Editor’s note: Each Wednesday, West Hawaii Today is publishing a story about individuals, groups or organizations that have helped make life better for others in our community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Lions Club of Kona and the Konawaena Leo Club have been busy as of late.
For more than a month, the partnership has been sewing cloth masks and 3D-printing PPE face shields, delivering to more than a dozen locations across West Hawaii. On Friday, they made their latest stop at the Regency Hualalai, dropping off 140 cloth masks and 50 face shields.
“We keep getting orders, so we’ve been distributing to various places,” said Lions Club member Shari Ann Ogi. “We’ve been to Hualalai Elderly Housing, several of the housing areas. We’re distributing PPE to doctors, dentists, clinics.”
Past deliveries include Hale Hookipa, Nani Olu, the American Cancer Society, Captain Cook Elderly Housing, Life Care Center of Kona, Honaunau School, Kona Dental Office, Dayne’s Professional Beauty Salon, Wynn’s Hair Salon, North Hawaii Hospice and Kona Health and Healing
About a dozen Konawaena students have been working to 3D-print the face shields, with their first order being completed in early May. To date, a total of 195 face shields and 538 masks have been delivered.
Anyone looking to make a donation or request PPE can do so visiting www.hawaiilionshui.org.
To date, according to the Hawaii Lions Hui, more than 3,300 face shields have been donated across the state.
Know a Hometown Hero that should be highlighted next Wednesday? It can be anybody, from a youngster doing good for the community, to a professional helping with the COVID-19 pandemic, or even a kupuna! Please send your nominations to cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com with the subject: Hometown Heroes Nomination. Please include the hero’s name, contact information and what makes them a hero.