Boys and Girls Club of Hawai‘i remove graffiti from Puhi Park

While many entities in urban areas have had to shoulder the burden of paying for graffiti removal, the people of Kaua’i have generously volunteered their time over the years toward this effort.

The most recent graffiti removal project at the Puhi Regional Park was coordinated by the Boys and Girls Club of Hawai‘i (BGCH) with Grace Peralta, youth development specialist, taking the lead.

Approximately 20 BGCH members, ages 11 to 13, participated in the re-painting Wednesday of the interior walls of the men’s and women’s restrooms and exterior door of the men’s room.

“It was a great opportunity for our members to bond and give back to the community,” said Līhu‘e Clubhouse Director Asaka Herman, noting that the mission of the BGCH is to inspire young people to become responsible citizens.

Lenny Rapozo, director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, expressed his appreciation for the work performed by the BGCH.

“We are very grateful to the Boys and Girls Club for cleaning up the graffiti at Puhi Park,” said Rapozo. “Hopefully, the vandals can learn from these fine young people about respecting public facilities.”
The paint and brushes for the Puhi Park project were provided through the county’s Adopt-A-Park program.

Eddie Sarita, Adopt-A-Park coordinator and manager of the Kaua’i War Memorial Convention Hall, noted that anyone who signs up as a volunteer in the Adopt-A-Park program can choose how he or she would like to help.

He said that free training on how to perform a particular task is available to volunteers.

“Volunteers can help in a lot of different ways,” said Sarita. “They can remove graffiti, pick up litter, sweep the courts and pathways, pull weeds, rake leaves, plant flowers or engage in other approved projects.”

An entire park or areas within parks may be adopted including: sports fields; exercise courses; flower beds; trees and shrubs; pavilions; playgrounds; basketball and tennis courts; bike and pedestrian paths; undeveloped parkland; and restrooms.

For more information about the Adopt-A-Park program, please contact Sarita at 241-6623.