WAIMEA — An 8-foot, round mango table was donated to West Hawaii Mediation Center (WHMC) last week as part of a collaborative effort among six caring residents. Their goal was to make resolutions easier than ever.
The idea originated when Ric Rocker and Milton Higgins were completing mediation training at the Center in late October.
“I was inspired by the course,” Rocker said. “During the class, the instructors mentioned that they were currently using a square table and a round table would be more conducive to open communication. We wanted to give back.”
He and Higgins then contacted a neighbor who has access to different types of wood in North Hawaii.
“We take pride in reclaiming material that would otherwise be burned, chipped, or thrown in our landfills and process it into lumber to be used locally for furniture etc.,” said Alex Woodbury, co-owner with Joshua Greenspan of Kamuela Hardwoods Inc., an urban timber reclamation sawmill. “The mango logs were from a tree removal job in North Kohala. They were diverted from county green waste to Kamuela Hardwoods by Imua Landscape and Tree Service. We milled the mango logs into lumber here in Kamuela at our facility in the Lalamilo Farm lots.”
The table was constructed by father and son team Bryan and Dominic Hilman of Omni Ventures International LLC., a fine furniture maker also based in Kamuela, who collaborated on the table with Woodbury and Greenspan at Rocker and Higgins’ request.
“We thought it a perfect opportunity,” Woodbury said. “What better way to pay homage to a beautiful tree from the area than to give it a lasting legacy as a beautiful piece of furniture to be used as a place for people to come together?”
Approximately 120 mediation sessions are held at WHMC’s Waimea office every year. All sessions are low-cost, or free to those unable to pay.
“We are so honored to receive this beautiful handmade gift,” said the Center’s Executive Director Zaheva Knowles. “A round table like this one is ideal for fostering a sense of equality and cooperation among mediation participants. We look forward to using it for many years to come as we work to reduce conflict and create peace in our community. Now we just need some new chairs.”