NIUMALU — Dr. Carl Berg was anticipating planting native plants Saturday. “This is my planting shirt,” Berg said. “I didn’t think we were going to be painting. At least, the shirt is white so it’ll do as a painting shirt.”
NIUMALU — Dr. Carl Berg was anticipating planting native plants Saturday.
“This is my planting shirt,” Berg said. “I didn’t think we were going to be painting. At least, the shirt is white so it’ll do as a painting shirt.”
Berg was one of the volunteers who turned out to help the Rotary Club of Kauai with its Weinberg Friends project.
Under terms of the Weinberg Friends project, the Rotary Club performs a service project with a minimum number of adult volunteers. In return, the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation awards a nonprofit $10,000.
This year’s organization is the YWCA of Kauai. Last year, it was the Kauai Independent Food Bank.
Renaé Hamilton, YWCA of Kauai director, said the organization appreciates the award.
“We recently acquired the mobile Boys & Girls Club outreach vehicle,” Hamilton said Sunday during the Kauai Humane Society Fast & Furriest event. “Right now, the vehicle is being repaired and made ready to get back on the road. Funds from this award will help us launch a YWCA of Kauai outreach program to reach more people around the island.”
Berg was using his muscle to rid the ceiling and walls of an accumulation of staples from the numerous parties at the pavilion.
“A lot of us belong to several organizations,” Berg said. “Today, I can be a Rotarian and still belong to Malama Hule‘ia. They said we were going to be doing work in the Puali Stream Wetland.”
The Niumalu Pavilion sits prominently to the entrance of the wetland which was recently cleared of its invasive mangrove.
Sarah Bowen of Malama Hule‘ia said she envisions the pavilion to eventually become a source of education for the increasing number of people who stop by the Puali Stream Wetland.
“The Rotary Club of Kauai’s efforts at painting this pavilion helps us tremendously,” Bowen said.
On one of the walls, plans are to install historical photos of the area with notes and history. The other wall will house a ceramic mosaic of the Hawaiian Moon calendar by Kathleen Ho.
Work on the mosaic will be done by youth at Hale Opio with guidance from Ho.
