There’s nothing better than working for a good cause.
Team Rubicon teamed up with Habitat for Humanity Saturday and worked hard for a good cause, to provide disaster relief to Wayne Harada at his home on Ananalu Road in Wainiha. Together they put on gloves, picked up shovels, and cleaned up debris and trash.
Team Rubicon assisted during a three-day rebuild in Haena and Wainiha following the April flooding, and is back to help after the August storm.
Harada shared heartfelt words of appreciation to the group before they began.
“I’m grateful for everybody,” he said. “I’ve seen Habitat for Humanity and Rubicon coming out here during the peak (of the disaster time). … Can’t be more grateful for what people have been doing to help.”
Harada works at the satellite school in Haena at Hanalei Colony Resort. The school was established by the Department of Education to provide a place where children in the area can attend school locally, making it easier for students isolated in Haena and Wainiha to get to class.
Having two storms hit so close to one another made it harder for many to get their lives back on track. Financial difficulties, schedule limitations due to the convoy schedule, and insurance paperwork are only the beginning. Plus cleaning up all the mess can feel like an uphill battle.
It’s been a whirlwind, but at least Team Rubicon and Habitat for Humanity were there to lighten the load.
Harada worked alongside team members to remove debris and trash. Numerous items were strewn about the property when remnants of Hurricane Lane swept across the island.
Team Rubicon construction site supervisor Jim Edwards organized the effort with Habitat for Humanity Deputy Director Milani Pimental.
Much of the work involved trekking through thick mud to remove mangled items, ranging from pieces of plywood, wooden pallets, metal and broken PVC pipes to torn-up screen doors and broken appliances.
Sometimes items were passed from one hand to another, then tossed in a garbage bag and taken to a truck for disposal.
Pimental spent a lot of time grabbing things that had become stuck underneath and around the perimeter of the house. Other times she raked leaves, piles of dead vines and grass, and yanked trash out of the mud. She did it all with a smile and said, “Once you start (helping) you can’t stop. It’s lots of fun.”
Truckloads of debris were removed from the area. It took hours, but it was worth the effort.
Other Rubicon team members included Lorenzo Gonzalez, Deputy State Logistics Coordinator Hawaii Elaine Albertson, Joseph Banayo, Kellyne Capuano and her daughter Kaelin Capuano. They were joined by two other volunteers.
There is still a lot of work to do at the Harada house. Team Rubicon and Habitat for Humanity plan to be there for two to three more weeks, Pimental said. Work to be done includes bamboo removal and roof repair.
Pimental explained that roof repair is key during disaster relief because it helps to provide basic stability needed to help people get on track.
“Fixing roofs is a major priority because when a roof is fixed, then at least a family has (proper) shelter,” she said.
Following the April flood, Habitat for Humanity worked on four other house rebuild projects on Kauai, including one in Koloa. Only those who fulfill income requirements and qualify for assistance can receive assistance from Habitat for Humanity.
Pimental estimates that it would take about two years for all damaged homes in Wainiha and Haena to be repaired — if they had the manpower to do it. Habitat for Humanity needs more volunteers who can work during the week and commit to working in shifts, she said.
For more information, go to kauaihabitat.org, email volunteer@kauaihabitat.org or call 335-0296 (Ext. 113).
The Team Rubicon USA’s website says “Team Rubicon unites the skills and experiences of the military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams.” Civilians can also join Team Rubicon. Call Kauai District Coordinator Dan Abadilla for more information at 346-1830.
