NAWILIWILI — Even a canoe designed to spend most of her life on the water still needs a hale (house). Members of the Rotary Club of Kapaa made it down to Hule‘ia Stream recently to show members of Na Kalai
NAWILIWILI — Even a canoe designed to spend most of her life on the water still needs a hale (house).
Members of the Rotary Club of Kapaa made it down to Hule‘ia Stream recently to show members of Na Kalai Wa‘a O Kaua‘i and Kaiola Canoe Club plans for the hale Rotarians will build.
Rotary Club of Kapaa members drew up plans for the hale, and plan to build the facility, with help from those in positions to contribute funds, materials and labor, as well as members of Na Kalai Wa‘a O Kaua‘i.
The hale, to be built adjacent to Kaiola Canoe Club’s buildings next to Niumalu Beach Park, will include a classroom and parts fabrication workshop among the 3,200-square-foot facility designed largely to protect the 70-foot-long voyaging canoe when she’s in port.
Na Kalai Wa‘a O Kaua‘i member, canoe builder and Kaua‘i Community College Hawaiian studies instructor Dennis Chun and others will use the classroom to teach students about ancient navigation techniques, known as wayfinding, and science, math and related topics.
Rotarian Frank Reilly is also a grant-writer who is seeking out representatives of organizations willing to donate funds for the construction project.
The Namahoe (“the twins,” for her twin hulls) is under construction near Puako subdivision in Lihu‘e in an area known as Halehaka, but will soon move to an area near Niumalu Beach Park along Hule‘ia Stream.
Na Kalai Wa‘a O Kaua‘i is the nonprofit group that owns and is building the canoe.
The Rotary Club of Kapaa is a nonprofit group made up of business people who sponsor Taste of Hawaii, the island’s largest food- and drink-tasting festival. This year’s event is June 6 at Smith’s Tropical Paradise.
The club recently celebrated its 19th anniversary.
Pamela V. Brown is a freelance writer from Kapa‘a.
