Here’s what our Hawaii clubs have done this year:
Rotary Club of Kapa‘a continues its long-standing commitment to supporting local students with a $10,000 annual scholarship budget. Each year, 25–33% of funds are dedicated to community college and approved post–high school training programs, with award amounts adjusted based on the number of applicants. Submitted by Stan Greenbaum
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Rotary Club of West Honolulu strengthened international friendships and local youth engagement through a student visit with their sister club in Japan, hosting two students for two weeks. In September 2026, two Hawai‘i students will travel to Japan for the return visit. Participation in the McKinley High School Speech Festival, providing seven volunteer judges. Construction of a sandbox for Child & Family Services. Donation of $1,000 in school supplies to Kalihi Uka Elementary. The club also awarded its annual $1,000 scholarship to Lahainaluna High School. Submitted by Cleigh Pang
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Waianae Coast Rotary Club remains actively engaged in youth services across our community, including: Organized the Wai‘anae Coast Community Christmas Parade, a major fundraiser for local scholarships. Sponsored the Heroes & Helpers Christmas Program with a $1,500 contribution, supporting keiki selected by 96792-area schools. Sponsored 10 high school students to attend RYLA 2026. Distributed 960 dictionaries through the annual 3rd Grade Dictionary Project. Supported JROTC programs with sponsorship of the Wai‘anae Adventure Challenge and two annual cadet scholarships. Awarded: $5,000 HRYF scholarship, $2,500 scholarships for four-year, two-year, and vocational/trade programs, $5,000 WOW/WCRC Community Scholarship for UH Mānoa’s PACMED Master’s cohort of leeward coast educators participating in the pacific-focused, place-based, and culturally responsive learning opportunity. WCRC has committed $25,000 in scholarships this year, including at least $2,500 dedicated to vocational/trade pathways. Submitted by Gladys Peraro
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Rotary Club of Kapolei expanded its educational support by awarding four additional $2,000 college scholarships this year. Remarkable bunny helpers this month! Together, we hopped along the bunny trail, spreading joy and serving a delightful dinner to courageous women and children at a domestic violence shelter. Several members are being a regular reader at Makakilo Elementary School and Barbers Point Elementary. In partnership with Island Pacific Academy Interact club we held our annual End Polio fundraiser. Dropped off dictionaries for all the third graders at Mauka Lani Elementary School, Hookele Elementary and Makakilo Elementary School. In partnership with the Rotary club of Damauli we supported this young women’s empowerment camp in Nepal! Submitted by Barbara Lum Lee with additional information
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Rotary Club of West Pearl Harbor continued its strong support of Waipahu youth through: A $5,000 HRYF scholarship to a Hawai‘i Technology Academy student, A $2,000 club scholarship to a Waipahu High School student, funded by the annual Waipahu Got Talent fundraiser, A school supply drive benefiting Waipahu Elementary and Nā Maka Kindergarten Prep, Donations of books and dictionaries to the Waipahu Safe Haven ESL program, Sponsorship of a student to RYLA, Mentorship of the Waipahu High School Interact Club, The club annually awards $2,000–$3,000 in scholarships to Waipahu High School students. Submitted by Uthpala Walpola
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Ewa Beach Rotary Club delivered a wide range of youth and community programs, including: RYLA sponsorship, Scholarship awards, Read to Me literacy support, Painting stairways at an elementary school, Calendar and slipper donations, School supply drives, Back‑to‑school support, Installation of a Peace Pole at Ewa Beach Elementary, This year, the club is awarding five $1,000 scholarships. Submitted by Tracy Hargrave
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Rotary Club of Kona Sunrise strengthened global connections by linking the Kealakehe High School Interact Club with an Interact Club in Prishtina, Kosovo, collaborating on fundraising and meeting with Water for Life representatives in Kona. The club also awarded two $1,000 scholarships to Konawaena High School students in honor of Dr. Clifford Kopp and Francis Kualani. Submitted by Vernon Lowrey
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Pearl Harbor Rotary Club deepened its partnership with the Radford High School Interact Club, coordinating calendars, supporting leadership development, and fully funding four RYLA participants. Additional youth engagement included: Participation in Hawai‘i Food Bank service events, Support for the Journey to Peace program, Hosting Interactors at Student of the Quarter recognition lunches, Member participation in a reservoir cleanup project, The club also contributed to HRYF interviews and RYLA funding. Member Bob Frija participated in the HRYF scholarship interview and comments that so many of the applicants are so exceptional, as two of the students were awarded a full ride scholarships, so they quickly pivoted and selected an applicant that was fantastic and ranked #1 in the Area Interviews. The club awards possibly 6 ‘Fullard-Leo’ Club scholarships. Submitted by Robert Frija
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Rotary Club of Hickam Pearl Harbor held a morning of games at Kalihi El called the Turkey Trot, funding 12 hams and canned goods for Xmas family meals in cooperation with the food donation coordinator at Dole, rummage sale clothes drive at Dole Middle. New gardens at Kalihi El for preschoolers, sanded and repainted 18 benches and 6 picnic tables at Dole. In May we will do power wash of campus and stair decals with math equations at Dole. We run an Interact club at Dole Middle. Submitted by Lasar Hurd-McCabe
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Rotary Club of Kona Mauka gave a $2,000 scholarship to each of 3 students. Submitted by Karen Wilson
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Rotary Club of Upcountry Maui 10 Student of the Month ceremonies for 2 high schools and their seniors, also Teacher of the Year for both schools, Dictionaries for over 380 3rd graders at 7 different schools. Submitted by Mary Albitz
