Media release from Hawaii County Parks & Recreation Department

The Department of Parks and Recreation is pleased to announce its upcoming renovation of Hilo’s Waiākea Recreation Center. Work will include replacing the lower roof and structure, removing any hazardous building materials and modifying the facility so it meets federal Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.

Construction will start Monday, October 22, and is scheduled to be completed March 11, 2013. The center’s main building and parking area will be closed during this period.

Stan’s Contracting Inc. submitted the winning bid of $1,073,300 to complete those and other related renovations at the facility.

Waiākea Recreation Center’s Quonset hut and boxing-training room will remain open through much of the construction phase, with only brief closures when necessary to ensure the public’s safety. Since onsite parking will be severely limited, people utilizing those buildings should use on-street parking and other appropriately designated parking areas. Only the Kuawa Street driveway access will be kept open.

The department will move the Waiākea Recreation Center’s tatami mats to Pi‘ihonua Gymnasium at Gilbert Carvalho Park so martial arts practices, fitness programs and other functions may continue. To accommodate that move, Pi‘ihonua Gymnasium will be closed Monday, October 22, and be reopened for public use on Monday, November 5.

Questions about Waiākea Recreation Center programs should be directed to John Kushi, the department’s recreation director in charge of the center, who can be reached at 936-4721.

The Department of Parks and Recreation thanks users of the Waiākea Recreation Center and the general public for their patience while the facility is being repaired, enhanced and made more accessible.

For more information, please contact Jason Armstrong, Public Information Officer, at 345-9105, or jarmstrong@co.hawaii.hi.us.