Project carries on despite vandalism PO’IPU — It must be hard to donate the equivalent of six full-time work weeks to a project and then see vandals undo part of it in a few after-dark hours. It was South Shore
Project carries on despite vandalism
PO’IPU — It must be hard to donate the equivalent of six full-time work weeks to a project and then see vandals undo part of it in a few after-dark hours.
It was South Shore resident Anne E. O’Malley who donated her time (247 hours) to research the history of the Koloa, Po’ipu and Kukui’ula areas for the Koloa Heritage Trail, a collaborative effort to give both residents and visitors something new, something more, to do in the area.
The vandals are still at large. But they left their mark on the brand new trail, which offers 13 interpretive plaques on 13 lava-rock stands from Spouting Horn Park in the west to the sugar monument in Koloa to the north and Makawehi and Pa’a sand dunes to the east.
While one of the markers was being erected near the public parking lot at Keoneloa Bay (Shipwreck Beach), vandals took apart the top tier of rocks and left them wobbling at the site. Had the plaque been attached already, it probably would have been stolen.
So that stand was torn down, rock by rock, and rebuilt at a site within the grounds of the adjacent Hyatt Regency Kaua’i Resort and Spa, where a small blessing took place yesterday.
The Rev. Niles Kageyama of Koloa Missionary Church was just a bit too late when he prayed to protect the lava-rock plaque pedestals of the trail from vandals.
The trail is designed to be a driving, walking, jogging and bicycling path, with no right or wrong place to start or end. It is around four miles long.
It’s the culmination of a collaboration including government officials, the private sector, Po’ipu Beach Resort Association (PBRA) and Koloa Community Association, and countless volunteers.
The Hawai’i Tourism Authority kicked in $20,000 for the project that ended up costing $70,000, explained Margy Parker, PBRA executive director.
“Gary has vision,” she said of Gary Baldwin, Kaua’i representative on the Tourism Authority’s board of directors.
Local church pastors, Tsunami Marketing, Lei Saito of Devland Management Co. (managers of Old Koloa Town), and many others helped the project from its infancy around a year ago to its dedication Wednesday, she said.
To go with the tour, 125,000 copies of an interpretive brochure were printed. All along the way, the PBRA board backed Parker’s involvement, she added.
Kageyama, who was born and raised in Koloa, said it is important to learn the geography, culture and history of any area, especially the one you live in. He cited Old Testament references to stone structures erected by followers of Jesus, not unlike the lava-rock stands where the Koloa Heritage Trail interpretive signs rest.
The Rev. Kosen Ishikawa of the Koloa Jodo Mission rendered a ceremonial Buddhist chant in Japanese, sprinkling pink plumeria blossoms to invite Buddha to visit the trail, and asking for protection and guidance.
For the benefit of the English-speaking among the crowd of about 25 people, including some interested visitors, Ishikawa recited some of what he had prayed in English: “May the wonderful blessing of Amida Buddha be an eternal guide so that this new Koloa Heritage Trail facility may help the people to enjoy this beautiful island of Kaua’i.”
The plaques are cast in bronze, and the accompanying brochures available at various places along the route offer broader information on each site, courtesy of O’Malley’s research.
“Kaua’i on its own is stunning. With a bit of interpretation of the culture, history, geography and environment, residents and visitors may appreciate the beauty on a deeper, more intimate level,” she said.
Included in the interpretation are stories to explain why Spouting Horn bellows noisily, and explanations of why treasures are eroding out of Makawehi Dunes. The brochure also details the history of volcanos, including how cinder cones came to be, and more.
Stops along the trail in Koloa include the sugar monument, Yamamoto Store and Koloa Hotel, Koloa Jodo Mission and Koloa Missionary Church.
Along the shoreline, the trail continues with signs at Spouting Horn Park, Prince Kuhio Birthplace and Park, Koloa Landing, Moir Gardens at Kiahuna Plantation and Hapa Road across from Kiahuna Plantation. Other stops include Po’ipu Beach Park, Keoneloa Bay, Makawehi Dunes and Pu’uwanawana volcanic cone.
The map and brochure will be available free of charge from numerous points of distribution on Kaua’i, or by contacting the Po’ipu Beach Resort Association at 742-7444 or info@poipu-beach.com.
Ka Ala Hele Waiwai Ho’oilina O Koloa, as the trail is described in the Hawaiian language, is the brainchild of Parker. She saw the need to provide an attraction of cultural, historical and environmental significance for visitors and residents alike.
“There is so much begging to be interpreted in our south shore community,” said Parker. “Because it was an idea whose time had come, the players and the pieces fell into place almost automatically.”
Reaching out to the community, Parker began to assemble the volunteer players. Under managing partner Val Rekward’s direction, award-winning Tsunami Marketing jumped at the chance to be involved in this community project, designing the project logo and brochure.
“I take great pride in the Tsunami Marketing team’s efforts, and the uniquely talented Koloa Heritage Trail group’s efforts as well,” Rekward said. “We all rallied to deliver a high-quality, experiential project that will benefit the entire community for many years to come. It was a very rewarding experience.”
O’Malley researched and wrote the sign and brochure material.
“It was terrific to be part of the team, and enlightening to delve into my own community’s history and have the chance to work with experts in Hawaiian culture, geoscience and more,” O’Malley said.
Beryl Moir, a private citizen, helped in locating sites. Saito, of Honolulu’s Devland Management, involved private donors and sponsors. Ranny Warburton of Signwaves donated his expertise and resources to develop the bronze plaques. Rick Haviland, president of Koloa Community Association, is distributing the brochures.
Staff Writer Paul C. Curtis can be reached at mailto:pcurtis@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 224).
