"No Na Keiki O Kaneohe" (for the sake of the children of Kaneohe) kicks off May 5 with a benefit concert at Castle High School and continues through the month with a Mother's Day dinner, golf and basketball tournaments, a 10-K run and several free musical performances.
The heart of the community undertaking - which Department of Education officials say is unprecedented - is a compact disc featuring Hawaiian music by Na Leo Pilimehana, Loyal Garner, Wade Cambern of the Hawaiian Style Band, Jeff Rasmussen, Dell Beasley and other artists. For each $15 CD sold, about $10 goes back to the schools.
"That's a lot better return than the other things kids sell - candy, chicken, chili, that sort of thing," said Ken Makuakane, the Hoku Award-winning record producer and entertainer who volunteered to produce the CD.
"We've got big dreams and a big volunteer base that is really coming through for the schools.
We're trying to become a community that becomes friends."
No Na Keiki O Kaneohe is the brainchild of Rob McWilliams, a pastor at Hope Chapel and community member of Benjamin Parker Elementary School's council who has seen firsthand how the state's budget crisis is hurting public schools.
"Money's so tight. Morale is not good. Teachers put a fortune in these kids out of their own pockets. We're just trying to say `The community's behind you!' " said McWilliams, whose children attend school in Kailua. "I hope everyone sees you don't have to have kids in a particular school to be able to help."
The money raised will be divided equally among Kaneohe's Castle High School and the nine intermediate and elementary schools that feed into it: King Intermediate and Ahuimanu, Benjamin Parker, Heeia, Kaneohe, Kapunahala, Kahaluu, Puohala and Waiahole elementary schools.
It will be used to upgrade technology on each campus.
The schools' 7,000 students are a big part of the fund-raisers, selling the CD and tickets to all events. Organizers hope to raise at least $200,000 this year and $1 million over the next five years.
"We really stand to gain a lot," said Jean Davidson, principal of Benjamin Parker Elementary. "Not just money, but people getting involved. We're really looking at the concept of it does take a whole village to raise one child."
The following events will raise money for the schools. Call 247-7224 for more details.-
May 5: Concert at Castle High School's Bright Auditorium featuring `Elua Kane, Kapena, Kuuipo Kumukahi, Pandanus Club, Loyal Garner and Na Leo Pilimehana. 6 p.m. $25
-
May 12: Mother's Day buffet and concert at Windward Mall. 6:30 p.m. $30 for adults, $15 for children.
-
May 18-19: Three-On-Three Basketball Tournament at Windward Mall, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. $90 a team. Free entertainment at the mall both days.
-May 23: Three-Person, Best Ball Scramble Golf Tournament at Kaneohe Marine Corps Clipper Course. Noon shotgun start. $300 a team, which includes green fees, carts, golf shirt, snacks and reception. Deadline to enter is May 9.
-May 25: Free "May Day Encore" performances at Windward Mall, 12:45 p.m. to 3 p.m. For two hours after that, kids can get free picture ID cards at the mall's community booth.
-May 26: Free Hana Hou concert at Windward Mall. 1 p.m.
-May 27: 10-K Fun Run/Walk, starts and ends at Windward Mall. 6:30 a.m. $15, which includes a race T-shirt.