The Kaua’i Island Utility Cooperative hosted a private dedication ceremony at its Dynasty Court offices in Kukui Grove Village West Wednesday, using KIUC funds to pay for the food. The event was for employees, board members, candidates for the board,
The Kaua’i Island Utility Cooperative hosted a private dedication ceremony at its Dynasty Court offices in Kukui Grove Village West Wednesday, using KIUC funds to pay for the food.
The event was for employees, board members, candidates for the board, and their guests, and was timed to take advantage of the presence of members of the board of directors of the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC), said Anne Barnes, KIUC communications coordinator.
The CFC board was on Kaua’i for strategic-planing sessions, she said.
Local and national elected officials, including U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D, urban O’ahu), representatives of U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye (D, Hawai’i) and U.S. Rep. Ed Case (D, rural O’ahu and the Neighbor Islands), and Republican Gov. Linda Lingle, state Sen. Gary Hooser (D, Kaua’i, Ni’ihau), representatives of Mayor Bryan Baptiste and the County Council, and others were in attendance, Barnes said.
The Sunshine Express from Kalaheo School sang a few songs, and kumu hula Blaine Kamalani Kia and his halau entertained as well.
The event, Barnes said, was an opportunity to share the co-op message and mission with people who have helped to co-op, or will help.
“People who were or will be instrumental in helping us in the future” were on hand, she added.
As other co-ops do, KIUC representatives have set aside 1 percent of annual earnings to give back to the community. A donation was made to the Sunshine Express for its part in the program, she said.
“Whatever we paid, KIUC funded. Advocacy is pretty necessary for us, and I would have to say this would come under the heading of ‘advocacy,'” she said.
