KILAUEA — The grass area fronting Kilauea School overflowed with cars, but the parking lot was empty save for a truck laden with equipment Saturday. “I’m going to be here all day, and when I’m done, the parking lot is
KILAUEA — The grass area fronting Kilauea School overflowed with cars, but the parking lot was empty save for a truck laden with equipment Saturday.
“I’m going to be here all day, and when I’m done, the parking lot is going to have new stripes,” said a contractor who was asked by the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay to re-stripe the parking lot that showed evidence of the recent rains.
That was part of the service project taken on by the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay in conjunction with the Weinberg Friends Grant Program last weekend.
Thirty-three Rotarians turned out with a symphony of chatter and laughter, occasionally punctuated by a shrill whistle that was set into motion by the drone of gas-powered pressure washers.
“That’s to make sure anyone using the bathroom has to scrub their shoes,” one Rotarian said. “We don’t want to make a mess.”
Early morning sprinkles kept the dust and temperatures at a comfortable level as the volunteer Rotarians took to painting the ceiling and posts of a hallway at the school.
In a press release from the Rotary Club, the Weinberg Grant allows the club to contribute $10,000 to the charity of its choice in exchange for the club doing a community service project of at least four hours duration.
That time limit was exceeded the day before as one Rotarian pointed out that wet T-shirts were the order of the day as a group of them used gas-powered power washers to wash off the mold in preparation for the Saturday painting project.
The charity of choice for the Rotarians is the YWCA to help fund its WOW program, the Rotary release states.
“We are delighted to receive this grant,” said Renae Hamilton, executive director for the YWCA, according to a release from the YWCA. “We want to thank the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay and the Weinberg Foundation for selecting the YWCA to be the recipient of this grant.”
According to the YWCA release, the WOW program is a self-paced learning environment which will help women learn common desktop computing applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel and Access, basic office computer skills, assist in the development of writing skills and create resumes using software-based education.
“By developing these skills, women will have employment opportunities, greater learning potential and career advancement, in addition to increased job satisfaction,” said Debbie DeRoos, Director of Domestic Violence Services in the YWCA release.
DeRoos said these skills will help elevate women’s self-esteem and confidence levels which are key components in a women’s ability to move forward into non-violent relationships.
Last year, the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay, who also constructed the water safety shed at the back of the Hanalei baseyard, worked on repainting and sprucing up the Black Pot Beach Park under the Weinberg Friends Grant Program.
The Kaua‘i Food Bank was the charitable recipient of that service project.
More recently, the Rotary Club raised more than $50,000 for its “Growing Your Own Teachers” program. Recipients to this program will be honored during an upcoming club meeting at the Princeville Resort.
Additionally, the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay announced its upcoming Black and White fundraiser scheduled for Dec. 1, also at the Princeville Resort.
Previous funds from this event were partially responsible for the club’s ability to construct the water safety building which reduces the response time of Kaua‘i’s water safety officers to ocean emergencies.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
