Kudos and congratulations to Milani Pimental, Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity, and especially the Americorps team of Joe Burleigh, Peter Kautz and Mary Regan (the trio arrived on Kaua‘i in September!) for continuing to build new homes in the ‘Ele‘ele Iluna “neighborhood” (that’s a former Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. term)” despite the crippling effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (available appointments for Friday virus testing were all taken).
Kudos and congratulations to Milani Pimental, Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity, and especially the Americorps team of Joe Burleigh, Peter Kautz and Mary Regan (the trio arrived on Kaua‘i in September!) for continuing to build new homes in the ‘Ele‘ele Iluna “neighborhood” (that’s a former Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. term)” despite the crippling effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (available appointments for Friday virus testing were all taken).
Congratulations to the six new homeowners who received their house keys (and certificates of occupancy!) Friday, so they don’t need to pay extra for a place to stay.
On the other side of town, kudos to Lili (she used to be married to the Apilado family) for the moral support to all those —kudos to West Kaua‘i United Methodist Church Pastor Nafetalai Teaupa on the Bible Study! — looking at nowhere to go after needing to leave the Lucy Wright Park county Shelter In Place site.
Kudos to Barbara Gusman and the Sheraton Kaua‘i Coconut Beach ‘ohana on hosting their monthly farmers’ market and craft fair (Helena Cooney and Janice Bond were taking advantage of the kama‘aina discount at The Crooked Surf!). Barbara said they’ll keep doing the event on the last Friday of each month to help the farmers and craft vendors recover from the effects of the pandemic. The gathering is coordinated through the efforts of Melissia Sugai and the Kaua‘i Made program in the county Office of Economic Development.
More kudos to Leah Aiwohi and her video crew of Ty Kajihara and Kate Nakamura on getting first place in the sigh school division (only Kaua‘i school to get that honor) during the recent PBS Hiki No video competition. Kudos to Kevin Matsunaga and the Chiefess Kamakahele Middle School media crew for its second-place finish in the middle school division (again, only Kaua‘i school to attain that distinction).
OK, ‘nuff said. Time to go check with Cyndi Ayonon and the recipients of the Kaua‘i Filipino Chamber of Commerce scholarships.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
