Jeff Iida, manager of the Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity ReStore, said volunteers don’t spend a lot of time, but accomplish a lot in the short amount of time they spend there.
Iida was coordinating efforts of the Rotary Exchange Students — Nicolas Alaya of Brazil, Sara Nidasio of Italy and Elsa Pedech of France, and the regular volunteers on Friday at the ReStore, where morning rain kept everyone under roof.
“This is a way for the students to be further immersed in our culture, and for them to give back to the Hawai‘i community that they’ve called home for the past several months,” said David Bieker of Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity.
For the students, each one “living” on different islands, Nidasio said this was just a Rotary thing.
“We’re just doing what Rotarians do,” said the exchange student, who is currently attending Lahainaluna High School in Lahaina, Maui. “The Rotarians do a lot of community work that makes a difference.”
She said the group got together from Thursday to visit Alaya, who attends Kaua‘i High School.
“We all take turns visiting each other,” Nidasio said. “This time, we’re visiting where Nicolas lives. Then, we’re going to Hawai‘i Island where Elsa is staying and attending Honoka‘a High School.”
Earlier in the week, Bieker said a group of volunteers under team leader Gary Floss visited the island to work on homes developing at the Waimea Huakai subdivision, weather permitting. This group that has been evading the rain is scheduled to be on the project until March 1.
Normally working from Tuesday through Sunday, Bieker said the group won’t be working this weekend because of the disruption from the Waimea Town Celebration.
“We can’t do what we do without the volunteers,” Iida said. “We’re short one person at the ReStore, and yes, the volunteers do a lot to pick up the slack. Even if we’re fully staffed, there are things that would otherwise get missed. Volunteers do a lot.”
Nicole Pacanas, Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity’s program manager, said not all the volunteers are visitors, and volunteering can involve other areas besides construction.
“We’ve got a group from Tennessee coming and spending just one day with us,” Pacanas said. “Then, we’ve got Kapa‘a High School, who is looking to schedule their third visit with us. Kaua‘i Councilman Billy DeCosta, whose son did the wind screening at the Huakai subdivision, has been with the Kapa‘a High School visits the previous two trips, and is going to be with the group when they finalize their next visit.”
To make a difference on the island, or for volunteer opportunities, call Pacanas at 808-335-0296, ext. 1013, or email npacanas@kauaihabitat.org.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 ordfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
