Kapolei Golf Tourney Earns $$ For West Oahu Organizations

Four West Oahu groups recently received donations from Pacific Links Hawaii Foundation.

The foundation presented Kaala Farm in Waianae, University of Hawaii West Oahu in Kapolei, Kapolei Community Development Corp. and Malama Learning Center at Kapolei High School, along with Honolulu-based Kupu, with a total of $100,000 raised through its PLH Championship tournament held last year at Kapolei Golf Club.

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Chris Lee of Pacific Links Hawaii (far left) presents University of Hawaii-West Oahu chancellor Gene Awakuni with a check for $30,000 raised through the Pacific Links Hawaii Championship golf tournament. Photo from Bennet Group.

This was an inaugural event for Pacific Links Hawaii Foundation, which was established last year with the goal of helping cultivate and sustain groups that are dedicated to preserving the environment, creating opportunities for children and preserving Hawaiian culture.

“Pacific Links Hawaii is dedicated to preserving Hawaiian culture while helping our surrounding communities to thrive and grow,” said Micah Kane, chief operating officer at Pacific Links Hawaii. “We are pleased to partner with five outstanding local organizations to ensure that the Pacific Links Hawaii Foundation vision becomes a reality.”

The donations were presented to the groups at a West Oahu Economic Development Association meeting last month; $30,000 went to Kaala Farm, $30,000 to University of Hawaii West Oahu, $15,000 to Malama Learning Center, $15,000 to Kapolei Community Development Corp. and $10,000 to Kupu.

“We are grateful to the Pacific Links Hawaii Foundation for believing in our community vision, which is rooted in the culture, values and history of Waianae,” said Eric Enos, co-founder and director of Kaala Farm. “With this contribution, learning will continue to come alive for more than 3,000 schoolchildren each year who come to the Cultural Learning Center at Kaala Farm.”

“The generosity of the Pacific Links Hawaii Foundation will allow our programs to engage more residents than ever before,” said, Pauline Sato, executive and program director of Malama Learning Center. “With the increasincreasing interest in sustainable living in Hawaii, Malama Learning Center is proud to offer hands-on learning opportunities for youth and adults to bring art, science, conservation and culture together.”

For more information about Pacific Links and next year’s event, visit pacificlinkshawaiifoundation.org.