ANAHOLA – If U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawai‘i, had been present yesterday, the perfect ho‘okupu (gift) to him would have been the smiles and sense of pride of Anahola residents at the dedication of Ka Hale Pono ‘Ohana Education Center.
ANAHOLA – If U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawai‘i, had been present yesterday, the perfect ho‘okupu (gift) to him would have been the smiles and sense of pride of Anahola residents at the dedication of Ka Hale Pono ‘Ohana Education Center.
Inouye was key to getting the project underway by working through Kaua‘i Community College in securing a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant that funded the community-resource center finally dedicated on Monday afternoon.
Cathy Simao, who was with the Queen Lili‘uokalani Children’s Center as a facilitator at the inception of the process, explained that there were a lot of community meetings about what would be the final product of this HUD grant.
Working through heated debates from various members of the Anahola community, it was finally agreed that youth are the town’s most precious commodity, and the final goal should be a youth-education center.
“It was the Queen’s (Lili‘uokalani) desire for each child to have a good start in life,” Simao said. “Because of you, it is possible to see new and exciting things for Anahola’s youth,” she told those present, including Anahola residents and representatives of numerous community agencies and organizations.
Kaua‘i Community College officials got involved by representing the lead agency to receive the federal grant, and providing the lead in getting the building located next to the Anahola Clubhouse built and furnished.
KCC Chancellor Peggy Cha said she was pleased with the project. Ka Hale Pono allowed the University of Hawai‘i system and KCC an opportunity to partner with other community agencies to help island communities.
Cha said there are many agencies whose members are willing to bring services out to the community, but there was no suitable Anahola facility until Ka Hale Pono was built.
Computers for the center’s computer facilities were provided through the HUD rural-development project, and seats were donated by community individuals, noted Cha as she pointed out the plaque designating her contribution made in memory of her grandparents.
But, the project is not limited to the youth, as there are already partnerships with the state Community School for Adults, which is aiming at providing computer-literacy programs for adults as well.
Gordon Furatani, the HUD representative, congratulated the community leaders for the work and perseverance that led to Monday’s dedication, and said the heated discussions he was present at demonstrated the strong passion community residents have.
The HUD grant that made Ka Hale Pono possible did more than build a building. It provided the means of having people come together and participate in achieving a vision, he said.
Furatani said, borrowing a hand-written sign posted at Hale O Anahola clubhouse, said, “this is your facility to enjoy, and not to destroy.”
Inouye is scheduled to visit the facility next month.
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.
