Building a new foundation.
At the invitation of the pastor and staying at her brother-in-law’s house we flew into Kona Hawaii, rented a car and drove to Milolii, about an hour + south from the airport.
We were warmly greeted and began work the next day. A local contractor, Dave was in charge of the project and worked in support. There were 5 of us, Dave and some other members of the Community.
We rebuilt the foundation of the Hau’oli Kamana’o Church. It sits a stones throw from the water and the story is that was washed inland to its current location during a tsunami many years ago. It was originally built in the 1800’s.
Dave had already begun to raise the structure off of the rocks which it had rested on. Once it was safely raised , pier holes were dug and forms were built and placed beneath the support beams. Concrete was poured using the bucket brigade method of getting it under the building and into the forms. A few days later short posts were installed, attached with angular supports.
At the end of each work day we would go for a swim and fish watching across the street.
We attended the Sunday services where we were thanked for our work and enjoyed a potluck lunch with the church members.
We had enough time to take a day and head south to the Punalu’u Bake shop, Punalu’u Beach and eventually visited and had lunch at the edge of the crater at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
It was a great service trip and chance to connect with the community there for future work.