ANAHOLA — Kamaka Fernandez is counting the days before he moves into his new home in Anahola. Tuesday, he was joined by a handful of volunteers from a Global Village team from Canada and a Big Island volunteer. Together, they
ANAHOLA — Kamaka Fernandez is counting the days before he moves into his new home in Anahola.
Tuesday, he was joined by a handful of volunteers from a Global Village team from Canada and a Big Island volunteer. Together, they were working on three Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity homesites in Anahola, including one for Fernandez.
“Did you see the chandelier?” Fernandez asked while applying ceiling paint. “They finished the floors, the lamps are going in and I’m just doing the painting.”
Mara Petruzziello, a co-team leader for the Global Village, has seen the home rise.
“When I got here in August, there were just platforms and an empty lot,” the Canadian team leader said. “By the time we left, we had completed the framing on the homes.”
Petruzziello said her co-team leader is Amber Lin, who on Tuesday, was working with six Global Village volunteers in creating an Americans with Disabilities Act ramp on a Hanapepe home.
“All but one of the dozen team members are first-time builders,” Petruzziello said. “We start and finish in Hawai‘i. They gave us the name ‘Hawai‘i 10-4’ since there are a dozen members and two leaders.”
She said members come from Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia and have learned a lot on this trip, including picking up skills in flooring and mounting moldings on doors.
“We couldn’t have done it without the Global Village people,” said Pablo Herreira, Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity site supervisor. “They have all been tremendous.”
Jessica Clabo, Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity volunteer coordinator, said Petruziello is hoping to place the finishing coat of paint and complete the homes she helped start in August.
“The team has been working alongside local and visiting volunteers, and after just a few days, Amber and Mara have led their team toward the completion of the three homes in Anahola,” Clabo said in an email. “Four members of the team have also started building a handicapped ramp for a current Habitat homeowner in Hanapepe. The Canadian team has even pitched in ‘after hours’ by maintaining the landscaping of the volunteer housing in ‘Ele‘ele. It’s clear the Global Village group will leave Kaua‘i having accomplished great things.”
Joining the Global Village team, Joanne Solak of Nova Scotia, Canada, said they’ve been here for a few months and just come to help out.
“I don’t even clean my house at home,” Solak said, installing a “Please remove shoes” sign to protect the newly-installed flooring.
Sayer Houseal was helping Fernandez with the ceiling, coming to Kaua‘i from his post on the Big Island.
“I hooked up with other AmeriCorps volunteers on Kaua‘i, and this is a good way to see the island and get in some work at the same time,” said Houseal, who works with the Big Island affiliate of Habitat for Humanity.
Petruziello said she’s planning on returning to Kaua‘i to do more builds.
“It’s easy, and a lot of fun when you get to work with good affiliates,” she said. “You can count on me coming back.”
People wanting to volunteer at any of the Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity projects can call Clabo at 335-0296 ext. 152.
