KAPA‘A — A fire set by vandals in 2007 sparked a dream in the mind of Scott Kaui, a Kaua‘i Police Activities League wrestling coach.
“We’re going to wrestle there one day,” he said in the days following the fire that scorched portions of a building formerly used by the Civil Defense.
That day arrived Saturday when Shawn Smith, vice president of K-PAL, and Capt. Mike Contrades untied the maile and the big steel rollup door ground its way upward. An audience of more than 100 people watched a wrestling bout, jiu jitsu exhibition, cheer routine, and contemporary dancing sharing a padded floor.
Gary Heu, representing Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., said he saw the building as work was being done.
“I know what the facility looked like and from the unsavory activities that took place around here,” Heu said. “To see what it is now is phenomenal.”
Contrades said the project took more than $100,000 being raised by the community, more than $200,000 in contributed services and material, 140 donors, more than 100 volunteers, and countless hours of sweat for almost two years.
“Wow!” said Smith, searching for more words. “K-PAL started in 2001 and has picked up momentum in 10 years. This is a true success story.”
Smith said in the 10-year history of K-PAL, there have been more than 6,000 Kaua‘i youth involved in its youth-building program, which as been equated to the American Youth Soccer Organization program for youth building.
“In 10 years, you’ve taken a dilapidated building and turned it into a foundation — a home for K-PAL,” Smith said. “Let’s fill this place.”
Among the programs under the K-PAL umbrella are flag football; North Shore basketball headed by Bill Troutman; cheerleading; Pitch, Hit and Run baseball; boxing; wrestling; jiu jitsu; Sea Scouts; and more.
“Everywhere, there are things where kids can get involved,” Smith said. “The Police Activities League started in New York City almost 80 years ago when a police lieutenant was frustrated with crime and talked to gang leaders who said there was nothing to do.”
Despite the increase in community activities for youth, there is still some idleness, but K-PAL continues to look for more ways to occupy young people.
“This is just part of the fight against illegal drugs,” said Mel Rapozo, chair of the Public Safety Committee for the Kaua‘i County Council. “The cops do a tough job and get pounded daily. But despite this, they still have time to do something like this. Mahalo, Kaua‘i Police Department.”
Rapozo said it takes a commitment from the community to accomplish these kinds of feats.
The owners of Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital offered a lease on the property for a dollar a year for at least 10 years.
“I could have paid for it out of my own pocket,” Contrades said. “But we have a receipt for it.”
The dedication Saturday celebrated the opening of Phase I, a gym and workout area. Contrades said Phase II, currently just a base skeleton of what was damaged by the 2007 fire, will become offices, a locker room, and study area, where K-PAL can become involved in student tutoring.
“This is in line with PAL’s mission of filling playgrounds, not prisons,” Contrades said. “We want to teach young people to persevere through life’s challenges, and live pono.”
Kaui could not agree more after his entire family devoted hours of effort toward getting the building completed.
“We start wrestling next week,” the KPD officer said. “They’ve already started in West Kaua‘i.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
