Last summer, area volunteers helped spruce up the western entryway into Kalaeloa at the end of Fort Barrette Road near Kapolei High School.

This year, the same top-to-bottom makeover effort will be given to the run-down Geiger Gate on the eastern end of Roosevelt Avenue near the Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The Hawaii Community Development Authority last week approved $15,000 for the project.

The project will consist of repairing and repainting the existing guard shack structure, said Tesha Malama, HCDA's Kalaeloa director of planning and development. A solar lighting fixture is being installed to brighten what now is a dark section of road. Meanwhile, four rock-and-plant beds will also be put in to make the area look more cheery, Malama said.

There is also a flagpole and fencing that need to be repaired, she said.

In anticipation that the Geiger side would be done eventually, additional "Kalaeloa" signage was purchased last year when the Fort Barrette side was beautified.

Last year, about 80 volunteers turned out to help with the project under the auspices of the Kalaeloa Community Network, a group of volunteers that includes military personnel, developers, landowners, businesses, agencies, elected officials and individuals. Area businesses and developers contributed sweat equity, materials and cash to the effort.

Ongoing maintenance of the Fort Barrette gate has been handled by volunteers, and the same is expected on the Geiger side.

Suzette Smith, who is on the Kalaeloa Community Network committee, said it was encouraging to see the community come together for the Fort Barrette project.

The Fort Barrette gate "was so run down, it was really depressing," said Smith, regional manager of Kalaeloa Rental Homes. Those who live and work in the area showed a sense of civic pride by coming out, she said. "It was kind of like an 'adopt a highway' project."

A date has not yet been set for the cleanup project, since the plan still needs the OK of the state Department of Transportation.

But HCDA is taking down a list of volunteers. Call the HCDA's Pearlyn Fukuba at 520-2673 or Smith at 682-2424.