Tomorrow, Saturday, June 25, starting from 8 a.m., playground equipment will be installed at Hanapepe Cliffside Park. It will mark the culmination of a series of discussions, meetings, grant-writing sessions, community work and fun events at the park, and much
Tomorrow, Saturday, June 25, starting from 8 a.m., playground equipment will be installed at Hanapepe Cliffside Park.
It will mark the culmination of a series of discussions, meetings, grant-writing sessions, community work and fun events at the park, and much more, according to county leaders.
A celebration is being planned for Saturday, July 9.
Earlier, the children of Hanapepe Cliffside giggled as they peeped through the gate of the Hanapepe Cliffside Park, watching as the cement truck started pouring cement for the foundation built by community members for the first playground equipment for the park.
Kathleen West-Hurd was filled with emotion as the cement truck started reversing into the park.
County Community-Response Specialist Theresa Koki had to hold back some tears as well.
“This is like a dream come true for so many people in the Hanapepe Cliffside community,” said Koki.
Steve Hurd, husband of Kathleen Hurd, said that they barely slept the night before. Kathleen Hurd was like a little kid waiting for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, her husband said.
People started to walk to the park from surrounding homes with tools and kids in tow. One neighbor stopped by to check what was going on, then later came back with lunch for everyone.
Another claimed that this was the first time she ever volunteered for anything, and that she enjoyed it.
A few years ago, having playground equipment in the park was just something that was talked about, with neighbors never thinking that as a community of people working together they could get it done, Koki said.
Through networking with past and present community volunteers at the Ka Leo O Kaua‘i meetings held at the Hanapepe armory, this idea started progressing with each meeting, Koki said.
Grants were applied for, meetings scheduled with officials in the County of Kaua‘i Department of Public Works Parks Division, County Council hearings were attended, and various park events were held, like community work days, and even some fun events, like the ice-cream social, Koki commented.
All the Kaua‘i Fire Department personnel from the Hanapepe fire station came and served ice cream to the children, and took them on the fire engine.
Steve Hurd, who fixes up computers, then gives them away to the community children, offered a rebuilt computer as a prize for the ice-cream social event.
“Through this volunteer effort, we were able to enter into partnerships with local businesses and community organizations” said Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste.
“This also provided an opportunity to engage the youth of our community to actively participate in a project that they can take ownership in,” he added.
“I’m so proud of this community. Their energy, heart and dedication are truly what makes Kaua‘i so special.”
Koki said that, at each community-playground event, whether it was a work day or a fun day, always included were drug and safety messages for the children.
“We are not just helping them build a playground,” Koki said, “but we are helping them build their future.”
- For more information on this community effort or the Ka Leo O Kaua‘i Program, please call Koki, 241-6246.
