HANAMAULU — When Clifford Lee joined the Hanamaulu Hillsiders softball team four years ago, there was no pavilion.
There was work that needed to be done with the home field of the Hillsiders, and there were the players ready to do something about it.
Thursday, the pavilion at the Peter Rayno Sr. Park was dedicated by the County of Kauai.
“This was just a vision four years ago,” Lee said. “There were a lot of people who came to give a hand, including the players’ wives, and other people.”
Spearheaded by Kenneth Tamashiro Construction, Tamashiro a senior softball player himself, the Hanamaulu pavilion was funded through an $80,000 county grant.
“How this was done is a model,” Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. said. “This pavilion is not just for the softball players. It’s for the community — the young people from the neighboring King Kaumualii Elementary School, and people in Hanamaulu.”
Lee was speaking with King Kaumualii vice principal Fig Mitchell, noting how they appreciated the help of the King Kaumualii “ladies who use this during their break.”
“They helped us a lot,” Lee said. “When the students are here using the place, they jump in and talk to the kids if they get out of line.”
Kauai County Council Chair Mel Rapozo said they normally get calls only if there are complaints.
“I want to see more projects like this,” Rapozo said. “When the community builds a facility like this, they own it.”
Tamashiro and the Kauai senior softball players are no strangers to undertaking these types of projects, having been involved in major work in Kapaa, Eleele, and Kaumakani fields.
“This is not the end,” Lee said. “I want to continue to beautify the park, working with the school and the county. As long as I’m able and healthy, I want to move on to other areas where we can help.”
Jade Battad, officiating the dedication services, described the pavilion as “this is what love built.”