In October 2018, the College of Education Student Association (CESA), UHM Faculty, and ‘Ewa residents refurbished a bus shelter in Varona Village.  Varona, formerly called “Banana Camp”, is the last village of the former ‘Ewa plantation villages.  The original sign was affixed to the bus shelter almost 20 years ago, and it became a symbol for Varona residents, reclaiming a sense of community and identity after the plantation closed and left the families unmoored.  CESA President Kayla Ueshiro collaborated with COE Alumni Dr. Agnes Malate, Dr. Jennifer Padua, and Akeyo Garcia to ensure the design reflected the community.

Reflecting upon the experience, Ueshiro shared, “Learning about Varona Village’s history and and the purpose for refurbishing the bus shelter, I felt inspired to take action towards improving my own community and reminded of the value and ineffable feeling of making a difference through community service.”

Please visit the CESA website for more information or to reach out about a service project idea.