KOLOA — Richard Jim wasn’t sure what the plans were for Saturday morning, so he asked his wife, Jenny.
“She said, ‘Oh, you can come with me and clean the Tree Tunnel,’” he said, laughing.
And soon, that’s exactly what they were doing, joined by about 100 others on the annual cleanup day in preparation for the upcoming Koloa Plantation Days.
Richard Jim carried a plastic trash bag as he and his wife scoured the roadside for anything that didn’t belong there — cans, bottles, wrappers, cigarettes.
Since it was a cool, breezy morning, the Kekaha man said he enjoyed his duties under the tall eucalyptus trees and considered it a way to get some exercise, too.
“So it’s fine,” he said, smiling.
Jenny Jim grinned as she recounted how she got her husband to take part in the community project for the first time.
“I dragged him out,” she said.
Jenny Jim does CrossFit and is with the Keala Foundation, which brought out about 40 volunteers. They raked, they trimmed, they cut and they cleared.
“I just wanted to give back,” she said.
No Ka Oi Landscape Services also brought out many of its team, wearing bright orange, including Gordon Ka‘aumoana, who wielded a weed whacker.
“It’s all good,” he said.
When asked why it was important for him to be there, he said, “helping each other out.”
Spirits were high during the beautification project of the “Gateway to the South Shore” that unites volunteers with county crews to trim brush and branches and pick up garbage tossed to the side of the famous and busy road.
County crews handled the heavy machinery, while volunteers took on the lighter tasks.
During the closure of Maluhia Road, from Kaumualii Highway to Ala Kino‘iki junction, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., traffic was diverted to Piko, Omao and Koloa roads.
The Tree Tunnel beautification project is spearheaded by Koloa Plantation Days in partnership with community organizations.
When their work was done, volunteers were treated to food and drink at Anne S. Knudsen Park, but most said they hardly considered it work.
Volunteer and organizer Bertram Almeida said the cleanup is a rare chance to enjoy the Tree Tunnel without traffic.
“It’s a blessing to be here,” he said.
A man named Lee, who declined to give his last name, has joined the effort for several years.
“Since they started,” he said.
“Everybody says ‘you gotta give back to the community.’ This is our way of giving back.”
Aaron Hoff, founder of the Keala Foundation and operator of the free CrossFit programs for youth in Poipu and Kekaha, walked the Tree Tunnel with a big smile, enjoying the day.
“It’s just being part of the community. It’s what we do,” he said.
Juan Gonzalez, CrossFit coach and program director, said much of the discarded trash they collected — soda cans, beer bottles, candy wrappers and chip bags, was “a lot of stuff you shouldn’t be eating or drinking.”
But he was glad to clean up with Koloa Plantation Days about to begin and sure to attract huge crowds.
“We want to make sure this place looks great,” he said.
•••
Bill Buley, editor-in-chief, can be reached at 245-0457 or bbuley@thegardenisland.com.
