WAILUA — John Lydgate did not expect the number of volunteers that turned out Saturday to help clear the popular Morgan Ponds swimming area of the park bearing his grandfather’s namesake. “This is far more than I thought would come
WAILUA — John Lydgate did not expect the number of volunteers that turned out Saturday to help clear the popular Morgan Ponds swimming area of the park bearing his grandfather’s namesake.
“This is far more than I thought would come out,” Lydgate said. “I also think we need to give credit to the county’s Parks and Recreation Department for the roll-off, too.”
A second roll-off dumpster sat next to the one permanently assigned to Lydgate Park in an area close to the keiki pond, and both dumpsters were rapidly filling with wood debris being transported to the receptacles by about 40 volunteers.
That second dumpster appeared to be the answer to the build-up of wood generated by runoff of the Wailua River and the brisk trades that pushed the debris into the strong east swell that accompanied the passage of two tropical storms north of the island last week.
“We got in Monday, and the first place we came to was Lydgate,” said Darlene Hancock of Seattle, Wash. “The beach was closed and we were so disappointed. I’ve come back daily, and after reading about the cleanup, decided that I needed to come and do my part.”
Hancock said she asked the lifeguards about the cleanup and they referred her to Lydgate, Friday.
She and Kristen Kanahele of Portland, Ore., were at the park early Saturday morning before the volunteers even got organized, she said.
Kanahele, who was married to a gentleman in Kekaha before moving to Oregon, said while she was living here, they never had a chance to visit Lydgate since beach outings always meant Salt Pond.
“This is so good that so many people come out to help clean the area so everyone can enjoy the park,” she said.
JoAnn Howard of Ojai, Calif., was another visitor who lent her muscle to the cleanup effort.
“I have family here, and I was visiting relatives when I read about this cleanup,” the former Nakamura girl said. “I have to help because gotta represent the family, yeah?”
Corey Garren-Hamura of the Hamura Saimin fame said he came out because he volunteers all over the island.
Lydgate said the Starbucks located in the Borders store in Lihu‘e provided coffee for all the volunteers.
The “Beach Closed” and “No Swimming” signs posted by the water safety officers following the passage of the storms last week were removed and beach-goers were already enjoying the clear waters against the backdrop of volunteers, one armed with a chainsaw to cut larger logs to a more manageable size.
The National Weather Service forecast said aside from some cloudiness and a few passing showers on windward or mountain areas, skies will be mostly sunny and moderate-strength trades will persist until mid-week.
There is a tropical depression, 11E, nearly 1,200 miles east-southeast of Hilo. That is expected to strengthen to a tropical storm. Presently, the extended forecast takes it a well south of the Big Island as it moves on a westerly track.
