Dentist Is Turning Candy Into Halloween Cash

October 28, 2009
By Steve Murray
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Steve Murray
Military Star Staff

In the spirit of handing out cash incentives to get gas-guzzling vehicles off the road, a Honolulu dentist is instituting a Cash for Candy program in an effort to separate keiki from their outsized Halloween stashes and turn to healthier snacks. On Nov. 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Leong and his wife, Rezenne, and associate Rodney Loo will swap a dollar for every pound of candy a child turns in at his office at 2885 Paa St. Suite 203 in Honolulu.

“I got the idea when I was practicing in Washington. There were some dentists doing it there and I thought it was a good idea,” said the Kaneohe native. “It’s our way of cutting back on kid’s dental cavities. Nowadays there are a lot of sugar-related health problems like diabetes and obesity.”

Leong says he has most of the details worked out except one very important detail; what to do with the goodies once he’s doled out the rewards.

“We are trying to figure out what to do with the candy,” he said. “We wanted to donate it to the military, but our military contact said it probably won’t make it to Iraq. They are trying to discourage sending candy or any food overseas because of the risk, and it’s hard for them to check. We thought about donating it to a homeless shelter, but they are trying to be more healthy.”

If anyone wants to claim the tasty but hardly healthy treats should give him a call.

Leong says he hasn’t seen a spike in after-holiday cavities, but that the problems become evident months later and that’s why he wants to get the candy out of kid’s hands.

“We were brainstorming about what we could do that would be fun. Most of our patients are military and we do a lot of pediatrics. So this should be fun.”