HANAMA‘ULU — Some 40 people attended the recent unveiling of two new Hanama‘ulu town signs that were installed at the Kuhio Highway and Hanama‘ulu Road junction, a county news release states. One sign welcomes visitors to the town, while the
HANAMA‘ULU — Some 40 people attended the recent unveiling of two new Hanama‘ulu town signs that were installed at the Kuhio Highway and Hanama‘ulu Road junction, a county news release states.
One sign welcomes visitors to the town, while the other, located on the opposite side of the street, marks the site of Peter Rayno Sr. Park.
The sign project was a collaborative effort. The Hanama‘ulu Neighborhood Association and Garden Island Resource Conservation and Development Inc. spearheaded the project; Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau provided the funding for the signs; Dale Matsuura with the Department of Public Works designed the signs; Sign Art was hired to create the signs; and Waele A Ola Hou, a county anti-drug program, provided funding for the unveiling celebration.
“Through our partnership with Kaua‘i’s visitor industry, we were able to provide a one-time funding for the Hanama‘ulu community and give them a sign that represents their partnership and pride of making Hanama‘ulu a better place to live,” said Sue Kanoho, executive director of the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau.
Representing Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. at the unveiling, Parks and Recreation Director Lenny Rapozo expressed his appreciation to all the parties involved in the sign project and noted the significance of the new town signs.
“These signs give visitors the message that they are welcome in this community … they can go to Hanama‘ulu Beach Park and enjoy themselves … they can patronize Hanama‘ulu businesses and get good value for their money … and they can visit family and friends that live here … because they are welcome in Hanama‘ulu,” he said.
Rapozo said town signs help to instill pride in its residents.
Expanding on this concept, Eddie Sarita, HNA president, said, “Ever since our association was established nearly two years ago, our primary mission has been to build community. All of our projects are geared towards developing a sense of pride in our residents.”
Last year, an extensive clean-up of Hanama‘ulu Beach Park was led by HNA in collaboration with the county, Waele A Ola Hou, and numerous community groups and individuals.
Since then, the beach park has been regularly maintained by HNA and other volunteers and routinely checked by the police department and county park rangers, resulting in a tremendous reduction in drug–related activities in the area and making it possible for families to enjoy the beach park once again.
Other ongoing projects initiated by HNA include: maintenance of the Filipino and Japanese county cemeteries in the area, a graffiti program with a 48-hour response time, and bingo nights at the Hanama‘ulu Beach Park.
In 2006, the Hanamaulu community was selected for the Waele A Ola Hou program.
Modeled after the U.S. Justice Department’s Weed & Seed program, the primary aim of Waele A Ola Hou is to prevent, control and reduce violent crime, drug abuse and gang activity in a neighborhood and to plant the seeds for a strong community.
The program involves all segments of the community working collaboratively — including schools, churches, youth groups, kupuna, businesses and government agencies — to achieve its goals.
For more information about the Hanama‘ulu Neighborhood Association, call Sarita at 346-0090.
