An unlikely rescue
Fire tanker crew fills pool for Camp ImuaBy EDWIN TANJI, City Editor
Article Photos
The annual summer program held by Imua Family Services at Camp Maluhia has more than 140 volunteers assisting Imua staff in providing a weeklong camp for youngsters who require special assistance and supervision.
The swimming pool at the camp provides an essential service for therapeutic workouts as well as for fun — but when the camp opened Sunday, there was no water in the pool, said Sherry Maresca, Imua assistant director of development.
A broken waterline to the camp had been repaired. But Maresca said no one noticed that a vapor lock in the line had blocked water flow to the tank serving the camp on the slopes above the Makamakaole Stream.
“When we got there, the camp didn’t have any water,” she said.
While water service for the camp was restored, there was insufficient flow to fill the 48,000-gallon pool, threatening to cut out one of the key daily activities.
“They do a lot of swimming, which is good therapy. The pool is part of the daily activities of the camp,” Maresca said.
Camp staff began calling businesses with water tankers for help. Maresca, whose father was a firefighter, called the Kahului Fire Station.
Fire Chief Jeff Murray said the Kahului fire crew called every tanker operator they could think of, but no one had a truck available, in the private sector or in the county.
“We just thought we’d try to help them out. It’s not something we’d do normally, but it is one of those things we can do to help the community to provide a public service,” Murray said.
At 9 a.m. Monday, Tanker 10 arrived to cheers from the campers to begin the process of filling the pool for the camp that continues to Thursday.
“Not only did they bring water for the pool, but laughter, excitement and hope charged the atmosphere as the huge yellow water tanker pulled into place,” Maresca said.
The youngsters “were squealing, clapping, laughing. It was great,” she said.
• Edwin Tanji can be reached at citydesk@mauinews.com.
