HHSAA

Sheraton Waikiki has donated 1,000 lanai coffee tables to the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association, which in turn has donated them to Farrington and Kaimuki to re-finish and sell as a fund-raiser.

Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts, which operates Sheraton Waikiki, recently brought in new furniture there and sought a way to make quality use of the replaced items.

"We are constantly upgrading our hotels either through rooms renovation projects, infrastructure and maintenance upgrades, or replacement of furniture, fixtures and equipment," said Jason Ito, Kyo-ya's Director of Administration and Planning. "Our over-arching goal is to extend the life of any item whenever we can. Rather than send these items to the landfill, we seek out organizations who can benefit and ... get creative and find alternate uses."

Ito said public school athletic programs are a good fit for this particular project and he contacted HHSAA Executive Director Chris Chun with a project idea. Chun contacted Farrington and Kaimuki, which both have woodshop classes willing to re-finish the tables to make them ready for sale by the athletic department.

"I do know that our public schools are in need of financial help," Ito said. "I felt that Chris' role was a natural one to facilitate the process. Both athletic and industrial programs play a large part of a student's high school experience. It also enriches and supports school pride and morale.

"I envisioned a collaborative project between the shop/industrial program and the athletics program as I would imagine both could benefit from new equipment. If the shop classes would re-finish the teak lanai tables, the athletics program could go out and sell the items. Both would split the proceeds to benefit each program."

'Iolani provided three trucks and Kamehameha two trucks to help HHSAA staff pick up and deliver hundreds of tables.

Farrington finished and re-sold all of their tables, raising thousands of dollars. Kaimuki expects to do the same.

"We are very fortunate that businesses like Kyo-ya/Sheraton think of our member schools and recognize the need to raise money in different ways," Chun said.