A hula mound at Kaewai Elementary School in Kalihi where about $500 worth of sod was stolen over the weekend was made whole again today, when the contractor who did the original work replaced the grass for free.

More than 20 large pieces of sod were taken from the mound, leaving big, bald spots. The mound had been used for the first time on Friday as part of a long-planned May Day celebration.

Faith Flazer, who helped organize construction of the mound to raise community awareness and pride among students, said she was crestfallen to see someone had marred the stage.

"Who could do such a thing?" she asked.

But when owners of Southern Turf International, which installed the sod, heard about the theft, they decided to donate sod to make the mound whole again.

They replaced the donated sod today.

"Doing the replacement is the right thing to do," said the company's office manager, Greg Maring. "It's kind of sad to know someone would stoop that low."