Looking to make a difference, MHS and Hanalani give back to community

By Caitlyn Resurreccion

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(Caitlyn Resurreccion | Trojan Times) Every year, volunteers from the Mililani community gather to paint over the graffiti in the Kipapa tunnel. While last year's theme was "Under the Sea," this year's theme is "Space." — (Caitlyn Resurreccion | Trojan Times) Every year, volunteers from the Mililani community gather to paint over the graffiti in the Kipapa tunnel. While last year’s theme was “Under the Sea,” this year’s theme is “Space.”

While millions across the nation participated in this year’s Make a Difference Day held on Oct. 25, students, teachers and different clubs from MHS and Hanalani Schools joined together to make a difference for the community.

“Today’s about giving back to the community,” said ASMHS Vice President Junior Lindsey Gano. “It’s not only just a required service project, but a way to make your own personal difference.”

Make a Difference Day, anually held on the fourth Saturday of October, unites millions of volunteers across the nation with a common mission: to improve the lives of others. In this case, volunteers from MHS and Hanalani Schools painted over graffiti. This year’s tunnel was painted with pictures of planets, constellations and even images featured from the Disney-Pixar movie “Wall-E” to represent this years theme, “space.” “Painting the tunnel is a fun way to give back to the community,” said Gano. “The little kids from (Kipapa Elementary) walk through (the tunnel), so to help them feel less scared they have these fun little pictures,” MHS Video Club adviser Andrew Nakano added.

Volunteers also participated in the Adopt-a-Highway project, which is a public service program under the Department of Transportation for volunteers to pick up litter scattered along Hawaii’s state highways. “It is such a great opportunity for our students not only to participate in helping prevent pollution and littering but to learn that it has the potential to harm our environment,” said Charles Hiers, a parent volunteer from Hanalani Schools. “Over these past three years our students and various amount of generous volunteers have picked up many of these potentially harmful items such as boxes, huge plastic wraps, a lot of cans and bottles, a screen door and even a cash register.”

In addition, MHS’ National Honor Society posted posters and banners around MHS to spread school spirit. The efforts of each club not only brought together people from different schools with a common interest to help the community but wrought new friendships as well. “They are bonding and creating new friendships that will last longer than just today.” Gano said. “I’m really glad I came,” Junior Cody Ching added. “I made new friends. I mean I would see them around school but never would actually approach them and say ‘hi.’”

With many events yet to come, ASMHS and Hanalani Schools hope to encourage more participants to help in future events.