The Rotary Club of Lahaina’s community efforts include awarding scholarships to Lahainaluna High School students.

LAHAINA – It’s been a busy year for the Rotary Club of Lahaina, with community projects completed locally and in the Philippines.

Last spring, club members awarded $15,000 in scholarships to Lahainaluna High School and Maui Preparatory Academy students in the Class of 2019.

In September, the club donated more than $500 worth of backpacks and school supplies for the students of Lahaina Intermediate School.

Lahaina Rotarians also donated over $500 worth of school supplies for Princess Nahi’ena’ena Elementary School students, as well as 144 dictionaries for third-graders at the school.

In continuing international outreach spearheaded by Rick Nava, the club donated 400 backpacks and school supplies for an entire year to four elementary schools in Concepcion, Iloilo, Philippines.

Lahaina Rotarians clean Kaanapali Beach with employees at The Whaler.

Each year, the Rotary Club of Lahaina donates funds for the Maui Preparatory Academy Interact Club to help them with their community service projects.

Each quarter, club members join The Whaler on Kaanapali Beach employees to clean Kaanapali Beach.

And last month, Lahaina’s three Rotary Clubs served as the leading sponsors of the 40th annual Keiki Halloween Parade.

Rotarian Joe Pluta, who has served as parade emcee for 40 years, was honored as the parade’s grand marshal.

Pluta is proud of the club’s efforts to support Maui County students.

Club members donate supplies at Princess Nahi‘ena‘ena Elementary School.

“The Rotary Club of Lahaina and our Lahaina Rotary Youth Foundation Inc., a nonprofit charitable organization, has awarded over $1,000,000 in cash scholarships to deserving high school students from Lahainaluna High School, Molokai High School and Maui Preparatory Academy over the past 45 years,” he said.

Working with Rotarians in the Philippines, Lahaina club members have also helped to establish clean water systems in Tacloban City, Davao City and Pangasinan.