DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
A group of volunteers from Kaimuki Christian Church gathers every month to paint over graffiti and repair homes in Kaimuki. Before going out to work, the volunteers pause for prayer.
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Power of the brush
Church volunteers roam the streets of Kaimuki in search of defaced buildings and aging homes in need of a fresh coat of paint
To Danny Okimura, graffiti on Kaimuki buildings spells challenge, not problem.
"There's nothing people can do about stopping graffiti, so I'm always excited to go out into the community and clean it again," said Okimura of Kaimuki Christian Church.
With buckets of paint and brushes in hand, he and 30 church volunteers roam the streets of Kaimuki once a month in search of defaced buildings.
TO HELP
To volunteer for the graffiti cleanup team, contact Kaimuki Christian Church at 735-1771 or e-mail the church at kcc@kaimukichristian.org.
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But for Okimura, this beautification is more than a response to graffiti -- it's a calling from God.
"I felt convicted at one point to find my purpose in life," he said. "Now I know my purpose is to help other people."
As a carpenter for 17 years, Okimura started the "Love Your Neighbor" church mission with the intent of repairing Kaimuki houses. He walked through neighborhoods from Palolo to Kapahulu, handing out flyers to those houses he felt needed the most repair. Only a few people called him because, according to Okimura, "they couldn't believe it was free."
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Coral Peterson paints over the graffiti on benches at a bus stop on Koko Head Avenue between Waialae and Harding avenues.
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The same reaction is shared among many Kaimuki businesses.
"We're not the type of church to ask for money," he said. "We do it because we want to."
Money to fund the project is donated by the church. A monthly budget of $125 is used to buy the necessary equipment as well as provide lunch for the volunteers.
Coffee Talk manager Diane Kodis usually notifies the building's landlord for cleanup, but since he lives on the mainland, the process can be slow and threatening to business.
"Customers think the building is dirty when it's really not," she said. "It's helpful that the church comes as often as they do to paint."
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
More volunteers are being sought for Kaimuki Christian Church's monthly projects, particularly teenagers. Here, Aaron Yap, left, and Alison Johnson sweep up rubbish at a bus stop on Koko Head Avenue as Coral Peterson paints over graffiti.
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Church volunteers also make frequent check-up visits to Yoshi Taketa's Kaimuki house. Just a year ago, Taketa, 89, welcomed the team to fix his home, where they painted the exterior, replaced old window screens and cleaned his yard.
"They are doing stuff I used to do but can't anymore because of my age," he said.
The church is currently working on another Kaimuki home, as well as building a classroom at a Manoa charter school. Even those passing by often show their appreciation for the team's efforts, Okimura said.
Okimura hopes to get more volunteers, especially teenagers. Volunteer Robert Simao agrees that this is not only an opportunity to help others but also to spend quality time with family. Simao participates in every cleanup with his son, daughter-in-law and grandson.