NEIGHBORHOODS
Navy program supplies
By Gregg K. Kakesako
Oahu schools with
used computers
Star-BulletinPersonal computers that once handled vital information for the Navy's Pacific Fleet will now be the backbone of a program to help Windward Oahu families.
"The idea is to help develop the literacy and vocational skills of our parents," said Dorinda Lum, vice principal for Heeia Elementary School.
"Once the parents learn these skills, they can help their children with their homework."
The 20 first-generation Pentium computers that went to Heeia Elementary, complete with monitors and CD-ROM players, were among 300 computers recently donated by the Navy to 20 Oahu schools and several local nonprofit organizations.
That brings to nearly 400 the number of computers donated in Hawaii this year under the Navy's Personal Excellence Partnership Program, said Lt. Adonis Mason, the Navy's community service coordinator. The computers, valued at more than $750,000, came from 31 Navy commands and went to 31 island schools and nonprofit groups.
Another 787 computers, valued at more than $50,000, have been donated by the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility to the Red Cross and 21 other schools under a separate program. Pearl Harbor hopes to donate 100 more before the end of the year.
Mason said the Navy's computers came from various commands which were upgrading their systems, and more may be donated in another five months.
"We wanted to help computer literacy in the schools," he said. "We have these partnerships with schools, and we understand the need for computer equipment. We're reaching out to the community because we are part of the community.
"The world around us is changing rapidly, due in part to information technology. The sooner we expose youth to this change, the better for all of us."
Under a 1996 federal executive order, government agencies are allowed to transfer surplus computers to schools and nonprofit organizations.
At Kalaheo High School, Principal James Schlosser pointed out that the 20 surplus Navy computers his school received will update Kalaheo's computer center, which is "about two generations behind."
"We're behind in personal computer technology because the money simply wasn't available," said Bobby Duque, Kalaheo's technology coordinator.
The Navy's donation also is appreciated because most of the computers used in the business community are IBM personal computers, while almost all of Kalaheo's current computers are Macintoshes.
Duque said the Navy computers will benefit not only students, but also adults who attend night school at the Windward Oahu high school.
For Kalaheo students like sophomores Corwin Nunes and David Pearl and senior Kevin Hamacek, the Navy's gift gives them the opportunity to practice repair and troubleshooting techniques.
"Only one didn't work correctly," said Pearl, 15. "We took parts from that computer and used them in others, and now everything is working really well."
Nunes, 14, said he has been interested in computers since he was 5.
"The first Macintosh came out when I was born, and we have always had one at home since my dad works with them," Nunes said. "I think I may have worked with 12 different Macintosh models."
