Kalāheo Dental Group’s annual Halloween Candy Buyback supports Operation Shoebox

For the past 10 years, the team at Kalāheo Dental Group on Kauaʻi’s west side has turned the post-Halloween sugar rush into something truly sweet: their annual Halloween Candy BuyBack event, which supports U.S. troops overseas.

The event returns Monday, from 3 to 5 p.m., at the dental office in Rainbow Plaza on Kaumuali‘i Highway in Kalāheo.

“Like many parents, we noticed that the amount of candy that our kids were getting around this holiday, from school and after-school activities, to trick-or-treating, was getting to be more and more each year,” dentist Michael Lutwin said.

“As health care providers, we don’t mind if they indulge once in a while, but they get enough candy on Halloween to last for months. That amount of sugary treats, over an extended time, can have a big impact on kids’ health.”

Each year, after trick-or-treating, keiki and their guardian bring in their extra, unopened candy and trade it for $1 per pound, up to five pounds. Every piece of candy is then donated to Operation Shoebox, a nonprofit that sends care packages to service members stationed overseas.

The idea came from a dental journal article about mainland offices hosting candy buy-backs, Lutwin said.

“After a little research, I discovered no one was doing it on Kaua‘i, to our knowledge,” he said. “We were the first on the island — maybe even in the state — to host one.”

Since the buyback’s inception, Kalāheo Dental Group has collected 3,000 pounds of candy.

“Thatʻs about a ton and a half of sweets not sitting in Kaua‘i keiki’s bellies or teeth,” Lutwin said. “It’s been a fun way to get some candy off the streets, teach kids about oral health, and support our troops overseas.”

The extra candy brought to the dental office is weighed in front of the kids.

“They get a few bucks to soften the ‘loss’ for them, and it’s all smiles, all around, especially from the parents,” Lutwin said.

The care packages to service members deployed overseas are then filled with items such as coffee, socks, toothpaste, toothbrushes and something sweet from home to remind the soldiers that they are appreciated.

“One year, Kauaʻi soldiers in the National Guard received our items while they were deployed in the Middle East,” the dentist said.

The event also owes its success to longtime community partner Joel Groomes, owner of the UPS Store at Kukui Grove in Līhuʻe.

“When he saw the very first candy haul 10 years ago, Groomes immediately offered to ship everything to Operation Shoebox,” Lutwin said.

With a Navy veteran father, Gromes loved the idea of sending something sweet from home to service members overseas.

“He’s been helping ship every box of candy ever since,” Lutwin said.

To make the 10th annual event a bit sweeter, every candy donor will be entered into a drawing for a $100 Small Fry Kaua‘i gift card.

Lutwinʻs says his message is simple: “Families should have fun, but spend a little extra time brushing and flossing with keiki.”

“Our community is always our priority,” he added. “Halloween, and the upcoming Christmas and New Yearʻs Holidays are a wonderful time of the year for keiki, but it also presents challenges for parents wishing to keep a healthy routine. Put limits on the amount of treats they are eating and for how long.”

For more information on Kalāheo Denta Groupʻs Halloween Candy Buyback event, call 808-332-9445.