It’s said that you should never regret something that once made you smile.
"No regrets we met a lot of nice people and a lot of good lasting friendships," says Andrew Jamila, Waimanalo resident.
He’s referring to a small beachside park known as Kupuna Terrace in Waimanalo a prime example.
"No monies involved, just a lot of hard sweat labor," he says.
Built by hand and at basically no cost, the lookout brought new life to an area that was more of a dumpsite, thick with brush and Kiawe trees.
Little by little the lookout quickly transformed into a concrete terrace with crushed coral foundation, a half-dozen picnic tables and landscaping.
"I give these guys credit when they work they don’t give 100%, they give 120-130% they really work hard," says Richard "bolo" Kahawai, OCCC Work Line Supervisor.
But Saturday, the same men who helped build Kupuna Terrace had to tear it down.
"Ffinding out at the top of the project that the site distance because of the highway that it could be a safety hazard," says Jamila.
The park, which was built without proper City permits, did not account for traffic along Kalanianaole Highway or that there was no clear crosswalk for park users to access the lookout.
"The inmates are really sad because they work really really hard," says Kahawai.
The tables, the terrace, the retaining wall – all have to go. But Andy Jamila says the memories of what they built together will stay.
"It’s still a beautiful piece of property and it will forever stay in a lot of peoples minds about how some people got together and put this up with no costs or dollars," he says. "No regrets."
The more than $50,000 worth of construction material that was donated for the park, will be given back.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
