Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL HomeKaimuki Community Gathers on the Web

Kaimuki Community Gathers on the Web

KAIMUKI (KHNL) Wendy Schofield-Ching keeps Native American traditions alive in her little corner of Kaimuki.

"We enjoy Kaimuki because it's a strong, supportive community. The merchants want to see everyone succeed," Schofield Ching said.

Software engineer Ernest Abrams feels that sense of community, so the Kaimuki resident decided to give his neighborhood a gathering place on the internet.

"Kaimuki is such a thriving community," Abrams said. "It's got all the restaurants, all kinds of parks and different activities."

Abrams built kaimukihawaiii.com as a public service project. The site features a business directory, calenders of events, even an on-line survey on community issues.

"As I started to get into this project I thought it was an opportunity to really educate and bring the community together because there was no place people could go to find out the things that were going on," Abrams said.

Small shops like Schofield-Ching's Native Winds use the site to connect with customers and their neighbors.

"We're a small business, we have limited advertising funds," Schofield-Ching said. "We need the most bang for our buck and the internet is a great way to get a larger crowd."

Abrams built the site on his own time and his own dime.

"The entire website is free," Abrams said. "Basically my objective is not to generate revenue or anything. It's to bring the community together."