Good Deeds Pay Off

Non-profit provides technology to remote areas

Kamuela Kualii Lindsey of the Kumulipo non-profit presented KHM volunteer Ryan Dudoit with two laptop computers in recognition of all of his family’s hard work at the fishpond. Volunteers Kevin Dudoit, Mervin Dudoit, Hana Cook, Herbert Hoe and KHM Executive Director Noelani Lee celebrated with Ryan after a workday at the fishpond.   

By Jennifer Smith

Hard work has paid off for opio volunteers at Ka Honua Momona (KHM) fishpond. Last Saturday Kamuela Kualii Lindsey, from the Kumulipo non-profit organization, presented 16 year-old Ryan Dudoit with a laptop computer.

Ryan and his three sisters Ashlei, Ashlynn and Kiani have been volunteering at the fishpond for over three years. Kumulipo was able to recognize their efforts by giving the Dudoit’s two laptops, one for Ryan and a separate computer for his sisters.

KHM Executive Director Noelani Lee applied for Ryan and his siblings to receive a computer after hearing about Kumulipo’s program to impact kids in remote communities. “I want them to learn that everything you give comes back,” Lee said. 

KHM recently formed a partnership with Kumulipo to distribute even more computers on the friendly isle. “We are going to work with Noelani to get as many computers into the community as possible,” Lindsey said.

Lee would like to continue to recognize the efforts of other youth volunteers such as Kevin Dudoit and Hana Cook, who have supported KHM for several years. “I love when they get opportunities to be awarded or recognized,” Lee said. 

Kumulipo began its “Computers for Local Kids” program last year. They have distributed 40 computers so far, including one to a Hawaiian kid in California who was feeling homesick. 

A recent deal between Kumulipo and Dell will provide dozens of computers for KHM to distribute this year. However, once Kumulipo receives the computers there are still a few obstacles to overcome before distributing them.

“The biggest bottleneck right now is programming the computers,” Lindsey said. He mentioned that it takes six to seven hours to program each computer, and finding space and time to do so can present a challenge.

But, it is a challenge that Lindsey is ready to step up to. “Kids in order to stay competitive need computer technology and they need it at home,” Lindsey said.

“We load the computers with education programs for the kids,” Lindsey said. “When kids don’t have access to Internet this computer will give them access to information.”

Kumulipo’s name comes from the Hawaiian chant of creation. Lindsey works with partners Louis “Buzzy” Agard and Rubellite Johnson to ensure the non-profit’s goal to bring programming, computers, and distance learning to remote environments becomes a reality.

For more information about Kumulipo visit www.kumulipo.hawaiiresourcelibrary.com/