The county Parks and Recreation Department in recent weeks has labored to address problematic areas at Kaua‘i Veterans Cemetery that the state Office of Veterans Services identified during an inspection earlier this year. Poorly aligned and inappropriately set headstones, rotting
The county Parks and Recreation Department in recent weeks has labored to address problematic areas at Kaua‘i Veterans Cemetery that the state Office of Veterans Services identified during an inspection earlier this year.
Poorly aligned and inappropriately set headstones, rotting wood, a rusting flagpole, cracks in the road and a missing entrance sign top the list of needed improvements, according to county and state reports.
But repair and maintenance work at the Hanapepe cemetery has been complicated by limited manpower and unclear obligations, officials said.
The Office of Veterans Services director Mark Moses told the County Council yesterday at the Historic County Building that he is helping counties statewide learn the rules and regulations for veterans cemeteries.
“This dual jurisdiction has never been clear to us,” Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura said, thanking Moses for his “enlightening” presentation.
Five percent of the state’s roughly 120,000 veterans live on Kaua‘i, the director said, adding that the number seems to be growing.
The three-hour morning discussion revealed a need to itemize veteran-related costs in the county budget, provide additional personnel to help the lone caretaker and establish hours of operation.
“It’s not fair to have that one person responsible,” Councilman Mel Rapozo said.
He added that he expects the mayor’s May 8 revised budget submittal for next fiscal year to include at least one new position for the cemetery.
Ed Kawamura, a local Vietnam veteran, told the council that at least three people would be needed to maintain the cemetery since it has doubled in size to some five acres.
“I ask you to really dig down deep and support that man down there,” he said.
Kaua‘i, in 2006, received $17,000 in federal funding through a Veteran Affairs plot allowance, Moses said, plus $12,500 from the state per a memorandum of understanding. The county has had to fork over the rest.
He said he has been working to find ways to relieve the financial burden to counties by taking advantage of state and federal grant money.
The county last year paid $100,000 for a new columbarium at the cemetery, which Moses said should be reimbursed.
Councilman Jay Furfaro said he plans to push hard this budget session to separate cemetery funding from the beautification projects category.
He said he hopes to put any reimbursement money back into the cemetery.
But there are some strings attached to the state and federal funds. The money must be used for new projects, Moses said, not for repairs and maintenance that fall under county responsibility.
He used the cemetery’s entrance to exemplify these rules. A county vehicle a few years ago accidentally ruined a sign that formed an archway over the road leading into the cemetery. This must be replaced with a new sign, as opposed to restoring the old one, in order to utilize state or federal money, he said.
“We don’t care who did what,” Moses said. “The idea is to get things fixed.”
He detailed additional areas that must be addressed. The cemetery needs better quality grass, chicken control, repainting and refinished marble plaques.
The headstones should be flush or a quarter inch above the ground, he said, and in neat rows.
Under the leadership of Bernard Carvalho, the director of the young Parks and Recreation Department, and his deputy director, Kylan Dela Cruz, progress is being made.
Many headstones have been reemplaced flush with the ground, Dela Cruz said, and arrangements are being made to beautify the marble plaques.
The deputy director said the department has proposed a $350,000 bond float to pay for the necessary improvements — including paving, a new flagpole and dry rot work.
“It is in need of some work,” Rapozo said. “This council stands behind veterans.”
