Kapa‘a building to get new life as K-PAL youth center

KAPA‘A — The last time the building appeared on the pages of The Garden Island, it was on fire and Kaua‘i Fire Department personnel were working to extinguish the blaze set by vandals in 2007.

Since then, the building has sat unused, overlooking Kuhio Highway, the bike and pedestrian path, and the Pacific Ocean.

All of this will change Saturday when Shioi Construction is scheduled to start repair work on the roof trim and fix leaks that plague the unused building on the grounds of the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital, said Kaua‘i Police Department officer Mark Ozaki.

Ozaki and Lt. Michael Contrades are heading up the Kaua‘i Police Activities League project to convert the unused building into a youth center where practices in the various K-PAL activities can take place.

The second phase of the building which was burned in 2007, is going to be rebuilt with the vision of it being turned into a center where youth can come after school to do homework, receive tutoring and work on computer projects, Contrades said.

“Wrestling is back,” said KPD Sgt. Scott Kaui, a K-PAL wrestling coach.

Kaui had visions of the unused building being converted into a place for youth for a long time, and was on hand to inspect the building and its surroundings before work started.

“Mahelona Hospital has been great in helping us with this project,” Ozaki said. “They offered us a lease of $1 a year for the next 10 years. Needless to say, that lease has already been paid in full.”

Water has been made available to the site and along with the repair work to the building, power washing can now take place to ready it for a fresh coat of paint that will be done by the Rotary Club of Kapa‘a.

“This is not just K-PAL,” Ozaki said. “The community has come forward in a big way There have been many KPD officers coming forward to do volunteer work on the project.”

Contrades said Kaua‘i Police Chief Darryl Perry is behind the project “all the way, and would’ve wanted to join the group, today.”

Ozaki said there are still many ways people can contribute to making the youth center a reality.

Cal Stanny of the Stanny Foundation will match donors of $100 or more to a maximum of $12,500 between now and May 31, Stanny said in a letter to K-PAL.

“We want to encourage people to participate with this project,” Stanny said. “This is not just for residents, but for visitors who want to do something for this island they love.”

Stanny said he was especially impressed with the K-PAL’s approach toward providing athletic and recreational activities that provide valuable lessons in teamwork, self esteem, discipline, sportsmanship and the merits of hard work.

This is done through the combined use of mentoring from police officers and other responsible adults with the theory that the combined use of desirable activities, education and positive mentoring and role modeling resulting in promoting a crime and drug free lifestyle to the youth of Kaua‘i.

Ozaki said the first 125 donors of $100 will have a plaque placed on the Wall of Gratitude which will be a feature of the building.

These funds will be earmarked for the purchase of mats, fitness equipment and repairs to the existing building.

Contrades said some of the many individuals and groups stepping up to help with the project include the Mahelona Hospital and the Hawai‘i Health Care Systems, Cal Stanny and the Stanny Foundation, Charlotte Scheithauer, the Planning Department with Ricky Tsuchiya and Mike Lauretta, the Planning Commission, the Department of Water with Stanley Sarmiento, Virgil Kapanui and Peter Sapinoso, Shioi Construction, Unlimited Construction, Sgt. Robert Gausepohl, Aaron Bandmann, Michael Bandmann Sr., Michael Bandmann Jr., Wendall Bandmann, Sgt. Scott Kaui and his family, M. Kawamura Farm Enterprises, Freddy Levinthol, Ferguson plumbing with Sean Andrade and Joy Pigao, Aaron Bandman Sewer Services, Service Rentals and Guy Higa, Coconut Coast Electric with Gary Green, Falko Partners and mason Joe Enrique.