FEBRUARY MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Wednesday, February 11, 2026 - 10:30 AM Check-in

One Kalakaua - 1314 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii

February 2026 Newsletter

ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF HAWAII Operation Wildlife hit the road last week and visited schools in the Hilo area of the Big Island. At the top this young girl got the perfect Valentine's Day shirt at our Operation School Bell event at Walmart Ke'eaumoku on January 24.

Love is at

Assistance League of Hawaii

It is present in every volunteer’s effort—transforming our community, supporting families, and nurturing our keiki as we did at our Operation School Bell and Operation Wildlife events. We serve together as Ohana, with love at the heart of all we do!

Join us at the Members’ meeting on February 11, 2026, for a time of connection and fun as we come together to strengthen relationships, share stories, and continue building the bonds of our Assistance League of Hawaii Ohana. There will be a short meeting, game day, and prizes!!

YOUR VOICE IS IMPORTANT and VALUED: Strategic Planning at Assistance League of Hawaii

Our Strategic Planning Evaluation Meetings bring members together in small groups to review, celebrate, and build for the future—ensuring every voice is heard, respected, and valued.

It is the goal of Assistance League of Hawaii to honor our past, celebrate our impact, and build a strong future. There will be five (5) locations. Members will be asked to sign up at one of these locations. Thanks in advance to the hosts who have volunteered their homes, condo meeting rooms, or schools.

Coming event: March 11, 2026 - Strategic Planning Meetings - REVIEW, CELEBRATE, and SIGN UP today. A reminder will be sent to Members on the first of March.

It was a pleasure to see each other at the January Business Luncheon. Please mark your calendars for February 11th, when our next monthly meeting is scheduled. We will have lots of fun as it is GAME DAY in addition to a short business meeting.

The luncheon will be held at ONE KALAKAUA, across from the Assistance League Thrift Store on Young Street. Registration is at 10:30 am. Parking is limited so if you can carpool, that would be great.

The cost of the lunch is $30.00. ONE KALAKAUA Catering will be serving a great lunch, Opakapaka (Snapper), Shoyu Chicken, White Rice, Tossed Green Salad, Hot Vegetable Dish and Coffee/Tea. Dessert will also be provided.

Make sure to RSVP to Lorna Motas by February 4. Looking forward to seeing you all!

Contacting Realtors for Donations

This month, the Resource Development Committee is contacting realty companies and spreading the word that Assistance League of Hawaii is a great resource for their clients. So far, realty companies are very positive about us, especially when we offer to pack and pick up items for our shop.

We request that people email photos of furniture to althrift281@gmail.com so Nancy can ensure that the items are fit for resale in our shop and determine whether we should schedule a mover.

Welcome to our New Member Volunteers

One of our new members, Mie Miura, was introduced at our January meeting. She saw one of our Assistance League of Hawaii flyers posted in her doctor's office, and followed up by contacting us. She has lived, worked, and volunteered in Hawaii for many years, and is fluent in Japanese. She has already volunteered several hours upstairs and she helped at our recent in-store Walmart Event. We are very pleased to have such a pleasant and enthusiastic new member!

Our newest member, Lynda Pelayo, has known about Assistance League of Hawaii for a long time, as her mother, Anne Palagyi, was a dedicated member for many years. Lynda has also been hearing about us from Rhona Ako, who has encouraged Lynda to join us! Lynda and her husband have owned a real estate brokerage business for over 30 years, helping people buy and sell residential real estate. Lynda has indicated an interest in several of our programs - Thrift Shop, Operation School Bell and Literacy. We look forward to seeing more of her.

Photo inset top right: Lynda Pelayo (left) and Mie Miura (right).

114 Children Get New School Clothes

Operation School Bell^® (OSB) gave 114 smiling keiki the opportunity to buy brand new school clothes at Walmart on Ke'eaumoku Street on Saturday, January 24. The families of the happy children traveled from the Windward side, from Waimanalo to Ha'aula, and points in-between. Thanks to the many member volunteers that helped at the store and at the in-store event, the latest OSB event turned out to be another success. 

This is why we work so hard to earn money. Operation School Bell is a wonderful program for our community.

Photos below: School kids and their new threads for 2026.

OWL Volunteers Return from Successful Hilo Area Visit

OWL volunteers Linda McColgan, Miho Teipel, Patti Schulz, and Hazel Sumile visited 9 schools in Hilo the last week of January and shared their program with 652 fourth graders in those schools during a total of 18 presentations.

Pictured here are the students at Ernest Bowen deSilva Elementary School, all of whom were so excited to have the visit from the Team! All visits to the Big Island of Hawaii are now complete. More visits will take place soon to Molokai and Maui.

The Team had an afternoon to visit Hilo's Panaewa Zoo and see their white tiger, along with several of Hawaii's endangered birds and other animals. Tsaziki, the white tiger, put on a show for the visitors as they became excited about feeding time coming up soon! The children liked the idea of the Volunteers from Oahu having visited and knowing "their" zoo!



Lap Blankets and Non-Skid Socks

Lap blankets and non-skid socks were purchased for the Palolo Chinese Home. Some of the residents are sent there with very little so Outreach Committee member Dawn Krause assisted with the purchase and delivery.

"If you see something, say something"

New Air Conditioning

Will Cool the Thrift Shop Better

If you've been wondering what’s happening at the Thrift Shop lately, check out this photo! We have been replacing our three aging upstairs air conditioning units. That involved a crane to bring down the old units and take up the new ones. Big thanks to Randy Murakami from RMA Services, who has been maintaining and patching up our old system for several years and is now doing the work to install the new units. Thanks also to Jim McClelland, our Property Manager, for overseeing this project. We will be rewarded with a more efficient upstairs cooling system, now that the installation is completed. Just think of how cool and lovely it will be to sort through and price donations upstairs from now on.

We have been training a few new members both upstairs and as cashiers. Many hands make light work, so we are very happy to have any members who can help out in any way at the Thrift Shop. Stop by when you have a bit of time to spare, and we will put you to work. 

Do you have a friend or relative who is moving, downsizing or redecorating? Please remind them that Assistance League of Hawaii gladly takes gently-used furniture, artwork and housewares. These items are big moneymakers for us, and, in most instances, we can arrange pick-ups, if necessary. Spread the word about how merchandise donations benefit keiki throughout Hawaii. Remember, our Thrift Shop is our major source of funding.

Have you been to the back of our Thrift Shop? Our colorful mural "Helping Hawaii's Keiki" is now complete. Check it out on your next visit.

February 2026 Thrift Shop

Calendar for Cashiers & Rovers

Thrift Shop Days & Hours:

Tuesday & Thursdays 9:30 am to 1:00 pm

Saturdays 9:30 am to 3:00 pm

Login to our Members Page on the website to view another copy of the current Thrift Shop Calendar.

Submit Your Service Hours

Turn in your monthly service hours to: alhservicehours@gmail.com Enter your first name, last name and the hours you worked (please do not enter any text – just numerical hours).

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