LIHU‘E — It’s not often a traditional Hawaiian blessing is attended by four-legged furry creatures and a duck, unless the ceremony happens to occur at the Kaua‘i Humane Society. While tails wagged, Kumu and Kupuna Sabra Kauka provided a blessing
LIHU‘E — It’s not often a traditional Hawaiian blessing is attended by four-legged furry creatures and a duck, unless the ceremony happens to occur at the Kaua‘i Humane Society.
While tails wagged, Kumu and Kupuna Sabra Kauka provided a blessing Tuesday afternoon in celebration of the animal welfare organization’s installation of a new photovoltaic system.
Initially funded by Senter Petroleum, the system will allow KHS to redistribute funds “for the benefit of the animals,” said Kaua‘i Humane Society Executive Director Dr. Becky Rhoades.
“I’m just so pleased this was able to happen,” said KHS Board Member Les Milnes, who was in attendance at the small gathering Tuesday. “A big salute goes out to the community for stepping up” and making this happen.
The alternative energy generator, comprised of three arrays totaling 90 panels, is estimated to be able to produce some 75 kilowatts of energy. Five hours of sunshine will provide the nonprofit with its daytime electrical needs, said Senter Petroleum’s sales manager Ron Morin.
A volunteer who helps teach dog training classes every Saturday at the KHS, Morin was the “farmer who initially planted the seed,” by offering to help the KHS put a “significant amount of money back into its pocket” with a photovoltaic system.
Following an approximate six-year agreement of regular payments to Senter Petroleum — an amount which would have otherwise been directed to Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative for electrical use — will allow the nonprofit to essentially have free energy for the next 20 years, or however long the system lasts, Morin said.
“We wanted to make sure it wasn’t going to come out of their pocket any more than what they would typically pay for energy consumption,” he said.
KHS averages around $3,000 per month for utility charges, Rhoades said.
“We’re not going off the grid entirely, but it will make a huge difference in how it’s going to help the KHS in the future,” Rhoades said, adding that the nonprofit will continue to make payments to KIUC, but the charges will be significantly lower.
“This shelter is an expression of how we should treat animals,” Morin said Tuesday when asked why he chose to assist the nonprofit. “As Dr. Becky always says, ‘the health of a community can be evaluated by how well they take care of its animals.’”
Kaua‘i is ranked No. 2 in the United States for solar watts per customer, said KIUC Senior Energy Solutions Engineer Steven Rymsha. There are 275 KIUC members currently on island with a total photovoltaic panel capacity of 3.8 Megawatts, he said.
