WAILUA — “I came with my mom when I was super young,” Robin Fisher recollected while working to repaint some of the artwork at the Kamalani Playground Saturday. “Now, I haven’t been home (from college) for even a week yet,
WAILUA — “I came with my mom when I was super young,” Robin Fisher recollected while working to repaint some of the artwork at the Kamalani Playground Saturday.
“Now, I haven’t been home (from college) for even a week yet, and I’m here helping out,” Fisher said. “My mom is here, too, helping out.”
Robin Fisher was in elementary school when the Kamalani Playground was built about 11 years ago, and Saturday’s work day is part of a routine that helps to keep the popular play area safe and in good condition for people to enjoy.
At Saturday’s work day, Fisher was joined by Kapa‘a High School students Noe Bustamente and Cyndel Shigematsu, as they worked to restore some of the major artwork in one of the passageways, Bustamente letting go of a surprised scream from a bump as she stood up, not realizing that the passageway was not as tall as she is.
Tim Bynum, one of the original spark plugs for the Kamalani project, was working to replace aging, rubber-covered chains that make up a spider web.
“November will be the 11th anniversary of Kamalani,” Bynum said. “It’s been here for 10 and a half years, and things get worn out,” said Bynum, clearly remembering the vision of a little boy that led to the creation of the spider-web portion of the playground.
Thomas Noyes, who was busy coordinating the volunteers, flow of tools, and tasks that needed to be accomplished, flitted from work group to work group to make sure everyone was being taken care of.
Marlys Matheus, one of the volunteers, was working at applying green paint. “My knees aren’t what they used to be, so I have a hard time going down.” But, that didn’t stop her from moving from location to location, as dust and sawdust pushed her to the different areas around the play structure.
“You missed me,” Jackie Levy said. “I was underneath the play structure with a face full of dirt.” Levy was working with Chris Hayden on replacing lumber on a section of the playground that gets heavy use.
“We just painted the sidewalk (artwork), and it made a big difference,” another volunteer piped in.
Carla Jensen, an accountant visiting from Northern California, was busy behind a power saw, ripping 45-degree angles on replacement pieces of lumber.
“I have family here and in California, (and) cabinet-making is what I like to do,” she said.
More work days are planned for the play structure in Lydgate Park, and people interested need to stay tuned for the next update.
- Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.
