Tuesday was like Christmas for Chucky Boy Chock, Kaua‘i Museum executive director.
“I don’t know,” Chock said. “I got a phone call from Kerri Mulligan from Island Comfort Air Conditioning, and she said something like ‘Merry Christmas,’ or something like that.”
Outside, the crew from Island Comfort Air Conditioning, including Albert Mulligan, John Small, Rocky Gan and electrician Edwin Abalos, took advantage of the museum’s scheduled closure to install an air-conditioning unit valued at approximately $6,000 into the soon-to-open exhibit hall.
“As a nonprofit, we had to divert funding to other areas, especially during this pandemic,” Chock said. “We were going to try and find a donor to cover the air-conditioning costs. What a terrific blessing this is for us.”
Kerri Mulligan explained the situation to Island Comfort Air Conditioning Owner Ken Starr, who said the company will just donate the unit.
“As a resident growing up here, the Kaua‘i Museum has always been a special place for me,” said Chrissy Wright-Callejo of Island Comfort. “When I found out Ken is donating the air conditioning, I was so happy we were going to do this.”
Kerri Mulligan said Island Comfort does contributions like this to touch the community, to make an impact for the people who receive the contribution.
“I moved here to take over the office from O‘ahu about a year ago,” she said. “This is so different than O‘ahu. People here are so generous, and do what they can to help other people.”
Island Comfort is no stranger to helping the community, including donating air-conditioning equipment and back-to-school supplies to the Boys &Girls Club of Hawai‘i Lihu‘e Clubhouse, cooling equipment to a South Shore fitness center, and more.
“They’re so happy,” Chock said as the crew worked through the installation. “They’re taking advantage of us being closed to the public today. They said I can turn it on today.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
