‘Funny how so many people know that site by the cattle egrets,” Tom Tannery of the Kaua‘i YMCA said. The cattle egrets who gather each morning to feed at the vacant lot fronting Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School will soon need
‘Funny how so many people know that site by the cattle egrets,”
Tom Tannery of the Kaua‘i YMCA said.
The cattle egrets who gather each morning to feed at the vacant lot fronting Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School will soon need to find another place to meet, as Good fellow Brothers’ equipment disturbed their morning ritual recently, the first steps towards the realization of the YMCA complex that will eventually occupy the space currently being used by the egrets.
Tannery, executive director of the Kaua‘i Young Men’s Christian Association, said that the initial site work for the infrastructure for the first YMCA building, which will be a multi-purpose building, is progressing on schedule.
“Goodfellow Brothers is doing infrastructure work for electrical, water, and sewer, as well as a parking lot, which initially will just be a gravel lot.”
While the infrastructure work is going on, Tannery said that the Esaki Surveying & Mapping crew is finalizing their phase of the project, and as soon as they are done, bids will go out for the first building. That process should take place within the next two months.
“We’re looking at the first building, hopefully within a year,” Tannery said, while contemplating the process involved in erecting that first structure. Ideally, Tannery would like to see the building completed by the end of the year but, realistically, he said it would probably be some time next year before the building is done.
“We’re ready to move now,” Tannery said.
But, there is still more fund-raising that needs to be accomplished. Tannery said the first phase got help from leaders in the Kaua‘i County Housing Agency, through a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant.
Tannery also said that, while the building is being worked on, YMCA officials will also get involvement from leaders and volunteers with the Boys & Girls Club.
“We’re looking forward to working with the Boys & Girls Club,” Tanner said. “The location is perfect. The middle school is in the back, and with the college and Island School as neighbors, it (the complex) is a good fit. We’re definitely excited,” he said.
Tannery is looking forward to a cooperative spirit with all of these institutions, he concluded.
- Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.
