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Kaua‘i Veterans Cemetery plan update

Congressional mandate requires all veterans cemeteries be maintained as National Shrines, a lasting tribute to America’s veterans and their families. It is intended that each cemetery will inspire visitors to understand and appreciate military service and individual sacrifice.

There are currently 131 national veterans cemeteries in 39 states, and an unknown number of state veterans cemeteries conveniently located within close proximity to loved ones and friends. While national cemeteries are funded directly by the VA, costs to maintain state cemeteries rest with each respective state. Through the VA’s State Cemetery Grant program, states may compete for VA funding to construct and improve their cemeteries, provided they are in compliance with VA’s lofty regulations. Tri-annual assessments are conducted to ensure that the same standards of excellence required of national cemeteries are met by state cemeteries before any VA grant funding is approved.

Hawai‘i law designates the Hawai‘i Office of Veterans Services (HOVS) as responsible for the VA grant program; it further delegates each county the responsibility for daily operation and maintenance of their respective cemeteries.

Beginning in 2006, HOVS initiated a statewide campaign to advise and educate local county officials on the requirements of the VA state grant program. Following a number of formal assessments by representatives of HOVS, state Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs (DoVA), a review of statewide cemetery master plans was initiated. An international planning, design and consulting firm based in Hawai‘i was contracted to assess the feasibility of the existing plan, implement recommended changes, and ensure compliance with standards established by the DoVA.

For the Kaua‘i Veterans Cemetery, that review is complete, and on May 8 the Senior Project Manager for Belt Collins Hawai‘i, Ltd. briefed the County Planning Commission and members of the Kaua‘i veterans community on state-planned and DoVA-funded upgrades and improvements at Kaua‘i Veterans Cemetery. They included:

• New columbaria: The purchase and location of three additional columbaria near the existing committal shelter has been approved and construction is expected to be completed in June 2012.

• New maintenance facility: The location and floor plan of a maintenance building to securely house cemetery equipment on cemetery grounds has been approved. Construction is expected to begin in early 2013 with completion in 2014.

 • New pedestrian and main gate and entry sign: Approval for the fabrication of both a pedestrian and main gate at the entrances to the cemetery has been approved, as was new Kaua‘i Veterans Cemetery signage. Completion of construction is expected in 2014/2015.

• New stone wall along Lele Road: The expansion of the existing stone wall in front of the cemetery to cover the entire length of the cemetery fenceline is projected for 2014/2015.

• Transfer of land from state DLNR to Kaua‘i County for cemetery expansion: The transfer of six acres of land behind the existing committal shelter to allow for future cemetery expansion is expected in 2014/2015.

 • Realign entranceway and redesign committal shelter: As the cemetery continues to expand over the coming years, the farmland area behind the existing committal shelter will be graded and developed into future cemetery grounds. As this happens, the existing shelter will undergo a redesign and addition of a family waiting area. A cluster of added columbaria, an expansion of the existing paved access road and parking area is also in the works. The current main access road to the flagpole and committal areas will be removed, and the redesign will include a graded, landscaped walkway assessable to pedestrians only. A new irrigation system will round off this phase of the Kaua‘i Veterans Cemetery master plan and completion is projected in 2020.

• SgtMaj Tony Elliott USMC (Ret) is a member of the Hawai‘i Office of Veterans Services on Kaua‘i. Questions? Call 241-3348.