Photography is also by Mike Foley, who is Meridian Magazine’s Hawaii Correspondent.
Aunty Gladys Pualoa-Ahuna (center, left) and Uncle Ahi Logan untie the traditional maile-leaf lei, officially opening the new bike-pedestrian path between Laie and Kahuku
LAIE, Hawaii — Kupuna or respected elders untied fragrant maile-leaf leis amid Hawaiian chanting on March 19, 2011, as hundreds of residents came together ranch land to celebrate the dedication and opening of the new Malaekahana Bike and Pedestrian Path that links the communities of Kahuku and Laie.
With the traditions observed, the people turned their attention to a pa’ina or meal of six slow-roasted pigs and barbecued chicken — accompanied, of course, by Hawaiian music and hula.
The new nine-foot-wide path, which stretches approximately 1.5-miles along the mauka or inland side of Kamehameha Highway, is a collaborative effort of the two communities, Hawaii Reserves, Inc. (HRI) — the Laie-based land management firm affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Envision Laie. Envision Laie represents a diverse group of residents and stakeholders in Laie, Kahuku and nearby Hauula who are working together to plan future possibilities that protect the quality of life and emphasize the values of the people who live in the encircling Koolauloa district.
In a short program earlier that morning, Laie Community Association (LCA) board member Kevin Schlag noted, “More than 275 people from Sunset Beach to Punaluu volunteered more than 800 hours of service for this project. Volunteers from the Operating Engineers Local 3 training program in Kahuku donated all the equipment and expertise to grade the path, and Grace Pacific [Corporation] donated nearly 200 truckloads of road-base material.” Schlag also recognized the support of many local businesses that donated time and materials.
“This has been an excellent example of how the community can work together to get things done,” he said, encouraging volunteers to continue helping with the ongoing maintenance of the new path.
Junior Ah You, also an LCA board member, thanked his extended family for their help in preparing the food for the celebration, and other local businesses for donating the food and more than 20 bicycles that were given away as prizes during the celebration.
“We’re so pleased with the finished Malaekahana Bike and Pedestrian Path,” said HRI President R. Eric Beaver. “This, indeed, is a wonderful project and a historic event. It is strengthening relationships and improving safety in our community, and I am especially thrilled to see the young people in our community using the pathway to exercise as well as to stroll to and from school.”
Beaver said the new path reminded him “of those who came before us and built this community by the same means — love, labor and sacrifice. As our forefathers so ably demonstrated for us, let this path be a symbol of what we can accomplish when we put our heads, our hearts and our hands together for public good and a community amenity. When each of us brings to the table whatever resources we have and whatever resources we can, we will find as we have found with this project that, together, we can and we will accomplish things.”
“Envision Laie, the entities involved and the communities are proud to work together to sponsor such a project,” Beaver said. “Ho‘omua! Let us continue to move forward together and accomplish great things.”
