WAILUA — It has taken a group of local residents and community volunteers more than three years to begin construction on a dog park in Wailua Homesteads Park. But it only took one night and one act to set those
WAILUA — It has taken a group of local residents and community volunteers more than three years to begin construction on a dog park in Wailua Homesteads Park.
But it only took one night and one act to set those efforts back.
On Sunday night or early Monday morning, a thief or group of thieves removed and stole two 6-foot tall entry gates from the 1.5-acre dog park, located next to the pavilion, playground and tennis court areas.
Wailua Homesteads resident Tommy Tokuda, who along with wife Rene helped spearhead efforts for the dog park, said the theft happened sometime between 5 p.m. Sunday, when he left the park for the day, and about 8 a.m. Monday, when the park’s fencing contractor called him.
“We’re kind of bummed,” Tommy Tokuda said by phone on Monday. “It’s just one of those things, you know?”
The theft, he said, happened only a few days after a contractor installed the metal gates on Friday.
Michael Sorensen, executive director at Malama Pono Health Services, which serves as the fiscal sponsor between the community dog park group and the county, said there is no available cash to replace the newly installed gates — one of the last projects needed to get the dog park up and running.
“It’s a shame because there isn’t a dog park on that side of the island,” Sorensen said.
“It’s an invaluable resource not only for the dogs but for their owners as well because it reinforces community-building efforts.”
The County of Kauai awarded a $35,000 grant for dog park building supplies to Malama Pono last May.
Although specific costs for the stolen gates haven’t been determined, about $2,300 was spent to install all six gates within the dog park, including two maintenance area gates and four gates for the two double-gated entry areas into the enclosed 1-acre play area for large dogs and half-acre play area for small dogs under 30 pounds.
Department of Parks and Recreation Director Lenny Rapozo wrote in an email that enough material is leftover from the project to make replacement gates but explained the hardware for the new gates will have to be purchased.
Although a date hadn’t been set for an opening ceremony for the park, the thefts could push back its grand opening, although how long hasn’t been determined, either.
“It’s sad that people would steal something that was made by a volunteer for the benefit of dog owners and their pets,” Rapozo wrote. “Hopefully, we can have the new gates installed very soon.”
Wailua Homesteads resident Jan Woo, who owns pet treat company Barkaroo Bakery, said she was looking forward to walks in the park with her 13-year-old miniature schnauzer once it opened.
This recent act, however, has set those plans back.
“The people who have kept the effort going have worked hard and it’s so upsetting to see this happen,” Woo said. “This is a major setback. I think it’s shocking and disappointing that it would happen to these people.”
As of press time Monday, information about the theft was unavailable from the Kauai Police Department.
Anyone with information on this incident can contact Kauai police at 241-1711. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call CrimeStoppers at 241-1887.
For dog park donation information, contact Donna Pickard at donna.pickard@gmail.com.
• Darin Moriki, county government reporter, can be reached at 245-0428 or dmoriki@thegardenisland.com. Follow him on Twitter at @darinmoriki.
