KEALAKEHE, Hawaii – The Kapilina Brick Garden – a mosaic of over 1,500 bricks commemorating a unique fundraising effort – was blessed on Tuesday.

The brick garden is located in the interior courtyard area of the West Hawaii Civic Center in Kealakehe. The final work represents a collaboration of donors, masons and rotarians. The original idea was to raise money for the Hawaii Island Growing Our Own Teachers non-profit, but the county decided to expand the beneficiaries to include The Food Basket, The Island of Hawaii YMCA, FRIENDS of the Children’s Justice Center, the Hawaii Island Humane Society, West Hawaii Community Health Center and HOPE Services Hawaii.

Under a hot Kona sun, kumu Keala Ching explained the significance of the kalo that was planted in the center of the brick garden.

Also present for the event, Aunty Elizabeth Maluihi Lee, Wally Lau, Norman Sakata, and Dr. Cliff Kopp, the project coordinator and designer.

The project has already raised over $50,000 for the non-profits