Clockwise from left, Janice Hussey, Leimomi Santana, Kerri Aotaki and Valerie Wright pack “Back to School” kits.

LAHAINA — Na Hoaloha ‘Ekolu employees from Old Lahaina Lu’au, Star Noodle, Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop, and Hoaloha Bake Shop once again showed their community spirit and generosity by collecting and donating over 1,000 “Back to School” supply kits to Maui County students.

As in years past, they focused on Maui’s rural, underserved communities, with supplies going to Hana Elementary and High School, as well as Maunaloa Elementary, Kaunakakai Elementary, Kilohana Elementary and Kualapu’u Charter School on Moloka’i.

In addition to the kits that included all the supplies to start the school year, hand sanitizer systems and foggers for 57 classrooms were also donated.

“We are so blessed to have such a compassionate ‘ohana of employees at Na Hoaloha ‘Ekolu. Our goal was to collect 865 kits, and we were able to provide 1,052, as well as the sanitizing systems that the schools were in need of,” said project Chair, Kerri Aotaki.

“We’d also like to express our sincere appreciation and mahalo to Pete Bianchi of Reach Medivac for generously delivering the supplies to Moloka’i,” added project Coordinator Audrey Kaneshiro. “What an amazing community we are so fortunate to be a part of.”