HANAPEPE — Faced with the prospect of having to say “good-bye” to her young daughter for two years or longer, Abrielle Apuna of Kekaha was realistic. “No can help,” Apuna said as she and her husband Andrew spent some time
HANAPEPE — Faced with the prospect of having to say “good-bye” to her young daughter for two years or longer, Abrielle Apuna of Kekaha was realistic.
“No can help,” Apuna said as she and her husband Andrew spent some time with their daughter Alia. Both Abrielle and Andrew Apuna will be activated on Aug. 15, and during the time they’re away, Abrielle said family will help take care of Alia.
A grandmother pushing an infant in a stroller quietly said, “This is real hard. It was hard when we first got the word, but now…” Her daughter will miss the first birthday of the child she’ll leave behind.
All around the Hanapepe armory yesterday, as Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers and families got some final instructions and assistance before preparing to ship out for Iraq, the reality of deployment was setting in like rain clouds on a windless Westside day, marked by the notable contrast of dozens of children running around the armory seemingly without a care in the world.
The community support the citizen-soldiers and their families have received, and continue to receive, must be comforting during these hard times.
“I thought I didn’t know anybody (who was going to be deployed),” said Alicia Viquelia. “But, now that I’m here, I (see I) know a lot of people. There’s a guy who works with my husband at the Gas Company, and there’s a lady who goes to Kalaheo Missionary Church.”
Viquelia and Lucinda Baptiste came to the Hanapepe Armory on Sunday on behalf of the ‘Ele‘ele Baptist Church, their arms laden with trays bearing 200 brownies the church members had prepared for the Hawaii Army National Guard troops and their families to enjoy on the final weekend before their official activation this Sunday, Aug. 15.
“We also have some rapid-deployment kits,” Baptiste said. “But, they didn’t make it in time for today. It has a special camouflage Bible, and the soldiers are welcome to have one when they get here.”
“There are a lot of people who gave,” Clementine “Clem” Quel pointed out between taking registrations from families and guardsmen who converged at the Hanapepe Armory where they spent most of their Sunday morning involved in briefings with representatives of agencies as well as the military.
These briefings provided them with a wealth of information on benefits and options available to them as families of personnel being deployed.
Quel, whose husband is one of the brigade leaders, noted that Mama Lucy’s Kitchen in Lihu‘e gave pastries for the morning break, while others such as Wong’s Chinese Restaurant nearby came up with main dishes for the lunch followed the briefings.
Quel heads up the Kaua‘i family-support group which also includes Grace Delos Reyes, secretary; Amy Remigio, treasurer; and Joy Abreu, public relations. Initially, Quel said they will meet at least twice a month so families will have a place to gather and talk about things.
Additionally, she said activities will be planned, and she is prepared to help out in other ways as well, noting that if someone needs to get away from the kids for a couple of hours, she is willing to step forward as a sitter.
Councilman Mel Rapozo, who along with Councilman Joe Munechika came to present the brigade with a special council commendation for their patriotism, noted that he is a retired guardsman, and the gathering of family and guardsman for a final weekend of togetherness brought back memories from the time he prepared to deploy to the Persian Gulf.
But, he noted, his unit never got to the deployment stage.
Kaua‘i Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste also made an appearance, and addressed the formation of guardsman and their families. Baptiste has called a special meeting of various community representatives today to review and discuss ways the island community can show support for the guardsmen.
The Army National Guard’s Hawaii Army National Guard’s Company A, 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry Regiment, is scheduled to be activated on Sunday, Aug. 15, and by Wednesday, the unit will take commercial flights to be on O‘ahu.
However, one guardsman noted that because the Hanapepe contingent involves people working with several other companies that are based on O‘ahu, some of them will be leaving on the first flight out Tuesday morning following the Sunday activation date.
Lt. Col. Laura Wheeler, the state family program coordinator for the Hawaii National Guard, was on hand Sunday to work with the various families, and said she is working to keep the Hanapepe Armory open as a center for the family-support group after the deployment.
Additionally, Wheeler procured the services of Milton Oshiro, a retired guardsman, to head up the family-support group for Kaua‘i at the armory. Oshiro was a former supply sergeant for the Hanapepe group.
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.
