KAPA’A — The Kapa’a Rotary Club led a community effort Saturday to refurbish a tiny police department substation near Kapa’a Beach Park. The station, converted from a cabin used to temporarily house Hurricane ‘Iniki victims, was moved to the south
KAPA’A — The Kapa’a Rotary Club led a community effort Saturday to refurbish a
tiny police department substation near Kapa’a Beach Park.
The station,
converted from a cabin used to temporarily house Hurricane ‘Iniki victims, was
moved to the south end of the park to serve as a mini substation for Kaua’i
Police Department officers serving the Kapa’a area.
Day in, day out, it has
served its purpose, offering a respite from the rigors of patrolling the
neighborhood, and providing officers with a place to do administrative work
while keeping close to the neighborhood they are assigned to
patrol.
Constant pummeling from salt spray and breezes began to take its
toll on the substation until the Kapa’a Rotary Club got involved in a community
cleanup day that involved donations of thousands of dollars worth of new
equipment and manpower.
Crews showed up early Saturday morning, and once
furniture and files were moved out of the substation, workers rolled up their
sleeves and undid the outer skin of the building, revealing the corrosion
caused by the daily hammering of sea breezes.
Power equipment made short
work of the buildup of grime as well as the salt air corrosion. Kaua’i Vinyl
Siding brought out its work crews to install new donated paneling, while Rotary
Club members got to work cleaning out computer equipment that was discolored
from the accumulated buildup.
Following two days of work, the substation is
all spruced up, and sports a new look headlined by a sign donated by The Sign
and Print Machine.
“We have to help, too,” off-duty police officer James
Rabasa said as he hosed down a paint roller used to roll a fresh coat of paint
on one of the concrete footings.
On-duty officers took their turn at
accomplishing various cleanup tasks as their shifts permitted.
The station
houses two shifts daily, and provides a home away from home for at least six
officers on a daily basis.
Officers who share the tiny station include
Norberto Garcia, Roland Peahu, Shane Sokei, Shawn Smith, Richard Drapesa and
James Rabasa.
