Several hundred volunteers turned out Saturday morning to spruce up the landscaping of the Gateway Project. The project was held at part of USA Weekend Magazine’s national Make A Difference Day event. The project has spanned the administration of former
Several hundred volunteers turned out Saturday morning to spruce up the landscaping of the Gateway Project. The project was held at part of USA Weekend Magazine’s national Make A Difference Day event.
The project has spanned the administration of former Mayor Maryanne Kusaka and Mayor Bryan Baptiste and provides a pleasant tropical visual landscape for Kaua‘i visitors and resident going to and coming from Lihu‘e Airport.
Under a joint federal-county funding plan, volunteers are required to maintain the landscaping for about another year.
Gabrielle Young of Po‘ipu, one of the organizers of the event, said, “the Gateway looks beautiful now.”
Young is submitting the one-day project to the Make A Difference Day committee in hopes of winning a top national prize of $10,000, with funds possibly going to help the project along.
Working with Young on organizing the event were Katherine Peroff from Kapa‘a and Eddie Sarita from Hanama‘ulu.
She said the morning of work began at 8 a.m. and concluded an hour ahead of schedule at 11 a.m.
Dozens of community groups from across the island took part in the cleanup.
Prizes from a number of restaurants and hotels included a weekend for two at Waimea Plantation Cottage, McDonald’s coupons, a Princeiville Hotel brunch, prime rib for two at the Radisson Kauai Beach Resort, a piece of furniture from Two Frogs Hugging, prizes from Wal-Mart and the Hyatt Regency Kauai, as well as the Sheraton Kaua‘i and logo wear from the Kaua‘i Marriott.
Young said organizers from the Kauai United Way Walk-A-Thon brought by extra juice, rolls and other breakfast items to share with the Make A Difference Day volunteers.
More information about Make A Difference Day is available in today’s issue of USA Weekend magazine, and at http://www.makeadifference.com
