Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: I just had Lasik surgery and want to donate three pairs of very high prescription glasses. I read in "Kokua Line" a while ago of an agency that collects these glasses and gives them to needy people. Where can I drop them off? Lions Club is happy
to collect old eyewearAnswer: The Lions Club International has long operated a program to collect and ship used glasses to needy people around the world.
In Hawaii the program is run by the Hawaii Lions Foundation, with manpower supplied by members of 64 Lions Clubs statewide.
Each club is responsible for placing collection boxes in the areas they represent.
Call 524-7025 to find a collection box convenient for you, said Ken Kau, executive secretary of Hawaii Lions District 50.
The Lions will take anything from basic sunglasses and reading glasses to major prescription glasses. They'll even take parts of glasses -- one or both lenses without the frames, the frames alone or even eyeglass cases, Kau said.
Don Hurlbut, president of the Hawaii Lions Foundation, said Lions members then collect, clean and package the glasses and take them to a local warehouse where they are held before being shipped to a foreign country.
He explained that federal laws prevent recycling used eyeglasses in the United States.
Currently, there are about 50,000 pairs of glasses awaiting shipment, Hurlbut said. In Hawaii the Lions have been working mainly with the Honolulu-based Aloha Medical Mission, which regularly sends teams of medical personnel to Southeast Asia to provide free medical care to needy people.
The Lions also accept used hearing aids, which can be reconditioned and recycled for use in the United States, Hurlbut said.
Q: Can you help track down an event that was sponsored last year by the city or state called Capitol Days? The event included free admission to all downtown museums and a trolley service dedicated to taking people around to the various museums. Did this event die or did I miss it? This was a great program that had a lot of people show up. I personally visited five museums in one day, saving over $25 in admission fees alone.
A: You'll have to wait until next year to take advantage of the "Capital Day, Down Capitol Way" program.
The annual event, begun in 1994, is usually held the Saturday in May following Mother's Day, coinciding with National Historic Preservation Week, said Joe Tassill, tour coordinator for the state Capitol, who has overseen the event the past two years.
It encompasses the Capital District, with people this year able to take a trolley ride to visit Iolani Palace, Washington Place, the state Capitol, Richards Street YWCA, Judiciary History Center/Aliiolani Hale, Hawaii State Library, Honolulu Hale, Mission Houses Museum, Honolulu Police Department Museum and Honolulu Academy of Arts.
Aloha Tower, the Maritime Museum and Kawaiahao Church participated in the past but not any longer, Tassill said. Next year, it's hoped that a new state museum will be added to the tour.
Mahalo
To all who helped me when I had an accident on Sunday afternoon, July 22, especially the kind young lady who stayed by my side during the ordeal and notified my family. Thank you also to the firemen, the policemen and the ambulance attendants and Queen's hospital staff. -- M.M.Y.
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