KAPA‘A — After nearly five years of obstacles, the dream of a basketball court at the Boys and Girls Club, Kapa‘a Clubhouse, took a big leap forward Saturday. “The end of the goal is finally in sight,” said Ron Margolis
KAPA‘A — After nearly five years of obstacles, the dream of a basketball court at the Boys and Girls Club, Kapa‘a Clubhouse, took a big leap forward Saturday.
“The end of the goal is finally in sight,” said Ron Margolis of the Rotary Club of Kapa‘a, in a news release. “Well actually, in this case there are two goals, one is at each end of the full-size regulation basketball court which was poured Saturday at the B&G Club, Kapa‘a.”
Margolis said the pour represented the nearing of the end of a journey which started almost five years ago when the B&G Club received a grant from the Hart Foundation to construct a basketball court to support its Biddy Basketball program for keiki on the Eastside of Kaua‘i.
“I can’t say enough about the Kapa‘a Rotary Club,” said Lovey Harper, known affectionately as “Auntie Lovey,” the program director for B&G Club, Kapa‘a. “They are our angels, always here to come to our rescue.”
Margolis said the dozens of organizations, businesses and individual Kaua‘i residents who supported the effort to get the basketball court poured need to be added to the “angels’ list.”
“It’s hard to thank everyone because so many big-hearted Kaua‘i residents have pitched in,” Margolis said.
Following the initial Hart Foundation grant, the Kapa‘a Rotary Club, host of the annual Taste of Hawai‘i fundraising event, became involved, contributing money for the adjustable backboards and rims so children and adults could use the court.
Rodney Pascua, past president of the Kapa‘a Rotary Club and a designer, drew up the plans and started work with the county to get the permits and proper approvals.
Ryan Ell of Rylo Excavation graded the site and spread out the rocks donated by Goodfellow Brothers.
Paul Arrigo, a former Kapa‘a Rotary Club president, and Rotarian Ray Carpenter put the forms in place.
The Home Depot donated the re-bar and wire required for the foundation and Debbie Freeman and Lihu‘e’s Kinimaka Lopes provided strategic insights and moved the project forward.
Those efforts bore fruit Saturday when Donny Maione Construction, Peter Chow and Joe Horak Construction appeared with masons, finishers and skilled labor to facilitate the pour which took place under the threat of rain clouds.
But the rain stayed away while the 57 yards of concrete filled the forms and the basketball court was born.
Wade Lord, general manager for The Kukui Grove Center, contributed the equipment and personnel to stripe the court under the supervision of the Kapa‘a Rotary Club.
“We’re on the home stretch, but there is still a lot of little things to be done,” Arrigo said. “But now, with the concrete poured, the end is in sight. What a relief!”
The backboards and goals will be one of the final steps marking the completion of the basketball court.
“It’s unbelievable to see this project finally get to this stage,” said Keith Cruishick, regional director for B&G Club, Kaua‘i, in the release. “We’ll be able to expand our basketball programs, host ‘ohana nights for the community, and maybe even have some outdoor movies. We are so grateful for all the volunteers from all around the island.”
The Kapa‘a Rotary Club first visited the site nearly 20 years ago to partner with the B&G Club to build the 3,300-square-foot clubhouse which sits adjacent to the Kapa‘a High School.
The basketball court will help the B&G Club in its goal to reach as many kids as possible.
“What an outpouring of love to help one of the Eastside’s non-profits provide more and better services for our children,” Margolis said.
“The B&G Club and the Kapa‘a Rotary Club want to sincerely thank all those volunteers and anyone whose names might have been omitted. It takes a village, and fortunately on Kaua‘i, we have one.”
