ANAHOLA — When Drew Wolenter signed up as the carpenter’s assistant, he didn’t realize the job entailed more than building homes. Friday, Wolenter donned traditional Hawaiian attire and sounded the pu, or conch shell, at the key passing celebration in
ANAHOLA — When Drew Wolenter signed up as the carpenter’s assistant, he didn’t realize the job entailed more than building homes.
Friday, Wolenter donned traditional Hawaiian attire and sounded the pu, or conch shell, at the key passing celebration in Anahola.
“We are bridging the traditional with the contemporary and moving into the future,” said Vern Kauanui, who was overjoyed at the celebration and will own the home with Don Baker.
The blessing celebrated the 117th Kauai Habitat for Humanity house, but Wolenter drew the line when someone asked him to do the hula.
“There will be another two starting in Anahola shortly as well as a rehabilitation project,” said Stephen Spears, KHH executive director.
But attention now shifts to getting the first 10 homes of the Eleele Iluna project started, he said.
Spears said the Global Village volunteer teams have been instrumental in raising the homes.
“The last time I was here, we sat where the porch is, and all we could see were the holes we had dug for the footings,” said Jan Roberta, a Global Village team leader.
Roberta, of Connecticut, said this is her second of three trips to Kauai this year, this time as a team leader for a group of 10 people.
“The Global Village teams are very important to the Kauai Habitat for Humanity,” Spears said. “They pay to get here, work hard when they are here, and leave money and happiness when they leave.”
