Center on Aging - Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health
Supporting children in need.
The Kaʻu District on Hawai‘i Island has the lowest median household income across Hawai‘i, based on the U.S. Census Bureau American Community five-year estimates (2022).
There are only two public schools in Kaʻu District and official enrollment in 2021 - 2022 was 940 children. Many children live at 1,000 ft. - 5,000 ft. elevation. The school bus and public bus are only available at lower elevation. Average bus travel time to school is 40 minutes.
Children wake up in a dark and cold 50 degrees, then walk in slippers down lava rock and unpaved roads to get to the bus stop.
Donations received will be used to fund the purchase of gloves, scarves, lined rain jackets, hiking boots, flashlights, whistles to scare off aggressive dogs, and bicycles.
