The combination of spring break and spring weather has reduced expected numbers of volunteers, but not volunteer enthusiasm, at the building site of the Kamalani Pavilion at Lydgate Park. Still, volunteers worked consistently around the weather this weekend, the first
The combination of spring break and spring weather has reduced expected numbers of volunteers, but not volunteer enthusiasm, at the building site of the Kamalani Pavilion at Lydgate Park.
Still, volunteers worked consistently around the weather this weekend, the first weekend of the community build, said Thomas Noyes, general coordinator for The Friends of Kamalani and Lydgate Park.
He continues to encourage volunteers to consider putting in just four hours of volunteer labor at the build.
“What we really need are carpenters who have roof-framing experience,” so that the roof of the structure can be framed so that work can continue that less-skilled carpenters can accomplish, he said.
Concrete was poured Monday morning for the start of a stone and tile wall to go up beginning today, he said.
Regarding the weather, Noyes said that even if certain Kaua‘i neighborhoods might be getting drenched with rain this week, the weather pattern along the Eastside coast might be windy and cloudy, but the area doesn’t get that much rain.
“Even if it’s cloudy and passing showers, we’re still working away down here.”
Rain did cause periodic, slight delays in construction this weekend. The formal construction period began Thursday, March 18, following a traditional Hawaiian blessing by Puna Dawson.
Thanks to officials at AT&T Wireless, the community-build site has a dedicated volunteer telephone line people can call for more information about weather conditions, skills and materials needed at that moment, and other details of the build, Noyes said.
The number is 634-5020. The line will be manned throughout the building period, expected to last through Wednesday, April 7.
A large turnout of volunteers over the weekend resulted in the framework of the Kamalani Pavilion now punctuating the skyline of ironwood trees as the project took shape through the cooperative volunteer effort of residents and community leaders.
The inclement weather did not deter volunteers who turned out Monday to finish working on formwork for sidewalks leading to the pavilion.
There was an air of urgency to completing this task, said John Lydgate, one of the volunteer leaders working Monday, while waiting for the load of concrete from Jas W. Glover that was due to arrive at any moment.
Further down towards the Kamalani Kai Bridge, kumu James Alalem worked with first-time wood-carver John Spaar, who was tapping out a relief of a Hawaiian fish, accompanied by Jim Jung, who was quick to extract a completed plaque of a pod of whales.
“When you’re retired, you have time to do this,” Jung joked, taking time out also to show off a ceramic lobster created by Kapa‘a High School art teacher Clyde Furumoto.
“When the guys (volunteers) saw this, they all said, ‘Where’s the grill?'”
Jung explained that Furumoto has been working with the wood carvers, and has already salvaged a few plaques, one of which obviously showed its patches.
“We’re trying to get him switched to wood,” Jung laughed.
Jung has been visiting the site daily since construction began on Thursday, his initial day spent working with students under Kawika Kutcher’s class.
Architect Bob Leathers, who was engrossed in plans inside a construction office Thursday when construction began, took advantage of the cool winds to “move into the outdoor office,” he said.
He was found Monday engrossed in panels of drawings and sketches of the artwork that will grace the pavilion when it’s completed.
Work continues daily from about 8 a.m. until sunset.
Associate Editor Paul C. Curtis may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or mailto;pcurtis@pulitzer.net.
Sports Editor Dennis Fujimoto may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or mailto:dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.
