‘ELE‘ELE — The sound of power saws and jack hammers ripped open the quiet Saturday-morning atmosphere of ‘Ele‘ele, as over a hundred volunteers turned out to launch the latest Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity housing project. Real-estate professionals, members of community
‘ELE‘ELE — The sound of power saws and jack hammers ripped open the quiet Saturday-morning atmosphere of ‘Ele‘ele, as over a hundred volunteers turned out to launch the latest Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity housing project.
Real-estate professionals, members of community agencies, and retailers were just some of the volunteers who continuously flowed through the site where four new houses were being worked on through the efforts of leaders of Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity.
In addition to the adult volunteers, students from Kaua‘i High School, Waimea High School, and even Boy Scouts from as far away as Kapa‘a, joined the flow of volunteers.
Becky Sakimae, one of the real-estate-professional volunteers, said, “Look at Niko (Elvenia), who just graduated Kaua‘i High School. It’s good that students come out to do projects like this.”
Georgia Mossman, one of the Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity board members, was busy coordinating the volunteer effort from the shelter of a tent. From her vantage point, she said, “There must be over a hundred people here, and there are more coming.”
Throughout the morning, people flowed through the work site, one Habitat volunteer noting, “They told us to come here to get the tools, but the tools are all gone, so I guess we do it by hand.”
Annette Creamer, Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity executive director, said she was pleased with the turnout, noting that the group stopped for a formal blessing of the project around 8:45 a.m. before seriously rolling up sleeves and tending to the business of building houses.
“We have Realtors, A&B (Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.) people, Kauai Coffee, and Home Depot,” Creamer pointed out. “You can tell the Home Depot people. They’re the ones with the bright-orange shirts.”
Catherine “Hokulani” Shiningstar, Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity resource development director, noted that The Home Depot leaders not only provided labor for the massive building effort that kicked off the ‘Ele‘ele project. Shiningstar added that The Home Depot officials also provided several grants to Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity leaders, one of their $5,000 checks on display at the central information tent where volunteers checked in.
She also noted that the four homes have already been allocated to local families: the Sierra, Brun, Fernandez, and Yamamoto ‘ohana.
Those families had volunteers on hand, and were absorbed into the sea of workers, as they have to provide at least 700 hours of service as part of their eligibility for home ownership.
Wes Kaui, Dan Miyamoto and Ezra Kanoho were on hand, representing the Kaua‘i Police Department, although Kaui and Miyamoto wore dual shirts, Kaui’s wife Trinette Kaui being a part of the A&B Hawai‘i crew, while Miyamoto’s wife Jan was one of the leaders for The Home Depot crew.
Shiningstar said that, now that the project is under way, Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity leaders need volunteers to ensure that the homes are finished.
She said she is in the process of starting a volunteer database for people who are willing to come out and spend a few hours on the project, so the prospective home-owners can see their homes finished.
Shiningstar said volunteers are needed on a regular basis for a couple of hours on Wednesdays and Fridays, starting from about 4 p.m. or 5 p.m., and working until sunset. On Saturdays and Sundays, volunteers are needed between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
To sign up, volunteers or leaders of groups may contact Shiningstar at 335-0296 or 651-1652.
Across the road, one of the residents was hosting a garage sale, and despite the offering of refreshments by the Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity tent, a sign offering “Ice Cold Water $1” appeared as the sun turned up its rays a notch.
- Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.
