Pa'auilo Mauka Kalopa Community Association

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Pa'auilo Mauka Kalopa Community Association
September 2011 Newsletter

President`s Message

Well, the Bypass Road is finished and we had a beautiful celebration with music by Mr. Ernie Cruz. Mr. Cruz played a medley of songs from 8:30 to 9:00 while people arrived and chairs, podium and a table of goodies were put in place. Mr. Cruz received the appreciation of our members when he sang a song he composed while on the new road - “Apelahama Road”. Apelahama is Abraham in Hawaiian. Our Association asked if we could name the new road and it was granted. We surveyed our members and sent in the top 3 proposed names. Apelahama, in honor of Abraham Ramos, received the most votes.

We were pleased to have our Mayor Billy Kenoi as a part our celebration and he was happy to see this road completed. Councilman Dominic Yagong told us about his close involvement with this road project. I spoke and shared the background of the Sand Gulch Road and thanked all who came before me and left a path for me to follow. I left a message for everyone who uses this road with a challenge to keep their garbage in their car and adhere to the speed limit. Cheryl Ramos, the daughter of Abraham Ramos, spoke about her father’s involvement with the road. It was then that Mr. Cruz sang the song Apelahama Road again for the audience. There was representation from the Department of Public Works, County Road workers the Police and the Fire Departments. Thank you to all for sharing that day with us.

On August 6, 2011 we held our PMKCA Semiannual Picnic at the Kalopa State Park. As everyone arrived, it was talk-story time with friends old and new. When it was time to get down to business, I started the proceedings with a CD that Mr. Ernie Cruz had made at the studio in Honolulu. At the beginning of the week I called Mr. Cruz to invite him to our picnic but he was in Honolulu at the studio where he records music. He said he was unable to be at the picnic and that he would have a disk recorded and would send it to his daughter Desire who works with Mayor Kenoi. It was a breathtaking performance and what a beautiful way to start our business part of the day.

After first timers and new members were introduced, we had the regular reports from our Treasurer and Committee Chairpersons. Our Secretary was on vacation so we skipped her report. Duncan Dempster, our Publicity and Website Chairman, talked about setting up an experimental internet discussion forum where members can share excess garden produce, or exchange ideas on any subject such as pet lost and found, service exchange, etc. What a great idea. We will get back to our members when it is set up (see article at right). He also touched on a survey to find out about our members’ experience with internet access in the PMKCA area. Rick Berman our Legal Advisor was asked to look over some forms that may need to be updated. Jim Millar our Fire Chairman brought us up to date on trying to acquire a site for our fire truck.

Carl Pinahs, our Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Chairman, introduced the members who were recently trained and certified and ready to serve should there be an emergency. Our community now has more than 13 certified CERT members and they will be working on a plan to keep us updated.

Linda Gallano and Dave DeEsch our Cochairs of our Canoe Garden reported that all the plants are doing well and thanked those who come out on the first Tuesday of the month to water, plant and weed. Linda and Dave also serve on the Oral History Committee, and they brought us up to date as to what needs to be done to complete that project. Dianne Higgins and Joan Dempster have been added to help with finalizing this project, including a possible grant to help push this project forward.

After finishing our business meeting, we adjourned to the table full of good food. We ate and talked and then indulged in the highlight of the day - Bingo. Thank you to all who brought the prizes. It was great fun as our numbers on the cards matched up. I did not win a thing, but we all had a good time.

We have a website at www.pmkca.org where you can download an application form for membership. We invite all who live within our boundaries to become members as we grow.

Our next board meeting will be on Sept.13, 2011 at the Vanilla Company at 7:00 pm.

Dolores S. Ramos
President PMKCA