Making Way for a Brighter Future

Graduation season has passed again and the schools have already handed out the well-earned diplomas to our Maui County graduates of 2010. This year in particular was especially important to our office manager, Ronda Smythe. For the past couple of  years she has been advocating for a group of teens that were struggling academically and in life. She has sought out to take them under her wing and provide them with basic life skills, confidence and more importantly determination.

Ronda planned to celebrate the graduates momentous achievement by renting a Hummer to take them on a celebratory ride around Maui. When Betty and Roy Sakamoto of Sakamoto Properties learned of Ronda's plan to celebrate, they asked to meet the graduates personally over dinner at the Pineapple Grill Restaurant in Kapalua. During dinner, Betty and Roy conversed with each graduate, discussing their future plans and any aspirations that they had in life. The staff of Pineapple Grill also offered their congratulations, tips and advice for the graduates. To top this amazing evening off, the Sakamoto's offered Ronda and her graduates an overnight stay in their vacation rental and included transportation to the Ritz Carlton for the following day.

Being treated and spoken to in a civilized manner and free of judegements/labels was like a breath of fresh air for these individuals. Each graduate left that weekend feeling amazed that such successful people could welcome them with open minds and could take a genuine interest in them and their future, for which they were truly grateful. Thank you Sakamoto Properties!

Mahalo for reading this week's blog!

Return next week to read our blog about Meyer Computer's award for Community Partnership of the Year from Maui United Way!