Wall restoration helps restore Kona’s fishing pride

Six Home Depot employees want the iconic granders wall in Kailua Villageto be a source of community pride.

Since Thursday, they have been voluntarily restoring the iconic wall, located in Konas Waterfront Row, which for decades has recognized the anglers and top-notch professionals who have caught a grander a marlin weighing 1,000 pounds or more.

The project leaders electrical department supervisor Cheryl LeMieux, plumbing department associate Bruce Newlun and appliance sales specialist Renee Medeiros noticed the walls wear and tear, as well as vandalism, while walking around downtown earlier this year.

The six decided the neglected, weathered wall didnt befit Kona, a fishing town considered by many to be the marlin capital of the world. Kona is also home to the famous Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament, LeMieux said.

They decided restoring the wall, with its more than 60 records and photos, would be a great hands-on service project for the Home Depot Kailua-Kona store. Once every quarter, store employees roll up their sleeves and get dirty while voluntarily working to improve the community through various projects, LeMieux said.

This was just an opportunity to give back, she said. After all, we have the resources and skills to transform the scruffy, worn-down granders wall. By restoring it, were sort of helping restore Konas pride and its famed image of being the prime fishing ground (where you can) land the coveted grander. Its also an example of whats good about our community.

Home Depot wanted to get the project done before next months World Cup Blue Marlin Championship. Held annually on July 4, the tournament features teams who fish for eight hours in their time zone to see who can catch the largest blue marlin. The winner takes all; theres no second place. The Maui Jim team, with Capt. Thomas Casey and angler Scott Shaw, won last years tournament by catching a 729-pound marlin in the waters off Kona.

Home Depot contacted Clark Commercial Group property management portfolio manager Patti Kiernan and assistant commercial portfolio manager Laura Gentry, asking for permission and collaboration on the project. Home Depot provided the all-volunteer labor and approximately $300 worth of materials, including paint, varnish, refurbished frames, updated lighting and Plexiglas. Meanwhile, Clark worked with a local photographer to restore the photos, including transforming them all into black and white, LeMieux said.

When Hawaii Island residents and visitors see the finished wall this weekend, LeMieux hopes theyre filled with pride and amazed by the feats accomplished by anglers.

They will learn about Kona Capt. George Parker, the first person in the state to land a blue marlin grander in the Pacific Ocean. Theyll notice that 52 years ago angler James Schultz and skipper Murray Heminger Jr. were the first to capture a grander in Kona waters. The biggest grander ever caught was 1,640 pounds and was landed in 1986, LeMieux said.

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Wall restoration helps restore Kona’s fishing pride