Constructing ‘Āhuimanu
Meet members of the construction team who helped bring Kīlauea its newest gathering place for shopping, dining, and community.
Images courtesy of Middle MGMT
Lance Alayvilla | Līhu‘e
Where are you most likely to be found on the North Shore?
Hooking ‘oamas (juvenile goatfish) out at ‘Anini Beach in Kalihiwai. It’s a nice stop if you’re headed out to the beach in Hanalei!
How else do you spend a typical day off?
I get together with the family every weekend for dinner. My dad has six brothers and six sisters who live all around the island, and we go to my uncle’s house down the road from me in Līhu‘e.
How long have you been doing construction on Kaua‘i?
I first got into it after high school, when I helped build Village West at Kukui Grove. But before moving back to Hawai‘i and working for Al at Kaiwa Construction a little over five years ago, I was living in Las Vegas.
What brought you there?
My son and I went to ride dirt bikes. We went to California and Utah to ride the circuit. He got hurt pretty bad, so we gave it up. My daughter is still in Las Vegas, and my son is here on island.
Best part of the job now that you’re back home and in the industry?
Just running the crew and getting the job done. I love drawing the picture for the guys, laying out all the points so they can do the work. As foreman and surveyor, I run the job site, so I come in, map it out, and shoot the lines so the crew can dig the pipelines, lay the sidewalks, and build.
What do you remember most about working on ‘Āhuimanu?
One was the weather—we had a year of rainout. Another is that a lot of people in the community had mixed feelings about the project at the start. I would tell them, you just have to give it a chance. This for the community. Now it’s convenient for Grandma and Grandpa to get their groceries right there in Kīlauea rather than having to go to Princeville or Kapa‘a. A lot of the elderly in the community are really happy about it. Ultimately, I think it’s a good thing for the people of Kīlauea.
Dustin Cramer | Kalaheo
How often are you on the North Shore?
My uncle used to work on a ranch out in Kīlauea, so my family and I would spend a lot of time there. And I like jumping in the river at Lumaha‘i Beach. It’s my favorite place on that part of the island.
Do you have a lot of family on island?
Most of my family is here. Four or five years ago, my brother moved away to O‘ahu, but other than that, we’re a tight bunch here on this rock.
How do you normally spend your free time?
With my animals—I have horses, cows, and dogs. I lease pasture land at Wailua Houselots, so I go there to take care of them and ride my horses.
What about during construction of ‘Āhuimanu? Was there anywhere in particular that you would frequent?
We liked going to The Bistro at Kong Lung Market Center for lunch. Every week we’d meet there to discuss what was moving forward on the project and the next steps of the way.
What was your day-to-day role on the job site?
I was foreman on the job, so scheduling manpower and machines, giving everybody their daily tasks, and making sure they have the right tools and material to do the job.
Which aspect of the project are you most proud of?
We endured a lot of weather on that job, which caused major delays in our work. But despite everything, we were able to come together as a team and make it happen. From the initial design to the end product, everyone worked together to see the project through.
How far along was construction when the floods hit in 2018?
We were mid-project, but that wasn’t the only rain we got. In our type of work, if we get two solid days of rain, that pretty much puts a damper on the rest of the week because we need the material to dry. Without dry material, we can’t do the work properly.
Have you been back to the center since it opened?
Lance took over as foreman toward the end of the project, so it was always a huge surprise when I would go out there and see things coming together. It’s amazing how nice everything turned out, from the fences and benches to the walls blocking off the fire sprinklers and propane tanks.
What has the feedback been like so far?
It’s a very local and deep-rooted community on the North Shore, so I think people were initially worried about bringing in a shopping center. But I think a lot of the locals who were against it at first have actually warmed to the idea. It was something I think the neighborhood needed, and I’ve heard nothing but good things so far.
