Keep Hawaiian Islands Beautiful project creates new partnerships

Michael Perry, a member of the Webelos Pack 148 from Lihu’e Christian Church, helped remove palm fronds and other debris at Lydgate Beach Park last week. The project was part of the Keep the Hawaiian Island Beautiful program. Photo courtesy Kaua`i County Parks and Recrecation

DEPARTMENT OF PARKS & RECREATION

News Release
For Immediate Release: August 27, 2012

Keep Hawaiian Islands Beautiful project creates new partnerships

WAILUA – Community organizations teamed up with the Friends of Kamalani and Lydgate Park last week for a Keep the Hawaiian Islands Beautiful (KHIB) project.

The beautification project took place at Lydgate Beach Park and it included Ke Ala Hele Makalae, the multi-use coastal path.

“Having the Webelos Pack 148 from the Līhu’e Christian Church and their parents, along with some of the DOW Chemical staff, join us for this project enabled us to get a lot done,” said Tommy Noyes, general coordinator for the Friends of Kamalani and Lydgate Park.

In just two hours, the 29 volunteers involved in the KHIB project managed to accomplish the following tasks:

n  Clear all of the ironwood needles and rubbish from two sections of Ke Ala Hele Makalae.
n  Remove waterlogged driftwood from the keiki pond.
n  Dig out stones and then fill and level the voids in the grassy picnic and play area next to the ponds.
n  Water the new plantings.
n  Rake up and remove about 300 pounds of accumulated driftwood from the beach.
n  Trim the coconut trees around the ponds.
n  Fill two 30-gallon trash bags with litter that was picked from the restroom area by the campsites.

Webelos Pack 148 from the Lihu’e Christian Church were among the groups that pitched in on a Keep the Hawaiian Islands Beautiful project at Lydgate Beach Park last week. Other community groups that participated in the clean-up were the Friends of Kamalani and Lydgate Park and DOW Chemical. Photo courtesy Kaua`i County Parks and Recrecation

“We really appreciate the tremendous work that was done at Lydgate by all the volunteers as part of the recent Keep the Hawaiian Islands Beautiful project,” said Parks and Recreation Director Lenny Rapozo. “Our park caretakers do a good job during their regular workday, but having the extra hands of the volunteers has made such a huge difference at a park that gets the highest usage out of all our county parks.”

The Friends of Kamalani and Lydgate Park gather 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, shoes, and drinking water is recommended.

Additional information on programs sponsored by the Friends of Kamalani and Lydgate Park is available from Noyes at 808-639-1018 or on their website, www.kamalani.org.