Na Kalaka Nui’s Big Truck & Equipment Day

On Saturday, Oct. 17, construction trucks and equipment of all types will be showcased below the Lanai Football field from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., offering Lanai families a unique opportunity for a hands-on learning experience.

The Big Truck & Equipment Day was conceived of as a way to connect the community with and provide an up-close look at the equipment being used in the renovation of the Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay. At the same time, Chelsa-marie Clarabal, Lanai Island Native Hawaiian Education Council chairwoman, and Natalie Misaki-Ropa, LHES Foundation president and Kakou chairwoman, were brainstorming activities for a community keiki day. It was then that A-dae Romero Briones, Pulama Lanai’s Director of Community Development, who was spearheading the Big Truck & Equipment Day got together with Chelsa and Natalie and the three of them thought to collaborate and combine their ideas into one big fun, learning event for the community.

To facilitate this learning experience for the community, Na Kalaka Nui, a partnership between Kakou and Pulama Lanai, was formed and a daylong event for the whole family arranged. At this fun-filled event, children and adults will learn:

• The role of equipment in construction
• How the equipment is operated
• What training is needed to operate machinery
• Fun facts about the equipment

Community members will also have a chance to get near, or in some cases sit inside, construction trucks and equipment, and enjoy food, crafts and interactive learning booths.

Equipment Demonstrations

Na Kalaka Nui is offering two equipment demonstrations on the day of the event at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Be sure to stick around for the 1 p.m. demonstration, which will include a special surprise for keiki.

Here’s a sneak peek of some of the trucks that will be present.

The Caterpillar D-6 Dozer is used for the finish grading of new roads or open fields. It has three teeth at the rear, which is referred to as the ripper and is used to loosen up soil and rocks. It is 9’5” tall, 6’5” wide and weighs 18 tons – just as much as a Diplodicus dinosaur!

The Freightliner Tandem Schwing S36X Concrete Pump Truck includes an extendable arm that reaches over 100 feet, and is operated by a remote control. This truck is used to pump concrete to areas that a mixer truck cannot reach. The pump pushes out 178 cubic yards of concrete per hour – that’s 600 gallons per minute.

The Caterpillar CT660S Water Truck holds a 4,000-gallon water tank and has spray nozzles on its front, side and back that it uses to spray water on the job site for dust control. The truck weighs 28 tons and has a 10-speed transmission. Its engine generates 390 horsepower.