Fresh veggies for Honolulu keiki: What you need to know

HONOLULU (KHON2) — On Saturday, Sept. 28, the Kauluwela Elementary School community came together for a special project that aimed to nourish both bodies and minds.

The Lions Green Thumb Project, organized by Hawaiʻi Lions Clubs and their youth organization, LEOs, sought to create a vegetable garden to support the health of students and their families.

The garden, designed to benefit approximately 400 keiki (children), will provide fresh vegetables, essential for reducing the risk of growth deficiencies and diseases.

“Good health for our keiki stems out from what we feed them,” a representative from the Lions Clubs explained. The project involved assembling 20 vegetable planters, with activities starting at 8:30 a.m.

The site at Kauluwela Elementary is ideal, featuring ample sunlight, a water source, and secure access from the visitor’s parking area.

With plans for ongoing planting, maintenance, and harvesting, this project is set to provide a hands-on learning experience for students, enhancing their science and environmental studies.

“Students will take pride in their accomplishments and contributions to the community,” one teacher noted.

Support for the garden came from a grant secured by the Honolulu Chinatown Lions Club from the Lions Clubs International Foundation. Funds helped purchase storage sheds, vegetable planters, and initial supplies.

The Lions Clubs, celebrating nearly a century of service in Hawaiʻi, continued to demonstrate their commitment to community improvement with this initiative.

The Lions Green Thumb Project not only aims to cultivate vegetables but also to cultivate a sense of responsibility and pride among Kauluwela students.

To learn more about this project and how to engage, click here.

As they dig in the soil, they learn the importance of caring for their health and their community.