North Shore Lions, Rotary strengthen partnership with sign repairs near Princeville Center

Two worn signs near Princeville Center are back in place, and the repair has put a sharper question in view for the North Shore: when basic wayfinding and beautification break down, who steps in?

Members of the Kauai North Shore Lions Club went out to fix their marquee sign and noticed the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay sign nearby also needed attention. They repaired both, leaving the two restored signs standing side by side as a visible sign of a partnership that has been deepening for years.

Jonathan McRoberts, who belongs to both organizations, said the finished work reflected more than a one-off cleanup. Louis LaFratta, president of the North Shore Lions, said the effort came from a shared commitment to the community and described helping with the Rotary sign as simply what neighbors do. Ronnie Margolis of the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay said what the clubs are building is bigger than a club.

The practical value of the repair is easy to see on a stretch of road where visitors, residents and small businesses depend on clear cues near Princeville Center. A damaged marquee or faded club sign may seem minor, but on the North Shore those visible details help shape the sense of order around community gathering places, commercial areas and public-facing nonprofit work.

The Lions Club, chartered in 1984, has long been active beyond signage. Its scholarship page says it offers scholarships every spring to North Shore high school graduates entering higher education, and a recent community fundraising description says the awards are based on financial need, academic performance, leadership and community service. Over the past five years, the club has reportedly awarded about $250,000 in scholarships, while also building picnic tables, supporting school infrastructure and sending volunteers to nonprofit events.

The Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay has its own long track record on the North Shore. The club says it has served the area for more than 25 years, meeting at noon on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month at The Cliffs at Princeville, 3811 Edward Rd, Princeville, HI 96722. Its project history includes work on environmental and wastewater concerns and the Kilauea Agricultural Community Center. Historic Hawai‘i Foundation says the club’s Save the Pier project raised more than $188,000 to rebuild and maintain Hanalei Pier.

Together, the repair near Princeville Center hints at a larger issue for Kauai County: whether volunteer organizations are increasingly filling gaps in the maintenance, visibility and everyday upkeep that shape daily life on the North Shore. In Princeville and Hanalei Bay, two of the island’s most established service clubs are making it clear they are willing to do that work, one sign at a time.