KOLOA — For Derwin Nohara and others on the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Engineering Department team, the two-day cleaning project of the historic Koloa monument became an educational experience at the space where the monument is located.
Nohara, Moani Tolentino and Adela Padasdao were the sole volunteers, who turned out on Monday in the hot midday sun to clean the historic monument that pays tribute to the many ethnic groups that labored in sugar plantations.
“Where’s the Japanese guy?” Nohara said. “I want to stand next to him.”
“Where’s the Chinese?” said Tolentino while Padasdao ended the conversation with “I’m by the Filipino on the end.”
The Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Engineering volunteers were expecting more people on Tuesday to wrap up the project, which involved scraping old paint and mold, power washing and bleaching, and repainting areas that required touching up.
“I don’t know about the bronzed areas,” Nohara said. “We’ll just clean it as best as we can.
The group was pressed into action after Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i asked the Koloa Plantation Days Committee for ideas on what they could do during the Koloa Plantation Days weeklong celebration, which begins on July 19 and runs through July 28, and is capped by the annual historic parade and ho‘olaule‘a at Anne Knudsen Park.
“In preparation for Koloa Plantation Days, Moani reached out to the Koloa Plantation Days organizers to ask what might be of most help to them,” said Diann Hartman, the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i marketing manager. “It was decided that we would clean and repaint as needed the historical monument at the park area near Dr. Murray’s office and the food trucks that (are) across the road from Sueoka’s.”
These icons represent Koloa as visitors to the town come down Maluhia Road from the Tree Tunnel that is also scheduled for cleanup ahead of Koloa Plantation Days, which carries “Our Hometown” as its theme for 2024.
Included in the list of icons is the Rainbow Shower tree in the shadow of the monument, which is currently in full bloom with spectacular yellow flowers.
“One of our supervisors is across the street watching us and eating lunch at Sueoka’s,” Nohara said. “Hopefully, he comes to help us when he’s done. Our General Manager Michael Gibson is supposed to be here on Tuesday.”
The tree was the one millionth tree in then-First Lady Jean Ariyoshi’s “A Million Trees of Aloha” campaign that was tied to the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Japanese plantation workers.
Planted more than three decades ago, the tree also commemorated the 150th anniversary of the first sugar cane planted on Kaua‘i.
“I didn’t know that,” Nohara said. “I learned something, today. It’s not just cleaning.”
The County of Kaua‘i announced that Maluhia Road from Kaumuali‘i Highway to Ala Kino‘iki — also known commonly as Po‘ipu Bypass — will be closed on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for a community cleanup.
During the road closure, traffic will be diverted to Koloa Road. As a reminder, ‘Omao Road is a narrow residential road that is not intended to be used as a detour route, and not designed for high volumes of traffic or truck traffic.
The speed limit is 25 mph for the entire length of ‘Omao Road. Motorists should allow for extra travel time.
The road closure will allow community groups to conduct an annual cleaning of Maluhia Road for the celebration. Additionally, the County of Kaua‘i Roads Division will be present and conduct grass cutting and shoulder maintenance work.
Koloa Plantation Days is a weeklong tribute to the many ethnic groups who came to Hawai‘i to work on the plantations, and the Hawaiians that welcomed them. The festival pays tribute through music, dance, historical exhibits, food and fun.
