Kalihi-Waena Elementary School Community Outreach Event

The Honolulu Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in conjunction with the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation (FLEF) and the Muslim Association of Hawaii (MAH), invites local media to a community outreach event on Monday, March 21, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at Kalihi-Waena Elementary School at 1240 Gulick Avenue in Honolulu.

The FLEF and MAH organized a “shoe drive” to provide closed-toe shoes to needy elementary school students in Hawaii. In the past, many of these students have been unable to participate in league sports due to the lack of appropriate footwear. The FLEF and MAH established a goal of 500 pairs of shoes and thus far have raised enough to deliver the first 250 pairs to Kalihi-Waena Elementary School at this press event.

The presentation of the shoes will be made by FLEF representative and chairman of the MAH, Hakim Ouansafi. Also attending the event will be Frank Montoya, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Honolulu FBI, local elected officials, and Hawaii Islamic community leaders. The shoes will be received by Kalihi-Waena Elementary School principal Veronica Gallardo and selected members of the student body and school faculty.

In 2009, Hawaii lawmakers passed the “Islam Day” resolution, and since then, Hawaii Muslims have identified an annual worthy cause to financially sponsor in the spirit of “peace, learning, and giving back to those in need.” Monday’s shoe drive event is the culmination of these efforts.

Reporters interested in covering this event should contact FBI Special Agent Tom Simon at 808-566-4356 or thomas.simon@ic.fbi.gov to be placed onto the school’s event access list. Photos and video opportunities will be permitted at the event.