COURTESY PHOTO Auto dealer Mike McKenna, center, with baseball cap, was honored last Friday for his donations to Lanikai Elementary School and other schools in the state.

Lanikai School
lauds benefactor

An Oahu car dealer wins praise
for his gifts on behalf of buyers

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Star-Bulletin staff

Mike McKenna, owner of McKenna Motors, has been named a Model Community Partner for Excellence in Education for his donations to Lanikai Elementary Charter School and other schools in the state.

For every new car purchased at his dealerships, he made a donation to the school of the buyer's choice, according to Ed Vangordner, a Lanikai school board member and chairman of Ka'ohao, the school's development committee.

"Mr. McKenna, without being asked, created partnerships with Windward schools," he said.

The school presented the award last Friday at Mike McKenna Windward Ford dealership on Kailua Road. Lanikai has received about $3,000 since the program began.

The gifts for McKenna's "Spirit of Giving" program, started during Christmas of 1998, has been expanded throughout the year and to schools throughout the state. So far, the program has donated $600,000.

Lanikai, located at 140 Alala Road in Kailua, has a student body of 350.