LIHU‘E — MaBel Fujiuchi of Kaua‘i Economic Opportunity wanted to know who would get the first flush Friday during the blessing celebrating the completion of the Mana Olana Emergency and Transitional Shelter Improvements project at the KEO site in Pua Loke.
“We are grateful to our state, county and federal partners, all stakeholders involved, and the entire KEO team for working collectively in our shared vision of serving our community in need,” said Mayor Derek Kawakami.
“These improvements provide the foundation for KEO’s future expansion of their emergency and transitional homeless shelter, allowing them to increase shelter beds and transitional-housing units that is much-needed on Kaua‘i.”
The improvements project, headed by Keith Suga and Michael Rita of Pacific Concrete Coring and Cutting, eliminated six independent, aging and problematic septic systems and connects the KEO facility to the
municipal wastewater system, reducing future maintenance costs and protecting groundwater integrity.
The connection was for the recently upgraded area during the construction of the neighboring Kealaula Supportive Housing Project, and the Pua Loke Street Workforce Housing Project that has been renamed “Ha‘upu View.”
“How do you bless a sewer connection?” Fujiuchi wanted to know. “I wanted to find someone who would do the first flush, but I’m sure that’s been done a while back.”
Funding for this county initiative came in part from a federal Community Development Block Grant, with the project scope including the wastewater system upgrade at $690,000 and a $50,000 project to improve the transitional-housing units by repaving the driveway and parking lots and Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades to the administrative offices at KEO.
“I kind of miss Lake KEO,” Fujiuchi said. “This project makes it easier for all those people we service. It’s a wonderful thing because we see so many who come to our door homeless. If they don’t have a home, there are many other things they lack. This is so good, today should be gratitude day.”
Construction started in February and was completed just minutes before the dignitaries arrived for the blessing.
