Reese dedicates volleyball court

Professional volleyball player and supermodel Gabrielle Reese, who is married to Hanalei boy Laird Hamilton, earlier this week presided over dedication activities for the state’s only sand volleyball court at a public school .

But the students couldn’t play on it, because it wasn’t quite finished .

In typical Hawai‘i-, Kaua‘i- and Hanalei-time fashion, more time is needed before enough sand is brought in to fill the hole where the court will eventually be .

But that didn’t stop the dedication ceremonies, and didn’t stop Reese, holding daughter Reece Hamilton, 2, in her arms part of the time, from offering a volleyball clinic to excited students .

Local volleyball players joined in to teach the students the finer points of beach volleyball, and how to enjoy the sport safely .

Public and private donations, including around $5,000 for the sand alone, led to the project’s near-completion, explained Tiffany Spencer, a Hanalei School parent and former reporter for KGMB news (channel 9) .

Around 100 cubic yards of sand, or around 150 tons, were donated, or purchased from funds donated to leaders of the school’s Parent Teacher Student Association .

County officials loaned the use of Department of Public Works dump trucks to deliver the sand, and other donations allowed the purchase of the net and balls .

Community-member “sweat equity” led to the construction of the court, said Spencer .

Hanalei School parent Caridyn Colburn, a PTSA officer, was instrumental in getting Reese to campus, Spencer said .

Originally intending to return to their Maui home earlier this week, Laird Hamilton ended up spending most of yesterday doing some tow-in surfing in Hanalei Bay, where 25-foot waves were rolling in .

Gabrielle Reese and Reece Hamilton enjoyed the beach and waters far away from the pounding surf, along with Spencer and others .

• Paul C. Curtis, associate editor, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com .