, combined with the additional parks projects, help to offset the burden residents bear for housing Oahu’s only landfill.

“Last June, we established a community benefits advisory committee consisting of representatives from the Leeward Coast to review and recommend how best to spend the initial package of $2 million.  The results of their hard work were announced in January of this year.  This second round should build on the momentum and success of that effort.

“Budget Chairman Todd Apo, who represents the district, and his Council colleagues, as well as committee chairman Aimoku McClellan and the committee, all played important roles in securing the funding and selecting the recipients, respectively, and I’m grateful for their support.

“This community grants program is truly a community-driven, community-centered endeavor and that’s what makes it so meaningful and appropriate to the concerns and aspirations of the residents.”

Twenty-five non-profit community organizations will receive grants:

·       Big Brothers Big Sisters of Honolulu, $25,000 for mentoring services to Nanakuli and Waianae area students.

·       Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii–Nanakuli, $60,000 for a prevention and leadership program for 300 youth between the ages of 7 and 17.

·       Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii–Waianae, $60,000 for improvements to the video and sound production multimedia center for youth ages 7-17.

·       Catholic Charities Hawaii, $30,000 for the provision of clinical and therapeutic counseling services for low-income residents of the Leeward/Waianae Coast.

·       Child and Family Services, $20,000 for health maintenance services to disabled, frail, and/or isolated residents of Waianae and Nanakuli.

·       Corvette Center Ministries, $20,000 for the provision of a multi-dimensional transitional recovery program for homeless adults on the Waianae Coast.

·       Easter Seals Hawaii, $40,000 for a service center in Makakilo to serve infants, youth, and adults with disabilities.

·       Habitat for Humanity Leeward Oahu, $60,000 to support a home-building program that will produce four homes for very low-income Leeward Coast families.

·       Hale Kipa, Inc., $30,000 for drop-in center services to youth who are experiencing homelessness.

·       Hawaii Building Industry Foundation, $40,000 for pre-apprenticeship training career program services through Project ComPACT for Leeward Coast residents.

·       Hawaii Family Services, Inc., $30,000 to fund the Keiki Support Project that seeks to improve the quality of life for 100 children who are being raised by grandparents and other relatives.

·       Hawaii Nature Center, $25,000 for scholarships for 3,600 students to participate in a full-day culture- and science-based environmental education program.

·       Honolulu Community Action Program, $40,000 for the Leeward Early Childhood Education Program/Oahu Head Start for children and families in Nanakuli and Waianae.

·       Hooikaika O Hawaii, Inc., $40,000 for sports activities, community service projects, and educational programs for economically disadvantaged students ages 5-18.

·       Hoolana, $25,000 for an academic enrichment program for academically challenged and economically disadvantaged students in grades 7 to 12.

·       Hoomau Ke Ola, $38,300 for the renovation and improvement of transitional shelters.

·       KAMP Hawaii, $40,000 for the expansion of the life-mentoring program that includes drug awareness training, classroom outreach, and camping.

·       Leeward Kai Canoe Club, $20,000 for the Na Opio leadership development program for high school students.

·       Life Foundation, $16,700 for HIV-related care and prevention services to Leeward Coast residents.

·       Valley of the Rainbows, $60,000 for an educational youth conference, the Waianae Coast Sunset on the Beach, and administrative costs.

·       Victory Outreach Christian Recovery Homes, $55,000 for outreach and case management services and repair of the women’s recovery facility.

·       Waianae Coast Coalition, $60,000 for a community-based economic development program/agriculture-based cooperative.

·       Waianae Coast Christian Women’s Job Corps, $35,000 for life skills and job skills classes and activities.

·       Waimanalo Construction Coalition, $60,000 for construction and commercial driver license training for low- to moderate-income and unemployed individuals.

·       Westside Athletics Foundation, $60,000 for the promotion of sports-related activities for children and youth to foster positive character development.

“We’re also continuing our repair and maintenance of public parks.  A sum of $1.5 million, half the community benefits package, will go directly to upgrading our parks along the area.  Inasmuch as a good portion of the Leeward Coast consists of beach parks, our needs are many.  This money, combined with operating and capital improvements already included in the City budget, will make a significant difference in our efforts to keep our parks clean and safe.”

Thirty-seven parks will be receiving improvements, while nine recreation buildings and 15 ball fields will be upgraded.  Projects include:

·       $339,000 to complete the Waianae District Park parking lot expansion.

·       $284,800 for numerous district-wide improvements, such as turf management, park signage, water fountain replacement, vehicle barriers, reconditioning of playground surfaces, and so forth.

·       $18,000 for an adult fitness station at Makakilo Community Park.

·       $18,000 to refinish the wooden gym floor at Waianae District Park.

·       $16,000 to replace or repair basketball backboards at Maili, Makaha, and Pililaau parks.

·       $14,000 for ceiling fans in meetings rooms at Maili, Makaha, Nanakuli, Pililaau, and Waianae parks.

·       $84,200 for picnic tables and benches at Maili, Makaha, Nanakuli, Pililaau, and Waianae parks.

·       $79,500 for summer fun excursions for children from the area.

·       $143,000 for playground equipment at Nanakuli Beach Park.

            Other money has been earmarked for recreational, office, and maintenance equipment.

The members of the Leeward Coast Community Benefits Advisory Committee are Aimoku McClellan, John DeSoto, Kuulei Jolonino, Georgette “Jo” Jordan, Bernard Kaahanui, John Kaopua, John Kapololu, Neddie Waiamanu-Nunuha, Mark Suiso, Patty Teruya, and Roy Wickramaratna.

Contact

Bill Brennan, 527-6928