May 24th & May 29th – JPOs KEEP STUDENTS SAFE!
JPOs at Koko Head and Hahaione Schools perform a vital safety function!
The Honolulu Police Department’s Junior Police Officer Program (JPO) started in 1921 and has active student participation in over 100 schools. JPOs are trained in leadership, civic responsibility, and help ensure the safety of fellow students as they arrive in the morning and depart in the afternoon from school. Also, in many schools, the JPOs raise and lower the United States flag in the mornings and afternoons, These deserving JPOs are entrusted with great responsibilities (they must commit to early morning and afternoon duties), therefore they are expected to be responsible and reliable, maintain academic performance, and display exemplary behavior.
The Hawaii Kai Lions Club is proud to recognize the very critical, but sometimes overlooked service of our JPOs! The Hawaii Kai Lions Club Started the JPO Recognition Program many years ago when Lion Tommy Chun (son Darren, Assistant Police Chief), Lion Ken Nishibun (nephew Ryan, Assistant Police Chief), and former Lion Bob Kane (retired Assistant Police Chief) recognized the need to honor the hard work and dedication of student JPOs.
Lion Tom Jones has been a generous supporter from the very start, donating Gyotaku $25 gift certificates ($1,650 this year alone) to all JPO’s and advisors. The Hawaii Kai Lions also purchased $10 shave-ice certificates from Kokonuts in the Koko Marina Center (owner Sabina Yi donated 6 certificates) to add to each packet. Mahalo also goes to Lion Alvin Hayashibara who annually creates and prints all of the Certificates of Appreciation that are given to each JPO.
Presentations were made at the schools’ award assemblies; May 24th at Koko Head, and May 29th at Hahaione. Participating in this event included Yolisa Ishibashi, Marja Leivo, Frances Lum, and Ken Nishibun.
Principals Shannon “Cappy” Goo of Hahaione School and Jeff Shitaoka of Koko Head School expressed their sincere appreciation for the continued support of the Hawaii Kai Lions.