Getting Things Done By Getting Involved

Rep. Wakai spearheads this annual event, drives a flat bed truck around the community, and pulls bulky items out of constituents’ homes. The effort has resulted in about 50-tons of debris being properly disposed, and recyclable items turned into checks amounting to $8,500 for Moanalua High School athletics.

“There is nothing glamorous about Aloha Aina Day. Glenn is not hiding in the shade directing traffic, he is out there driving the truck and hauling scrap metal out of people’s yards. Then after he does the heavy lifting, he pays us. His checks for recyclable items have helped to pay for an assortment of athletic expenses.”

~ Joel Kawachi , MHS Athletics Director

Rep. Wakai regularly puts on gloves to pull weeds out of the canal fronting Salt Lake Elementary School. By keeping the canal free of debris, less pollution lands up in the Salt Lake Waterway.

Rep. Wakai, a former TV reporter, is in the classroom every two weeks, teaching and guiding media students at MHS. He is also assisting students in their fundraising efforts to get to a national competition in Florida next March. Instead of selling chilli and chicken, the students are getting practical experience by securing video contracts. They have already landed a $2,000 contract to shoot the Salt Lake Neighborhood Board’s monthly meetings.

“The Moanalua High School Broadcast Journalism program is fortunate to have been ‘adopted’ by RepresentativeWakai.He has mentored the students over the summer, arranged for them to meet and interview professional broadcasters, and is volunteering his time and expertise to serve as twice-monthly resource teacher for the class. In addition, he is supporting our fundraising efforts to send a student delegation to the 2009 convention of the StudentTelevision Network next spring!”

~ Lynne Sueoka, MHS Media Teacher

Rep. Wakai personally guides students through the legislative process over the past three years. In October he helps students to identify a problem in society, assists in drafting a bill in November, introduces their idea in January, and then promotes the bill’s passage during the legislative session.

“Glenn is always willing to talk to my students about the importance of government, and is committed to working with them from start to finish. He initiates lively classroom discussions, which show students how to participate in the legislative process.”

~ Shauna Tanaka, MHS Civics Teacher

Rep. Wakai printed up T-shirts for the MMS team that went to Atlanta in July for a national bridge tournament. He also coordinated a public relations campaign to get the unique class featured in newspapers and on TV.

“When Rep.Wakai heard about the project, he immediately volunteered to help with publicity for the event and created a special T-shirt for all of the members of the team.The team members enjoyed the visit to the mainland and scored well in the youth tournament.Thanks, Rep.Wakai.”

~ Busaba Williams, MMS Bridge Teacher.