LIHU‘E — Kekaha Beach Park has many nicknames — “The Pavilions,” “Inters” and “First Ditch” — but from now on it will be known as “MacArthur Park” in honor of the Westside man whose passion and dedication provided a beautiful
LIHU‘E — Kekaha Beach Park has many nicknames — “The Pavilions,” “Inters” and “First Ditch” — but from now on it will be known as “MacArthur Park” in honor of the Westside man whose passion and dedication provided a beautiful place for the community to enjoy.
Uncle MacArthur Dela Cruz, who died in July at age 64, was recognized posthumously last week by the Kaua‘i County Council, which passed a resolution officially renaming the beach park. The council also requested that the Carvalho administration erect signs in Kekaha.
“We’ve been in the Kekaha community for a long time, and this is our way of giving back to the community,” said Dela Cruz’s widow, Linda, who emotionally testified that she was still having a hard time without her late husband. “I’m sure he would appreciate it very much.”
Dela Cruz, according to the resolution, which was introduced by Derek Kawakami and passed unanimously to a large round of applause, “fulfilled his dream by seeking support from the County of Kaua‘i in applying for and receiving grant funding, by asking local businesses to assist in using their machinery to develop the park, and by organizing the group of community volunteers in building the tile pavilions, barbecue areas, and planting the grass.”
Furthermore, the resolution said, “Uncle MacArthur Dela Cruz was the backbone to the park’s beautification and maintenance as he spent countless hours watering the grass, pulling out ‘kukui’s’ and planting coconut trees to provide shade from the hot Kekaha sun.”
Lenny Rapozo, director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, said the park was Dela Cruz’s “labor of love.”
Eddie Sarita, coordinator of the county’s Adopt-a-Park Program, joked that family members had told him MacArthur had spent more time at the park than cleaning his own back yard.
Rapozo said the county is looking to supplement the Adopt-a-Park Program with a policy to recognize “community heroes” like Dela Cruz.
See an upcoming edition of The Garden Island for a report on council committee discussion on a wind energy bill and Po‘ipu drainage from the meeting Wednesday at the Historic County Building.
• Michael Levine, assistant news editor, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or mlevine@kauaipubco.com.
