KANE'OHE — Oversized, bold graffiti at the old Omega Station in Ha'iku Valley was wiped clean last week by Kailua and Kane'ohe firefighters who used their day off from work to paint over the ugliness.

The facility is tucked away at the back of the valley, and the graffiti might have gone unnoticed except for H-3 Freeway. The road offers a stunning view of the ahupua'a, Kane'ohe Bay and the concrete structure on the valley floor that had been nearly covered by vandals.

Over the past year, bigger and bigger markings appeared.

The firefighters said they couldn't stand it anymore.

The July 18 project was part of the Celebrate Kane'ohe festival that includes dozens of community events, cleanups and activities. The festivities are being organized by the Ko'olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary.

"We wanted to contribute to the community and the public we serve because we love them so much," said Capt. Thomas McKee, with the Kane'ohe station. "I wish we could have painted the whole building but it's so big. So we just tried to catch the graffiti we could, the ugly words."

The day-long effort was supported by local businesses and the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, which owns the property. The DHHL contributed about 60 gallons of paint and businesses provided material and supplies, McKee said.

Some 20 firefighters, including battalion chiefs and captains, brought their rollers, ladders and extension poles, he said.

"It was a good collaborative effort," said Windward Battalion Chief Hiram Keliipio. "We provided the sweat equity."

The Coast Guard, which used the facility as a radio navigation station, returned the area to the state and city in 1999, with Hawaiian Home Lands receiving 147 acres of the valley land and the city obtaining the hiking trail called the Stairway to Heaven. Recently, Hawaiian Home Lands leased some of the property to a charter school and legislation supported a cultural preserve there.

Mahealani Cypher, with the civic club and Ko'olau Foundation, said local groups are working to turn the building into an education and cultural center. Cypher said the firefighters came up with the idea for the project and asked the civic club to help find paint.

"Once we have the cultural preserve and we renovate that building it's going to be beautiful, but for now it's to cover the unsightliness so passers-by on the highway won't have to look at that ugly old non-art," she said.

The civic club was reluctant to publish any information about the project for fear that vandals would return, said Rocky Kaluhiwa, a club member. But the firefighters have more paint if markings return, and residents are happy, Kaluhiwa said.

"The Hawaiian Civic Club is so grateful and I'm sure the rest of Kane'ohe is too," she said.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.