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Rotary Club of Volcano is an active supporter of many different youth service activities, including scholarships, RYLA, dictionary distributions, and support activity at the Volcano School of Arts and Science, such as helping with their annual book fair and fund-raising run. With dictionaries our members personally go into all third-grade classrooms in our area to distribute the books and engage with the students. Submitted by Mike Leidemann
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The Rotary Club of Hilo made a powerful impact across East Hawaiʻi this year. Kindergarten Literacy; Monthly readings and quarterly take‑home books reached 400 kindergarteners in 12 elementary schools. Dictionary Project; 288 dictionaries delivered to third graders in six elementary school in East Hawaii. RYLA Leadership — Jennifer & Gail Takaki chaired RYLA 2026 and awarded 21 scholarships to East Hawaiʻi high school students. HRYF Scholarship: One deserving senior received a $5,000 scholarship. Interact Support: Rotarians advised and partnered with: Waiākea High (WHS) Interact (35 students, 3 faculty), LCPCS (Laupahoehoe) Interact (8 students + faculty) Both clubs completed multiple school and community service projects, such as Alheimers, Genki Toss, Queen Liliuokalani Clean Up and several more service projects. International Connection — WHS Interact hosted a Zoom exchange with Shudō High School in Hiroshima, Japan on March 30, 2026. It was a great success and fun for the Interactors. Rotaract Expansion — Partnered with two East Hawaiʻi clubs to launch the East Hawaiʻi Community Rotaract Club, with Rotarians serving as advisors. Rotaractors also were instrumental as volunteers for RYLA 2026. Submitted by Jen Tanouye
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Rotary Club of Hilo Bay, in November 2025, partnered with Hope Services Hawaiʻi during its annual homeless luncheon in Hilo, serving more than 300 attendees. Club members helped serve meals, while 14 Interactors from St. Joseph High School distributed 120 M.E.D.I.C. Kits to individuals experiencing homelessness. Each kit included bandages, antiseptic ointment, a toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, sanitary pads, and a “Crane for Peace.”
From March through April 2026, the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center and the St. Joseph School Interact Club led a successful school-wide clothing drive, collecting an impressive 500 pounds of clothing for keiki ranging from newborns to young adults. The project demonstrated the students’ generosity and strong commitment to serving the local community.
On May 16, 2026, three Hilo Rotary clubs joined the St. Joseph High School Interact Club to host Rotary’s Food Fight for Hunger at the St. Joe Cafeteria. The event created a lively carnival atmosphere while raising funds for three nonprofit agencies in Hilo. Interactors enthusiastically contributed from the start by crafting foam fruits and vegetables, creating game signage, operating carnival booths, and assisting with the pie-throwing contest — with two Interactors even volunteering to be pie throw targets themselves. The event successfully raised $15,600, with $5,000 each awarded to The Salvation Army, The Food Basket, and Hope Services Hawaiʻi.
Additional community service activities included participation in the 63rd Annual Merrie Monarch Festival Parade in April 2026, where a St. Joseph Interactor marched alongside Rotarians, and a Rotary cleanup project at Liliʻuokalani Gardens in May 2026, where another Interactor worked alongside club members to help beautify the park.
The Rotary Club of Hilo Bay also awarded a $1,500 scholarship to Damien Chitwood of Hilo High School, who plans to attend the University of California, San Francisco. Submitted by Anita Cunningham
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Rotary Club of Pearlridge. The Pearl City High School Interact Club received a well-deserved recognition on May 14, Honorary Recognition Certificate from the Hawaii State Senate for their hard work in making a difference and changing lives of those in need in Hawaii, USA, and Internationally through their leadership and heartfelt service projects. The HRC presentation was made by Senator Rachele Lamosao.
The Rotary Club of Pearlridge presented a Good Citizen Awards to third graders from fourteen elementary schools in both the Aiea and Pearl City communities. Good Citizen Awards are a part of the Rotary Club of Pearlridge Annual Dictionary 5000 Project that donates free dictionaries in the beginning of the school year to 800+ third graders and their teachers. The RCOP returns at the end of the school year to award one boy and one girl from each school with Good Citizen Awards that include a congratulatory letter by the RCOP President and a $50 check. Good Citizen Award recipients were chosen by their teachers for best exemplifying Principles of Rotary International’s Four Way Test which was included in the inside cover of their brand new dictionaries.
2025-2026 service projects included the following: Christmas card making at elementary schools, 5 elementary school A+ visited to make cards, Workdays for club members every week after school. 1100 Cards created and were donated to kids spending the holiday season in hospitals across the country. Fund Raisers/Drives: Halloween Candy Drive collecting Halloween candy that was no longer wanted and 3142 pieces of candy donated it to Hawaii’s Ronald McDonald House. Hawaii Food Bank: $1,250 made selling birria tacos at Cultural Day was donated to the Hawaii Food Bank, which pays for over 2500 peoples’ meals. Book Drive: We collected 6,931 books for Books for Africa from the local elementary schools.
The Pearl City High School Interact Club define youth leadership in Hawaii and around the world while being a part of the Rotary Club of Pearlridge. I am truly fortunate and grateful for having the opportunity to serve as a Rotary Club of Pearlridge Interact Director alongside the late RCOP Past President and District 5000 District Governor Dick Mosko who put his heart and soul into mentoring and supporting four RCOP Interact Clubs: PCHS Interact Club, Highlands Intermediate Interact Club, Our Lady of Good Counsel Interact Club, Cross Academy Interact Club, membership which has grown in 2025-26 to over 70 members. Submitted by Barry Villamil
