About Town | 8-1-15

KTA kicks off 22nd annual Kokua i Na Kula program

KTA Super Stores continues to make a difference in the lives of Hawaii Island students with its Kokua i Na Kula (Help the Schools) program. Now in its 22nd year, Kokua i Na Kula provides schools with the opportunity to earn their share of $100,000 for capital improvements, beautification projects, school equipment and extra-curricular activities. Since the program began in 1994, more than $1.8 million has been provided to Hawaii Island schools through the program.

Here’s how the program works: Shop at KTA Super Stores between Wednesday and Sept. 15, buy participating products marked with the light bulb logo, and at the end of the transaction donate points by telling the cashier which school will receive the points by identifying its number from a list at the checkout.

KTA shoppers will accumulate points for Hawaii Island schools by purchasing participating products from Kraft Foods, Kimberly-Clark, Quaker Foods, Gatorade, Hawaiian Sun, Frito-Lay, Pepsi, Dreyer’s, Nabisco, Banana Boat, Smucker’s, Hershey’s, Kellogg’s and Pint Size. One point will be awarded for each product purchased and added toward their favorite Hawaii Island school.

Students can also earn extra points for their school by participating in community service projects with The Food Basket (Hawaii Island’s Food Bank), Hawaii Island Humane Society and Recycle Hawaii as follows:

The Food Basket — students will earn one extra Kokua i Na Kula point for their school for every donation of a canned food item

Hawaii Island Humane Society — students will earn one extra Kokua i Na Kula point for their school with each donation of pet supplies, such as towel, treat or toy; students will earn five Kokua i Na Kula points per hour for volunteering (students younger than 16 must be accompanied by a chaperone and complete a one-hour orientation course provided by the Hawaii Island Humane Society).

Recycle Hawaii — students will earn one extra Kokua i Na Kula point for their school for each Mylar packaging recycled, such as chip bags, candy wrappers and more.

Kokua i Na Kula is open to participating public and private schools serving students in kindergarten through 12th grades within the Hawaii School District and Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, and the program boasts 100 percent school participation. With a cap of $10,000 points per school, points will be totaled and calculated to determine what percentage of funds will be allocated to each school. Final Kokua i Na Kula point standings and percentages will be announced in November and the total funds will be awarded to schools in January.

For more information on the Kokua i Na Kula program, visit KTA Super Stores or call Pearl Daimaru-Orozco at 959-4575, ext. 3313.

Freemasons meeting planned

The monthly Stated Meeting of Kona Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons will be held Wednesday at the Kona Masonic Center, 73-5577 Kauhola St., Suite 7, Kailua-Kona. The activities begin with dinner at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held at 7. Dessert will be available after the meeting.

All members of the craft are invited to the dinner and meeting. For more information, call Lee Meyerson at 326-5661.