Rotary service project nets $10K for food bank

HANALEI — The Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay put some teeth into its mission of repairing the Hanalei Pier.

About 25 members of the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay turned out Saturday to give the restrooms and showers a fresh coat of paint along with the picnic tables at Black Pot Park.

Rotarian Branch Lotspeich, community service chair for the club, said the cleanup is separate from the long-term goal of repairing the pier, but is related because people using the park usually visit the pier.

The cleanup project was done in conjunction with the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Friends. Under this program, the Rotary Club provides a community service and in return the foundation gives $10,000 to an organization of the club’s choosing.

Lotspeich said the beneficiary of the cleanup is the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank, with the funds being used to primarily take care of North Shore food pantry programs.

Sally Motta, another Rotarian, said the response to the Hanalei Pier repair project has been great with people from everywhere contributing toward the long-term goal.

Lotspiech said when the announcement broke, he received an e-mail from Maui with a pledge of $2,000 as well as a call from a Kaua‘i engineer who offered to donate his professional service for the project.

The long-term goal is to repair the landmark structure at the end of the pier, which was last repaired in the early 1990s and now most notably needs a new roof.

While the discussions go on between the different government agencies and community groups on the actual repair work, the club is attempting to establish a fund of $200,000 — $100,000 for the estimated cost of the structure’s full repair and a contingency fund to support year-to-year maintenance once the repair is completed.

Those wanting to contribute can send donations to The Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay Foundation, P.O. Box 1495, Hanalei, HI 96714, or e-mail HanaleiPier@gmail.com for more information.