Several hundred residents and students celebrated the beginning of
the new Malaekahana Bike and Pedestrian Path last Saturday.
This is the first official project to come out of the Envision Lā'ie
process, one that brings together area residents and businesses to contribute
to something the community identifies as desirable--more bike and walking paths
for the area.
The crowd
cheered as a symbolic six-foot section was cleared by backhoe operators Junior
Primacio of Kahuku and
Bobby Chang of Lā'ie, longtime
area residents. The 8-foot wide asphalt path will mean safer walking and biking
between Kahuku and Lā'ie communities.
"This is a partnership between the
communities to keep people safe and off the highways and a healthy alternative,"
said Stephany Vaioleti from the Kahuku Community Association (KCA). Vaioleti
was interviewed by KHON2 News.
Hawaii Reserves, Inc. is providing the land and materials; the Lā'ie
Community Association (LCA), KCA, residents and local businesses are supplying
labor.
"There's a
lot of enthusiasm--Scout troops, Brigham Young University-Hawaii students, LCA,
KCA and others who are willing to come out and kokua," said Steve Hoag of HRI.
Students from nearby Lā'ie Elementary, Kahuku Elementary, Kahuku
Intermediate & High School and BYU-Hawaii participated in the festivities.
The Nani Lā'ie Serenaders sang and strummed ukulele. Light
refreshments were enjoyed by all and, in keeping with the theme of health and
wellness, utensils and beverage containers were biodegradable and recyclable.
The Envision Lā'ie project is a collaboration by HRI, BYU-Hawaii, the
Polynesian Cultural Center, LCA, KCA and area residents.
"Our goal with the
Malaekahana bike path is to create a region where cycling and walking are an
easy, safe and healthy choice for all ages--especially our school kids," said
R. Eric Beaver, president of HRI.
Others speaking at the groundbreaking were Junior AhYou, LCA vice
president, and Chad K. Taniguchi, executive director of the Hawaii Bicycling
League. AhYou was featured on KITV News.
Envision Lā'ie launches first project 