[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 4812]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 4812]]

 CONGRATULATING HAWAII'S WINNERS OF THE PRUDENTIAL SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY 
                                 AWARD

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Mrs. Mink) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate two remarkable 
students from Hawaii--Leanne Nakamura, age 17, of Kaneohe


and Aubrie Weedling, age 13, of Honolulu. Leanne and Aubrie are 
Hawaii's top two youth volunteers for the year 2000 in the Prudential 
Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people 
for outstanding acts of volunteerism.
  Leanne Nakamura, a senior at James B. Castle High School, co-created 
``S.A.V.E. Kualoa Beach,'' an effort to remove marine debris and 
educate her community about environmental issues. While attending an 
environmental conference, Leanne learned about beach erosion and the 
devastating effect marine debris has on the beaches. She did not feel 
that the suggested action of writing letters to government officials 
was an adequate solution.
  After being alerted by a faculty advisor of foreign fishnets on 
Kualoa Beach, Leanne organized an effort to remove the nets and conduct 
a beach clean-up. Leanne recruited volunteers from several school clubs 
and the University of Hawaii's Environmental Club and persuaded local 
merchants to donate food for the volunteers. As a result, three-
quarters of the fishnets were removed. ``I believe that when students 
took part in this project they learned about beach erosion and how 
people's carelessness affects the environment,'' said Leanne. ``It 
allowed students to take responsibility for the earth, creating a 
relationship between the environment and the student.''
  Aubrie Weedling, an eighth grader at Moanalua Middle School, 
volunteers every week at a local food bank and once a month at a 
homeless shelter organizing, preparing, and serving food. Inspired by 
her mother, an ordained pastor who frequently talks about the 
importance of helping the less fortunate, Aubrie accepted an invitation 
by the food bank's organizer to volunteer her time. ``Sometimes it's 
hard: I am the only young person from my church who works at the food 
bank and the Institute [shelter],'' explains Aubrie. ``The happiness on 
the faces of those we serve in more than I can ask for. I would tell 
other young people that it is a learning experience we should all have, 
and the feeling you get back is well worth your time.''
  I look forward to having the opportunity to meet these special young 
women and to welcome them to Washington when they come to the Capitol 
on May 9th. Leanne and Aubrie exemplify the very best of our youth, of 
Hawaii, and of our nation.

                          ____________________

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