LIHU‘E — The roundabout on Olohena Road in Kapa‘a is about to get a facelift, thanks to the efforts of the Kapa‘a Business Association. After about a year of planning and fundraising, KBA is ready to start the beautification project
LIHU‘E — The roundabout on Olohena Road in Kapa‘a is about to get a facelift, thanks to the efforts of the Kapa‘a Business Association.
After about a year of planning and fundraising, KBA is ready to start the beautification project and recently received a boost in the form of a $1,000 grant from the County of Kaua‘i.
“The Olohena Road roundabout is the first of its kind in the state, but since day one has been in dire need of sprucing up. Basically, it’s an eyesore,” said KBA Vice President Bob Bartolo. “We are thankful for the many partners who are coming together to create a work of art where there is presently just concrete.”
Students from Kapa‘a Middle School, under the leadership of Mary Lardizabal, are participating in the project by collecting recycled glass that will be used to create a raised ocean seascape on the roundabout.
Craig Hull of Kaua‘i Nursery and Landscaping has completed the design and will use the recycled glass to assemble the artwork.
Most of the project funding came from an $18,000 grant that KBA received from the State’s Transportation Enhancement Program in early 2012. KBA also donated $1,000.
The county’s portion is provided through a contract with the State Department of Health via the Advance Disposal Fee program. ADF requires importers to pay a tax on incoming non-deposit glass containers. The funds collected are used to develop programs to recover and develop local end uses for recycled glass.
“This is such a great project and the county is happy to support the beautification of the roundabout while promoting recycling at the same time,” said Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. “We applaud KBA for bringing the students and other partners together on a project we can all be proud of.”
Bartolo says they’re ready to start construction, but could still use monetary donations to create ceramic dolphins and turtles to enhance the seascape artwork.
“Anyone interested in supporting the project can call me at 639-8080,” Bartolo said.
