The Sacred Hearts Academy Leo club is actively involved in the community as members help at a wide variety of events.

Leos donated four hours on Oct. 5 to clean taro patches at the University of Hawaii. About 11 students, accompanied by club adviser Whitney Miyahira, assisted in cleaning Ka Papa Lo’i o Kanewai. Students also were taught the mechanics of the stream and the man-made irrigation system constructed to supply a constant flow of water to the crops.

Students removed decayed leaves surrounding the taro patches for reuse as fertilizer for new patches. Volunteers also worked to reinforce the base of each taro plant by supplying more soil to the roots.

“I had a great time learning about the history of the area as I never knew about it before,” said sophomore Alexandria Montiel.

Along with helping to clean up the crop, Leo members also learned about the history of the University of Hawaii and the Hawaiian Studies program.

“The most beneficial thing is for the girls to get out in the community, get their hands dirty and make a change rather than just talking about it,” said Miyahira.