The dedication, spirit and hard work of people who believe in the future of Kalaeloa have again resulted in a physical transformation of the District.  Over 100 community volunteers and area businesses combined their efforts on July 15 and 24, 2008 to make public safety improvements and to beautify Kalaeloa’s Geiger Gate entrance area on Roosevelt Avenue.  The beautification project was spearheaded by the Kalaeloa Community Network (KCN), which was organized in November 2006 as part of the Hawaii Community Development Authority’s (HCDA) community outreach.  The KCN consists of 24 Kalaeloa stakeholders including landowners, businesses, elected officials and service providers.  In addition to addressing many quality of life issues such as pedestrian and traffic safety, security and deteriorating lands and facilities, the KCN strives to build community pride through service projects. 

On July 15, about 50 construction workers donated their skills and use of heavy equipment to conduct extensive preparation work in the project area.  The volunteers removed large steel poles, rusted chain link fence and barb wire, broken light fixtures, abandoned concrete barriers, weeds and trash.

“The July 15 work day transformed the Geiger Gate entrance from a dilapidated dump ground into a beautiful blank canvas,” said Suzette Smith, KCN project coordinator.  “Their work exceeded our expectations and allowed us to double the size of our original design to create a truly beautiful and warm entrance to Kalaeloa.  On July 24, about 50 community volunteers spent the day to install planter beds on the road shoulders and median strip.  The guard shack had also been repainted and proudly displays our new Kalaeloa sign.”

The  Kalaeloa entrance sign features an ulu quilt logo that represents rebirth and renewal.  It is a duplicate of the sign that also graces the district’s Ft. Barrette entrance.  In June 2007, the KCN undertook a major beautification project at the entry-way to Kalaeloa at the intersection of Ft. Barrette Road and Roosevelt Avenue. 

The KCN volunteers represented Avalon Painting, American Electric, Bauske Environmental, Bowers and Kubota Construction Management, Councilmember Todd Apo’s office, Hawaii Army National Guard Youth Challenge Academy, Hawaii Community Development Authority, Hunt Development Company, Loihi Communications, Kalaeloa Rental Homes, Naval Air Museum Barbers Point, Parsons Construction, Senator Mike Gabbard’s office, Safety Systems, Subway Barbers Point, U.S. Coast Guard Air  Station Barbers Point and Zelinsky Painting.

Project materials and donations were provided by Barbers Point Commissary, DR Horton, Gentry Homes, Grace Pacific, Haseko Hawaii, Hunt Development Company, ICI Paint, Kalaeloa Rental Homes, Parsons Construction, Representative Sharon Har, Sherwin Williams and the West Oahu Community Federal Credit Union.

Police officers from the Honolulu Police Department District 8 were on hand to control traffic flow and ensure volunteer safety during the community work day.

Kalaeloa Director of Planning and Development Tesha Malama said, “We are very grateful and would like to thank all those involved with the beautification project for their time, commitment, planning, funding, donations, sweat, and prayers that went into the project during the month of July.  The community of Kalaeloa and our neighbors will continue to  aloha the place and focus on the State's vision to build a ‘Wahi Ho'okela,’ a center for excellence.”

The community work day was just one of a series of events that KCN and HCDA collaborate on to improve the District.  HCDA members in May 2008 approved spending up to $15,000 of Kalaeloa community development revolving funds to support the Kalaeloa Community Network’s (KCN) beautification project at the Geiger Gate entrance.