Community News

Haseko donates $50,000 to Ewa Beach area schools
$25,000 donation
Haseko presented a total of $50,000 to two area schools in July. ‘Ewa Beach Haseko's Sharene Saito Tam, director of community relations & public affairs (right) presented a $25,000 check on behalf of the company to Keone‘ula Elementary School in ‘Ewa Beach. The donation was accepted by Eileen Hirota, principal of the school.

Elementary School and the new Keone‘ula Elementary School each received $25,000. The contribution is part of Haseko's comprehensive Good Neighbor program, which supports the ‘Ewa Beach community with a wide variety of contributions.

"Haseko made a commitment to support area schools more than a decade ago, well before construction was started on Ocean Pointe," said Sharene Saito Tam, Haseko's director of community relations and public affairs.

"I feel extremely fortunate to have watched Keone‘ula Elementary grow-from two years ago when discussions began to define its vision and mission; to development of the school's layout and design; to construction; and to the naming of the school. So I was honored to present the $25,000 check to Keone‘ula Elementary. Principal Hirota will be free to use it however she sees fit to help the school fulfill its educational mission."

Earlier this year Haseko donated 12 acres of land for construction of the new elementary school, which is slated for completion by December. The company also gave 1.25 acres of land to Seagull Schools, which broke ground on their Ocean Pointe campus in March.

Saito Tam said Haseko's $25,000 contribution to ‘Ewa Beach Elementary School followed years of active involvement at the campus, through volunteering at school events, reading to students, contributing labor and materials to install campus walkways, and supporting various school efforts to reward student achievement.

"We are pleased to play a role in supporting our neighbors in ‘Ewa Beach," added Saito Tam.

Some of Haseko's other commitments to the local community include:

$25,000 donation
Complex Area Superintendent Mamo Carreira and ‘Ewa Beach Elementary School Principal Sherry Kobayashi accepted the check from Tam.
  • The ‘Ewa Beach Community Trust Fund, which gives grants to groups providing activities/services for‘Ewa Beach youth and senior citizens. Haseko created the fund more than a decade ago, and in 2004 contributed $250,000. Haseko will donate another $1.75 million to the fund after the Hoakalei Country Club golf course opens.
  • The Haseko Training Fund, which gives grants to area organizations to provide pre-employment training with emphasis on marine-related industries. Haseko has contributed $200,000 to this fund so far, and will continue to provide an additional $100,000 per year for the next three years.
  • 18+ acres of land for a district park that the City will develop to benefit all of ‘Ewa Beach. Haseko also will contribute $400,000 to be used for the construction of a community facility at the park.
  • 9.4 acres of beachfront land to expand One‘ula Beach Park and more than $2 million to make park improvements.
  • Land for a new fire station. Haseko has set aside one acre of land for the Honolulu Fire Department. Construction is expected to begin on the Ocean Pointe site in 2008. Haseko will also donate two jet skis and trailers to the new station.