LIHU‘E — Lawrence Mendonca, the father of Sandy Mendonca Galas, whom the golf tournament is named for, wanted to sit out playing golf Sunday during the YWCA of Kaua‘i Never Forget Sandy G golf tournament that was sold out at 144 golfers at the Ocean Course at Hokuala.
“One of the groups didn’t show,” said Renae Hamilton-Cambeilh, the YWCA of Kaua‘i director. “So Larry decided he would play. He’s out there now.”
Hamilton-Cambeilh was monitoring activity on the silent auction table that was tagged onto the tournament at the final hour.
Designed for non-golfers to drop in and make bids during tournament play, the table held a number of hotel stays, golf play, pool passes, autographed sports jersies and a birthday party from Lappert’s Ice Cream and Coffee.
“We’re so grateful and appreciative of the support from the 144 golfers playing today,” Hamilton-Cambeilh said. “We are also thankful for the sponsorships — we had a record-breaking number of sponsors for this event that was named to remember Sandy Mendonca Galas, who was found dead at her home’s garage in 2006.”
As the tournament worked through its 18 holes, the YWCA of Kaua‘i prepares for its next project, the Mana Wahine Mural Project that is scheduled to start this month with the Kamawaelualani’s Mo‘olelo Murals Project.
“We’re in the final stages of discussion on the design for the mural,” Hamilton-Cambeilh said. “Once that’s done, the mural can start on the west-facing wall of the YWCA of Kaua‘i building located on Hardy Street.”
Nikki Cristobal of Kamawaelualani announced the project that will be done collaboratively with the YWCA of Kaua‘i and the Mo‘olelo Murals starting in mid-August and throughout September.
“We will be painting on Mondays and Fridays,” Cristobal said. “We will be hosting community paint and learn days on these days from 10 a.m. to noon and from 2 to 4 p.m. at the YWCA of Kaua‘i.”
Cristobal said the community paint days are free and open to the public.
“We especially want youth from age 10 and up to be involved so we can teach and mentor them about culture, arts and community,” she said. “Community members will paint alongside us, putting their mana into the mural. Painters will also learn about the contents of the mural, which is powerful women of Kaua‘i and kanaka art forms such as hula and kapa.”
The Mana Wahine Mural Project is sponsored by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s Kukulu Ola Grant, the Native Hawaiian and Indigenous Summer Health Academy, and through the aloha of the Kaua‘i community.
A mural-reveal event will be announced following the completion of the project.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
