KALAHEO — Kaua‘i Retired and Senior Volunteer Program volunteer Sandra Gage said it wasn’t raining Tuesday when she and husband Reggie Gage drove through Kalawai Park to accept their respective appreciation gifts at the Kaua‘i RSVP recognition drive-thru event.
“This is Kalaheo,” she said, noting the threat of showers in the weather forecast. “It’s not raining. It’s not even snowing.”
The Gages were among more than 40 Kaua‘i RSVP volunteers recognized for their service at the drive-thru event that replaced the traditional all-island luncheon. The Kalawai Park distribution was the third of four distributions that began last Friday at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall in Lihu‘e.
“While it has been an unprecedented year with many challenges, it was also a year of many triumphs,” said Mayor Derek Kawakami in a message to the volunteers. “Although we could not celebrate these successes in person, I want to be clear that the efforts of our valued RSVP AmeriCorps Senior members do not go unnoticed.”
Kawakami joined Kaua‘i RSVP Director Donna Lynn Loo, Agency on Elderly Affairs Director Kealoha Takahashi and the staffs of both departments in distributing bags of rice after getting socially-responsible by donning gloves.
“Throughout the year, you have continuously innovated, adapted, persevered and shown up for our country and for our communities,” read a message from Miriam Welderufael, the AmeriCorps West Region portfolio manager.
“We appreciate every single one of you Kaua‘i RSVP volunteers and staff, and we recognize your impact in the communities.”
Doris Nekomoto was another Kaua‘i RSVP volunteer who turned the tables on the presenters by giving Takashashi a “momona virus” gift to share with the rest of the offices.
“You don’t know ‘momona?’” asked Earl Miyao, a Kaua‘i RSVP Advisory Council member. “You need to look it up.” It means “obese” or “ripe.”
The Kaua‘i RSVP recognition drive-thru series wraps up Thursday when the staffs of the AEA and Kaua‘i RSVP and Kaua‘i RSVP Advisory Council make the trip to the Waimea Athletic Field from 11 a.m.
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
