Terry Wells, the builder of the custom table created out of false kamani, said the wood is still moving Saturday after the big table was installed at the Rotary pavilion at the Kilauea Community Agriculture Center.
“It’s been about a year since the wood was cut,” Wells said. “It’s still wet and there’s movement going on. There was a lot of movement before the table was created, but there’s still some movement taking place, so we’ll just keep an eye on how everything settles.”
The installation of the huge table and its accompanying benches was the focal point of the work day spearheaded by the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay and accomplished with help from Rotarians from other clubs on the island.
“We wanted to be sure the table wouldn’t grow legs,” one Rotarian chirped. “This one is heavy — about 250 pounds. And the benches are also heavy. They’re not going anywhere.”
In addition to the furniture installation, the Rotarians set about doing cleanup and light pruning amongst the rows of various fruit trees surrounding the pavilion by the corps that included District 5000 Kaua‘i Assistant Governor Ted Faigle.
“This multi-club effort is something I’ve been pushing for,” Faigle said. “We have members from several of the Rotary clubs here participating. This combined effort makes the work go faster and easier, and we can accomplish even greater feats.”
Yoshi L’Hote of ‘Aina Ho‘okupu O Kilauea and the Kilauea Community Agriculture Center rolled in with the late-afternoon showers that marked the adjournment of work to awaiting pizza and beverages in the expanse of the agriculture center and its number of program offerings.
“Thank you for your partnership,” L’Hote said, joining the Rotarians who were indulging in the post-work treats. “The pavilion is filling in the environment, although the color could’ve been closer to that of the table.”
At the encouragement of the Rotarians, L’Hote announced that AHK has been the recipient of an anonymous donation that will allow the kitchen and foodstand work to progress.
“This progress brings retail to the Kilauea Community Agriculture Center,” L’Hote said. “Retail is vertical integration to add value to the products we already are producing. This donation allows us to move ahead, and we’re currently in the process of re-evaluating building costs following the inflation caused by COVID-19. Permitting by the county is already done. We just need to make sure we have enough, and the means to make up any shortfall before proceeding.”
The certified kitchen, the foodstand featuring local vendors and the expanded comfort stations are part of a scheduled expansion of the KCAC, said the Rotarians.
The overall expansion of this phase includes parking to alleviate congestion at the Kilauea lighthouse, with visitors to the lighthouse and refuge center being shuttled to and from the center’s parking lot, and site improvements to accommodate the anticipated increase of visitor flow to the center.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
