(BIVN) – The Hawaiʻi County Department of Parks and Recreation is struggling to keep the busy Pāhoa pool adequately staffed, while simultaneously working on a number of other post-eruption recovery projects at the district park and around Puna.

The Hawaiʻi County Council Committee on Parks and Recreation heard an update from top parks & rec officials during a meeting held in Hilo on August 6. Puna councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz requested the presentation. Parks and Rec Deputy Director Maurice Messina did most of the talking via teleconference from Kona.

Kierkiewicz noted that there has been a significant increase in the number of people using the Pāhoa pool; almost 700 a day, as of June 2019. Messina says they have been closing the pool daily for lunch-time breaks, so the lifeguards can eat, clean the bathroom, and maintain a proper chemical balance in the heavily-used pool.