HANALEI — The Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay is taking action on the need for repairs to the iconic Hanalei Pier on the North Shore. “We have become concerned about the deteriorating condition of the shed structure at the end
HANALEI — The Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay is taking action on the need for repairs to the iconic Hanalei Pier on the North Shore.
“We have become concerned about the deteriorating condition of the shed structure at the end of the Hanalei Pier and are mounting a repair project for its protection,” Branch Lotspeich, the club’s community service committee chair, said in an e-mail.
Lotspeich said the shed was last repaired in the early 1990s and the roof, in particular, is now in serious need of replacement.
The Rotary Club made its announcement at its annual Black and White Ball, Dec. 4, and since then, has set a goal to raise $200,000. Lotspiech said the actual cost of the repair is about $110,000, but the club needs to raise more to establish a contingency fund as well as have funds to support year-to-year maintenance.
The Hanalei Pier, located by the county Black Pot Park, is owned by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and is operated by its Kaua‘i Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation.
Lotspeich said he has spoken with DLNR and Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. about the project and both parties have expressed support for the undertaking.
He added that DLNR may even be able to contribute some of the materials needed for the repair project.
With those initial steps taken, Lotspiech said the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay plans to coordinate a community discussion of the work to be done, emphasizing that the shed is to be repaired in a manner as to not change its appearance and staying true to its historic standing.
“The Hanalei Pier was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, and is significant as one of the last remaining remnants of the rice industry in Hanalei as well as being perhaps the single most worldwide recognized feature of Kaua‘i,” Lotspeich said. “As the chairperson for the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay Community Services Committee, I have begun discussions with various community entities about this project.”
Lotspiech said he has met with or would appreciate input from DLNR, the North Shore community, the Kaua‘i Historical Society, the Kaua‘i Historic Preservation Commission, the Mayor’s Office and other county departments, as required.
During the Black and White Ball when the initial announcement was made, Lotspiech said more than $3,000 was pledged from that function alone.
“There has also been major support pledged from a local contractor,” Lotspiech said. “Everywhere we have looked so far, the community has voiced its desire to see this project through.”
The Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay has a history of taking on important community projects. In 2009, the club worked to renovate the central courtyard at Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital for its patients and their families to use.
Two years prior to the courtyard renovation, the club constructed the Hanalei Ocean Safety Building for the water safety officers of the North Shore, and more recently, built an office inside that building, Lotspiech said.
Earlier this month, Lotspiech was part of the installation of the 100th rescue tube at Kealia Beach with Dr. Monty Downs, the Rotary Clubs of Hanalei Bay and Po‘ipu Beach, along with Coldwell Banker Bali Hai Realty.
“In January, we are honored to be part of the Weinberg Foundation Friends program again,” Lotspiech said. “The Rotary Club will volunteer to clean and repaint the restrooms and shower stalls at Black Pot Beach Park, and the Weinberg Foundation will donate $10,000 to our selected non-profit organization, the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank, for its support of food pantries on the North Shore.”
Lotspiech said he and the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay are excited about their community service activities and are now organized for a successful repair of the Hanalei Pier shed.
People wanting to contribute to the repair fund for the Hanalei Pier shed can send contributions to The Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay Foundation, P. O. Box 1495, Hanalei, HI 96714. The check should indicate the donation is for the Hanalei Pier repair project.
E-mail:HanaleiPier@gmail.com for more information.
