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Kansas reservists help people in need in Hawaii

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman K.L. Kimbrell
  • 931st ARG Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  

Most people go to the Hawaiian Islands to enjoy a sun-filled vacation on the beach, complete with leis, hula girls and coconuts.

A group of Air Force reservists from the 931st Civil Engineer Squadron here, on the other hand, spent their time in Hawaii with power tools, heavy machinery and elbow grease. OK, so maybe they had a little fun too.

Members of two other Air Force Reserve Command CE squadrons joined them on an Innovative Readiness Project to build Aloha Gardens, a 40-acre project in Wahiawa, Hawaii. Aloha Gardens will serve the elderly, persons with disabilities and the economically and culturally disadvantaged of Hawaii’s north shore.

The reservists performed the work in four two-week rotations. Members of the 908th CES from Maxwell AFB, Ala., arrived first. They were followed by the McConnell reservists who performed two rotations – April 29 to May 14 and May 13-28. Members of the 302nd CES, Peterson AFB, Colo., replaced the McConnell reservists.

“By the time we arrived, Maxwell had laid all of the concrete pads and put up the interior and exterior walls of the three living quarters buildings,” said Master Sgt. Jeffrey A. Kilian, structure shop supervisor. “The social hall was just a concrete pad when we arrived.

“By the end of our rotations, the social hall was framed, trusses installed, decking placed and underlayment for the metal roof placed,” Sergeant Kilian said. “The three living quarters buildings also had trusses installed, roofs decked, underlayment placed and the very beginnings of the metal roof was being placed at the end of our rotation.”

Although they put in long, hard days, the 931st CES reservists found some time to relax.

“On workdays we were usually too tired to do anything but on the weekend we tried to get in as much sightseeing as possible,” said Tech. Sgt. Erin Hubbard, an electrical systems specialist. “We went to Pearl Harbor, the Dole Plantation, saw an Elvis impersonator at the Blue Hawaii show, walked through Waikiki, saw the sun set at the North Shore and hiked Diamond Head.”

After they completed their duty in Hawaii, some of the reservists reflected on the significance of the facility they had a hand in building.

“Since I have had two handicapped sisters, one of them lives in a similar facility. It had a special meaning for me,” Sergeant Hubbard said.

“It feels good knowing that there are facilities for such purposes,” added Senior Airman Callie Tilson, a supply apprentice. “Knowing that you can put a smile on someone’s face and make their lives just that much better is worth it all.” (AFRC News Service)