Cleanup volunteers cover all of Kaua'i

LIHU‘E, Kaua‘i — The Kaua‘i volunteer program known as Ho‘olookahi has brought cleanups and beautification into every part of the island during the past year.

In the county’s annual report on the program, coordinator Eddie Sarita said one of the biggest projects to date is the Lihu‘e gateway effort, which seeks to improve the first glimpse of the island that visitors get as they leave the airport.

Much of the work involves planting trees and shrubs at the intersection of Kapule and Kaumuali‘i highways, and for some distance down each of the highways.

The project includes government-financed efforts and volunteer work. On March 3, 55 volunteers planted more than 20,000 plants.

The volunteer groups included the Rotary Clubs of Kaua‘i, the Kaua‘i Filipino Council, the Baha’i Faith, the Republican Club, Island School, Hale ‘Opio, Smith’s Boats, Waimea Plantation Cottages, Kaua‘i Nursery, the Stanley Alquiza family, and workers from the Kaua‘i Fire Department and county attorney’s and economic development offices.

Other volunteers working on the project include the Hawai‘i Credit Union League, Aloha Church, Princeville Hotel, Kaua‘i Pangasinan Club and the Kusaka family.

In other projects, community volunteers have cleaned up the tree tunnel, Po‘ipu Beach Park, Lydgate Beach, Wailua Beach, Salt Pond Park, ‘Ele‘ele Nani Park, the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall, Kekaha Gardens Park and the Kapa‘a soccer field.

The program has awarded $17,500 in grants, generally to community groups who use the money to buy materials for repairs to community facilities.

The Ho‘olokahi program was started by County Councilman Bryan Baptiste, who was then the county’s convention hall manager. Sarita, now the convention hall manager, took on the responsibility of for the program.

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