LIHU‘E — Kahu Jade Wai‘ale‘ale Battad said, personally, the Kaua‘i Veterans Museum almost always makes you feel better than when you enter the museum located inside the Kaua‘i Veterans Center on Veterans Memorial Highway.
She relayed the saga of retired General Myron Dobashi, who is a neighbor of hers. When speaking to her son about the general, the youngster was amazed — “He fought in a war?”
When she toured the museum ahead of the blessing marking the “soft opening” of the museum that has been closed for the past four years due to renovation work and upgrading the facility, she said when she saw the Gen. Myron Dobashi section, she nearly broke down, realizing the depth of sacrifice all of the veterans put on the line so we can live the way we live.
“There is still a lot of work that needs to be done,” said veteran David Hall.
Retired General Mary Kay Hertog, commander of the Kaua‘i Veterans Council — “We’re all connected,” Hertog said not all of the artifacts are out on display. “But we’ll get them out on a rotation basis.”
Hertog said after the Kaua‘i Veterans Council realized they would have to close the museum due to the extent of work needing to be done during the renovation, there were scores of volunteers, including Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami, who came out to help with the work.
Specifically, Jeffrey Callejo of the Kaua‘i Line Dance Group even donated items from his family collection to the museum in addition to holding fundraising events to help with the renovation work.
A Kaua‘i Line Dance Group member said they will host another fundraising event later in September to help the Kaua‘i Veterans Museum.
First Hawaiian Bank and the Grove Farm Company provided grants that helped pay for the new equipment, and Hertog said, the East Kaua‘i Lions Club was helping almost each time there was a work day.
Aida Cruz, of the Kaua‘i Veterans Center, said the soft opening means that visitors are welcome to browse the museum for free during weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“We’ll be having a bigger event, perhaps in November, for a grand opening,” Cruz said.
