Mililani Businessman Au Conducts Shoe Box Drive

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Schoolchildren responded in force to Mililani businessman John Au’s call to do a simple service for the area’s homeless population.

Au, who lives in Kaneohe but works for Chinen & Arinaga Financial Group of Mililani, challenged the Castle Complex schools in April to fill as many shoe boxes as they could with donated items for the homeless. By May 22, he collected a bountiful harvest of hundreds of boxed goods, with tiny Waiahole Elementary School coming in first place.

“One hundred twenty-five - that’s the magic number that best describes this little school,” said Au’s colleague, Gwen Tamaru. “The school (with 82 students) contributed 105 shoe boxes filled with goodies for the homeless, which amounts to over 125 percent participation.”

Waiahole received a $500 check from Au’s company as its first-place price. Ahuimanu Elementary was second ($150), and Ben Parker was third ($100).

All of the students’ boxes were delivered to the Windward Homeless Coalition coordinated by Honolulu Community Action Program.