KAUAI News

Donated books to enliven Western Samoan school

West Kauai Rotarians join Aloha Airlines customer service agents after palettizing 3,800 pounds of donated books. Pictured are: (left to right) Valerie Parker, Elizabeth Young, Richard Robles, Manu Dizon, Sue Wilson, Greg Edmeades, Jeffrey Edmeades and Don Wilson (kneeling).

By Pamela V. Brown - Special to The Garden Island

KALAHEO -- As 3,800 pounds of donated books make their way from Kaua'i to the small Samoan village of Saipipi for use in the village school, Dr. Gaugau Tavana, director of education at the National Tropical Botanical Gardens in Kalaheo, is pleased to know that he's making a difference in his hometown.

Tavana has served as the link between book donors and intended recipients at the little school he himself attended more than 30 years ago, when there was only one text book shared among all of the school's teachers. When he visited his old school in January 2003 with some NTBG board members and trustees from Seacology, a California-based non-profit group dedicated to preserving cultures of islands around the world, he could see that not much had changed over the years.

The group learned that the village school had finally been rebuilt, after nearly 10 years of holding classes in an open hale because the original building had been destroyed by Tropical Cyclone Val in 1991. The new building looked fine but "there were no desks, no books, no nothing," Tavana said. Students apparently attended class sitting on mats on the floor. It appeared to Tavana that there were only about three or four textbooks per class and few, if any, books for a school library.

"The classes were practically empty," he said. "They need text books, library books, computers. Anything that will help promote learning for the students."

Members of the Seacology group got the ball rolling, gathered books from various sources, and shipped them from California to Tavana here on Kauai, where the many boxes soon took over his garage.

Wondering how to get the books from his garage to Samoa, Tavana, 51, approached an NTBG co-worker who is a member of the Rotary Club of West Kauai. "I asked them if there was any way they could help and the rest is history," Tavana said. "It's fascinating the momentum and support that people are giving to this project."

Support has come from Aloha Airlines, which readily agreed to ship all 5 pallets of books on a space available basis, a donation made possible by Aloha's new twice-weekly flights to Pago Pago in American Samoa. On the receiving end, members of two Rotary clubs are arranging ferry transportation for the goods to get to the island of Savai'i, where Saipipi Village is situated.

Ray Spencer, Aloha Airlines' director of cargo service who was instrumental in securing Aloha's commitment, said at 3,800 pounds, this is the largest movement of donated books that he can recall, nearly twice the poundage of the largest prior shipment.

"Like most companies we're very involved in our community," Spencer said. "It's always nice. It's always our pleasure."

Support has also come from Ken Goldstein, founder and state coordinator for the Hawaii Computers for Kids program on O'ahu, which will be donating about 25 refurbished computers and some printers. Aloha Airlines has agreed to ship the computers on a space available basis as well.

"Aloha is pleased to assist with a volunteer effort like this that links communities on Kauai and Samoa," said Glenn Zander, president of Aloha Airlines. "This is the essence of the Aloha spirit."

It's also the essence of what Tavana hoped to accomplish when he decided to relocate to Hawai'i from Samoa in 1999. "I felt that I would be more helpful to the village if I moved here and lived here," he said, noting that if he was still in Samoa, he never would have met the people who have made these donations and logistics possible.

Samoa, an independent island nation - separate from American Samoa - relies heavily upon sales of natural resources such as coconuts, taro, bananas and fish for income, meaning that finances are tight, especially in a tiny village like Saipipi, which consists of only about 30 families. Teachers, who are considered well-paid at salaries of about $8,000, often buy school supplies themselves, Tavana said. "There are more people leaving Samoa," Tavana said.

The move to Kauai has also been good for Tavana's family, especially his sons, both of whom play on Kauai High School's basketball teams. His oldest son, Va'afuti, who stands 6-foot, 6-inches and plays on the varsity team, is ranked among the top 10 high school basketball players in the state.

Tavana, who was educated in Samoa and also on scholarships in New Zealand, Australia and the U.S., appreciates the value of schooling. "I was one of the very fortunate few who were able to receive a higher education," he said. "Most of them couldn't even leave the islands."

Tavana visits his hometown village often - "That's where our family is" - and hopes the donated books and computers will spur future sharing and giving.

"They're very grateful that we're doing this for them now," he said. "I hope they'll help others in the future."

In Samoa now while awaiting the arrival of the nearly 100 boxes of books, Tavana is looking forward to helping teachers unpack the boxes and familiarizing school staff with the various social studies, language and other text and library volumes that have been donated.

"It will be a wonderful day of festivities when the books arrive," he said. "It's going to be a real surprise to the village."