PAHOA, Hawaii – Mayor Billy Kenoi spoke during the Grand Opening Celebration for the new, $22 million Pahoa District Park on Saturday morning.

The mayor was cheered as he took to the podium, where he thanked his hard working Parks and Recreation staff and contractor Nan Inc for finishing the first phase of the project.

“We wanted this place to be for every child, no matter what they play,” Kenoi said of the facility that includes a large covered play court, two baseball fields, two multi-purpose fields, a playground, and ample parking.

“When you live in Puna, everybody make like: how come our stuff stay broken, how come we get duck tape, how come we gotta use bungee cord?” Kenoi joked. “I like the kids in Puna feel special when the kids come from Hilo for tournaments, or they come from Kona. I like the kids in Puna hold their head up, and feel proud, because the most beautiful recreation facility in the entire state of Hawaii is in Pahoa.”

“We know in Puna,” Kenoi continued, “this the the most affordable community in the entire state of Hawaii, so our kids and families only going grow. And as much as people think (the park) might be big, I guarantee you a couple years from now, guys gonna be fighting over fields and courts and times and coaching. They gonna be talking about ‘we should of made ’em bigger!'”

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