Helping To Keep Kaua‘i Beautiful
The Tour de Po‘ipu happens again Oct. 14, so get pedaling now. Photo courtesy Sierra Club Kaua‘i
There’s a catchy little tune my almost-2-year-old likes to sing around the house: “Clean up, clean up, everybody do their share.” It sprung into my head recently when I learned about the Keep Hawaiian Islands Beautiful project creating new partnerships, and how they’ve been collaborating in cleaning up public beaches. The Friends of Kamalani and Lydgate Park (FKLP) collaborated with volunteers last week for a Keep the Hawaiian Islands Beautiful (KHIB) project.
The project took place at Lydgate Beach Park and Ke Ala Hele Makalae, the multiuse coastal path. Helpers included Webelos Pack 148 from Lihu‘e Christian Church and their parents, along with some of the DOW Chemical staff, Tommy Noyes, general coordinator of FKLP, says. The 29 volunteers cleared all of the ironwood needles and rubbish from two sections of the path and removed waterlogged driftwood from the keiki pond. They also dug out stones in the grassy picnic and play areas, raked, and removed about 300 pounds of accumulated rubbish from the beach. The group gathers each Saturday at 8:30 a.m. to spend a few hours clearing marine debris from the beaches at Lydgate Park. Volunteers are welcome to come lend a hand. Bringing your own sun protection, gloves and shoes, and drinking water is recommended. For more information, call 639-1018 or visit kamalani.org …
Speaking of gratitude for others helping out the island, a big mahalo to our county firefighters, who have risked their lives fighting flames that scorched more than 3,000 acres on the Westside in recent weeks. As firefighters just ended the most recent wildfire in Koke‘e (the third fire since May in the area), Chief Bob Westerman says it was the largest fire ever on Kaua‘i. “It took the unified effort of more than 100 personnel from many agencies, from both the public and private sector, and I’d like to extend my deepest appreciation to those who worked tirelessly to control the fire and restore our power and water sources to the surrounding community.”
Fire Prevention Bureau Capt. Daryl Date is urging residents to kokua. “Our lush, green landscape on Kaua’i can become dry and hot during the summer months, acting as fuel for brush fires,” he says, urging people to practice fire-safety measures.
They include creating a defensible space around your home to protect it from a spreading fire, pruning shrubs and trees so the lowest branches are six to 10 feet off the ground, and removing dead leaves and green waste from around the yard. For more information, call the Fire Prevention Bureau at 241-4985 …
The Kaua‘i Historical Society Victorian Tea (adult wahine only) will be Sept. 7 at 1 p.m. at McCloskey Estate at Kaua‘i Ranch in Kealia. The high tea is a stroll back in time, and will feature delicate treats such as finger sandwiches and too-pretty-too-eat sweets.
Lawn games, old-time melodies, tea-leaf readings, horse-drawn carriage rides and door prizes are all part of the fun. Tickets (a limited number) cost $50 in advance and will not be available at the door. Call Kaua‘i Historical Society at 245-3373 or contact Jill Landis at hulagirl@hawaiiantel.net …
Iris Downey, a singer who is in need of a new kidney and is facing huge medical and living expenses over the next several years, will perform at numerous benefits (last year, she took first prize at the Kaua‘i Music Festival). Downey will begin dialysis soon and hopes to get on the waiting list for a new kidney by the end of the year. Her friends are working to produce a benefit concert for Iris Oct. 20 at Common Ground in Kilauea, and all of the proceeds will go to her medical expenses. For more information, email Maren Orion at marenorion@hotmail.com …
Lynne De Sha is ready to pour tea. Kay Koike photo
Congrats to the seven members of Kaua‘i County’s Elderly Affairs staff — Edith Abigania, Kanani Fu, Patricia Gonsalves, Gale Kashuba, Rose Manago, Charlyn Nakamine and June Renaud — who recently passed an international certification examination. The certification means they’re better equipped to help older adults and people with disabilities. Nice work! …
Kaua‘i County has announced that $50,000 in grants are available for recycling and waste-diversion projects, and nonprofit agencies and for-profit businesses are encouraged to submit proposals for an array of projects — educational or recognition programs, (videos, websites or classroom presentations) as well as any recycling or waste-diversion program not currently offered by the county — are examples of potentially fundable projects.
Applications are available on the county website, kauai.gov and can be dropped off or mailed to Department of Public Works, Solid Waste Division, Attn: Allison Fraley, 4444 Rice St., Suite 275, Lihu’e, HI 96766. The grant application deadline is Oct. 15. Forms also are accepted via email to afraley@kauai.gov …
The Mayor’s Office has announced that a feasibility study will be conducted on the proposed adolescent drug treatment facility (which is planned for Lihu‘e adjacent to Isenberg Tract). Families First Hawai‘i Services Inc. of Koloa was awarded a $50,000 contract to conduct the study. The assessment will be done in phases and the final report is expected to be completed next spring. The scope, which focuses on youths ages 12-17, will include determining the need for drug-treatment services, the length of stay, and a review of the intensive adolescent treatment service providers in Hawai‘i and the Mainland. For more information about the study, call 351-0306 or email familyfirstservices-@yahoo.com …
It’s hard to believe that it is already October next month, and before we know it the year will be coming to a close. Right around the corner is Bicycle Tour de Po‘ipu Oct. 14 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. The ride will be from Mahaulepu through Po‘ipu and on to Spouting Horn and back. The Sierra Club Kaua‘i outing will cover roughly 18 miles round trip (half on unpaved cane-haul road, so bring your mountain bikes and helmets).
Following the ride will be a short tour of Makauwai Cave and sinkhole, and participants are invited to picnic and swim at Mahaulepu after the tour. For more information, call Allan Rachap at 212-3108 or go to KauaiPath.org
