PO‘IPU — Olivia McSweeny has been waiting all year for Thanksgiving. The daughter of Marisa Hurley, the director of catering at the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa, she remembers delivering meals to the lifeguards and firemen during previous Thanksgiving
PO‘IPU — Olivia McSweeny has been waiting all year for Thanksgiving.
The daughter of Marisa Hurley, the director of catering at the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa, she remembers delivering meals to the lifeguards and firemen during previous Thanksgiving and the holidays.
“Mommy, when are we going to bring the food to the firemen?” the young Olivia asked.
This year, Olivia was joined by her brother Lucas as they and Hurley visited the Po‘ipu lifeguard tower with a complete turkey meal including stuffing, yams, gravy and even pumpkin pie dessert.
“This is sticky,” Lucas said while trying to be careful with the foil-covered tray of yams.
The Po‘ipu lifeguard tower had four water safety officers on duty, Thanksgiving.
“We just work,” said Marvin Lum. “Whoever is working on when the holiday falls is who is on duty.”
But Lum said the crowd has been on the lighter side as most people won’t be arriving until after Thanksgiving when winter breaks for schools start.
Justin Tabalno, who had just finished a patrol with Myles Emura, said the Po‘ipu tower has responsibility from between Kipu Kai through Port Allen, a big distance, but the task made easier with the aid of the jet ski.
“Kekaha has a pretty big stretch to cover as well,” he said. “Their territory covers beyond Polihale from Kaumakani.”
Sandwiched between is the Salt Pond tower which does not have a jet ski.
“But we don’t always have to use the jet ski,” Tabalno said. “The Kaua‘i Fire Department also has the Raddon (boat) and that can do quite a bit.”
Diann Hartman, the director of public relations at the Grand Hyatt, said the resort has traditionally provided a Thanksgiving dinner for the lifeguards and fire personnel at the Po‘ipu lifeguard stand, the Koloa and Kalaheo fire stations.
“Olivia is getting an early lesson on giving and volunteering for the benefit of others,” Hartman said.
The Grand Hyatt also provided 400 servings of turkey, stuffing, gravy and dessert for The Salvation Army, Hanapepe Corps, for its annual Community Thanksgiving Lunch, Wednesday.
Emura made sure the thank-you card the lifeguards prepared was not lost, handing it to Hurley after their meal was unloaded.
“We really appreciate what they do for us,” Emura said. “The last time, we had the card, but it got lost. This time, we gotta make sure it goes back to the hotel.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
