KALAHEO — No, Kujo’s is not closing, said Brenda Jose, the Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol coordinator. “We’ve had all kinds of people commenting on how this place is closing,” she said of the Kalaheo convenience store along Kaumuali‘i
KALAHEO — No, Kujo’s is not closing, said Brenda Jose, the Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol coordinator.
“We’ve had all kinds of people commenting on how this place is closing,” she said of the Kalaheo convenience store along Kaumuali‘i Highway. “Instead, we’re giving the store a facelift to make it more family-friendly and have an opening scheduled for June 18.”
Inspired by an underage drinking presentation several months ago, Jose said several students approached her with the idea of trying to do facelifts in communities with the goal being to reduce the number of signs promoting the sale of alcoholic beverages.
This brought them to Kujo’s Mini Mart where the family operating the business agreed to make over the store’s outward appearance.
Drinking has been a growing concern in the Islands of late. Hilo and Kapa‘a were recently ranked the first- and second-drunkest cities in the nation, respectively, according to a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In addition to replacing the alcoholic beverage signage with more family-friendly ones, student volunteers from around the island rolled up their sleeves to give Kujo’s a new paint job.
Like the caterpillar which changes into a butterfly, Kujo’s is currently in the chrysalis stage as student volunteers scramble to transform the store’s interior.
“The big jobs are being left to the professionals,” Jose said. “Sign Art has been contracted to do those, but in the meantime, I’ve been studying the sign ordinances to make sure everything is okay.”
With a theme of “Youth Designed, Adult Supported,” the project has about 90 percent of the interior alcohol advertisements, banners and signs already removed, Jose said. “Our volunteer numbers are modest. Yet, a little will go a long way.”
Zack Octavio was working on an ice cream corner, laying out the final coats of resin for the countertop.
“This is a good project,” Octavio said. “The kids are putting what they learn into practice, and for Kujo’s, we need to gear up so this works out well.”
Jose said the Kujo’s store makeover open house will take place from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Team Kujo’s Youth Leaders will host the event with an inspirational talk by Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and treats while supplies last.
Jose said anyone who wants to participate and volunteer in this project, or help with spreading awareness of underage drinking, can contact her at bjose@kauai.gov or call 241-4926.
