For Kupono Pico, summer vacation doesn't mean just taking time off from school. It means having the time to help other less-fortunate kids his age.

During break from St. Anthony's School, the 8-year-old Kailua resident collects "gently used" shoes, cleans them and donates them to homeless children on the Wai'anae Coast.

Last year, Kupono collected 25 pairs. This year, his goal was 100. In the end, he personally delivered a total of 104 pairs of shoes to the Pai'olu Kaiaulu Housing Facility.

According to Pai'olu Kaiaulu resident Alice Greenwood, the emergency shelter is home to approximately 80 children.

Greenwood, who distributed the shoes on July 29, was struck by the impact they had on the shelter's children.

"They were just looking at their shoes and they were so proud of it," she said. "In fact, several of the little girls were so excited, they practically slept with (their new shoes). They were so excited they were jumping up and down."

Greenwood said Kupono's donation came at a critical time, as most of the shelter's children began school recently.

"Local children, majority of the time they just go barefoot or wear slippers," she said, adding that having covered shoes is something very special for them.

With the help of his mom, Mary Zanakis-Pico, Kupono and his friend, 9-year-old Kauilani Ahlo-Souza, started the nonprofit organization Malama Keiki, Caring for the Children, when they first began collecting shoes last summer. Kauilani was unable to help out this year, but the pair intend to continue their project in the future, using Malama Keiki to help them keep it going.

"My children are very aware of the homeless situation because I tell them about it," said Zanakis-Pico, who helped Kupono come up with the idea to donate shoes. "I think that if you're able to help, you should."

In July, Kupono placed a large cardboard box labeled "Shoe Donation" next to his mailbox on Iliwahi Loop. His parents, Tom Pico and Zanakis-Pico, helped him to create about 100 small handouts explaining his project and his goal of 100 pairs of shoes.

"We go to each house and we usually know who has kids and who doesn't," said Kupono. "We pass out these (handouts) to the moms and dads or the kids."

Then, he waits to see how many pairs appear in the cardboard box. This year, it sat next to his mailbox throughout July.

"Some days, he would come home and go out and check the box, and there would be six or seven pairs, and he was overwhelmed with delight," said Zanakis-Pico. "Some days there wouldn't be any, but for the entire month of July our neighbors were very generous."

After taking the shoes out of the box, Kupono cleaned and shined each pair, lining them up in the living room.

Zanakis-Pico had seen Greenwood's name in an Advertiser article about the Wai'anae shelter.

At the end of July, she contacted Greenwood and arranged to take Kupono to Pai'olu Kaiaulu, where he delivered the shoes.

"It makes me feel kind of happy," Kupono said with a shy smile. And he's not the only one smiling — so are about 80 children out in Wai'anae.

Reach Caryn Kunz at ckunz1@honoluluadvertiser.com.