The Kohala community and its high school team know a thing or two about the wreckage Mother Nature can leave behind.
For years, it’s biggest basketball facility, Hisaoka Gymnasium at Kamehameha Park, was shut down after an earthquake shook the region.
This weekend, high winds damaged the power lines that feed the facility, putting a much anticipated senior-night game with Honokaa in jeopardy. Saturday’s game was postponed to Monday, but the damage required a move to the Kohala High School gym.
The problem is that the school gym fits only 250 or so spectators — roughly one-fourth of the space the Cowboys needed for a big rivalry game.
By Sunday afternoon, the facility had power again, and the cleanup around the gym had the place sparking as new.
Kalei Emeliano and Kihei Kapeliela, former Kohala players, were part of the big effort. Emeliano posted this on Facebook:
What an amazing effort from our Kohala community in getting Kamehameha park cleaned up and ready to go for our Kohala cowboys to play Honokaa tomorrow night. Big Mahalos to all the players, Coaches, parents,family,friends and Roads dept County workers who helped make this possible for our community. We are truly blessed to live in a community where u see and feel the ALOHA in our community on a daily basis.
He later texted about the job done well by HELCO.
“The power lines that got cut were from the grandstand that the roof blew off. HELCO came in this morning and removed the lines (which is for the baseball field lights) to make it safe to open the park.
“Man the community was getting pretty vocal about playing at the school gym. So glad everyone pulled together to make it work for everyone to enjoy these Cowboys’ final home game of this pretty magical season…
And yup (HELCO) was out on Sunday… Lol.”
Photos courtesy of Kihei Kapeliela.
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