Central O'ahu Regional Park one of a kind
| • | Map of the park and its features |
| • | Grand opening activities |
By Kapono Dowson
Advertiser Staff Writer
Many Leeward residents, particularly the sports-oriented kind, can't wait to use their new Central O'ahu Regional Park, which opens Saturday in the Waiola and Waipi'o Gentry area.
Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser
At 100 acres now, and with 169 additional acres by the time it's completed in the next three or four years, the park will be "state of the art and nothing like our state has ever seen before," said Dennis Kodama, city project manager in design and construction.
Anselmo Morales from Nakamura Landscaping tends to the grass at one of the park's two regulation-size baseball fields.
It includes multipurpose athletic fields, four youth athletic fields and two regulation-size baseball diamonds, with much more to come, including softball, tennis and aquatic complexes.
Martin Burke, a member of the Waipahu Neighborhood Board and the Mayor's Sports Task Force, remembers when he first joined residents to form Friends of Waiola Park. He said the effort was spearheaded by former state Sen. Randy Iwase. Their group canvassed neighborhoods and stood in front of stores to gather grassroots support. Now, when he looks out at what used to be pineapple fields left fallow, Burke sees their dream coming true.
"This is one of those projects that before the city turned a shovelful of earth, they did it right. Instead of having government dictate the specifications, the city spent hundreds of hours getting community input," Burke said.
When complete, the park will boast more than three miles of walking paths and 3,000 trees. It already includes 20 picnic benches and two comfort stations, with three more on the way. On opening day, 232 parking spaces will be available, with 464 slated.
It was a big undertaking, costing the city $6.5 million for the property and $20.1 million for the first-phase construction. SSFM International and Walters, Kimura and Motoda Inc. designed the project; Dick Pacific Construction was the contractor.
After 10 years of discussion and planning, the park project became a reality in 1999, when city officials and landowner Castle & Cooke agreed to swap the 269-acre parcel for $4.5 million and a city-owned, residential-zoned 40-acre parcel in Waipahu. Construction for the first phase of the park started 19 months ago. According to city officials, two more development phases will follow.
"I think the public will be excited to see it open and to be able to use it," said Glenn Ah Sam, district director and president of the Babe Ruth baseball league, Cal Ripken Division.
Ah Sam, who also belongs to the Mayor's Sports Task Force baseball section, said area youth leagues and high school teams are already planning to use the fields. "They'll have to work out how they're going to assign the fields, divide them up so everybody can have their equal time," he said.
Glenn Kajiwara, who is a volunteer coach for the Waipi'o Warriors, a Little League team, noted that baseball is played year-round in the Islands. He said the regional park was made to accommodate the entire Island and will help with scheduling games.
Burke said the new regional park will add to the community's quality of life. "I can't wait, my bike is ready to go," he said. "I can't wait to walk it, too. But I'm also going to take some time to sit under a tree and say we did something right here.
GRAND OPENING ACTIVITIES
• What: Central O'ahu Regional Park Grand Opening Sports Fest
• When: Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Where: Central O'ahu Regional Park in Waiola, Ka Uka Boulevard and Kamehameha Highway
• Admission: Free
• Getting In & Out: Enter from Ka Uka Boulevard and leave by Waipi'o Uka Street exit
• Parking: Free. Hundreds of regular parking slots in park, with 1,000 spaces added for special event. Parking also at Okinawan Cultural Center, two blocks away. Shuttle service provided.
• Schedule: Grand opening ceremony 11-11:30 a.m. at youth baseball field No. 2, followed by celebrity home run derby; other activities run all day long.
• Entertainment: Kapena, Willie K., Chant, Reign, Dita Holifield, Gordon Freitas & Local Folks
• Activities: Baseball, soccer, football, lacrosse, rugby, cricket and archery games, Wooden Bat Baseball Tournament, semipro football playoff, keiki inflatables, games, rides, petting zoo, local food and craft booths
• Free food: Popcorn, cotton candy, shave ice and watermelon
• Food for $1: Hot dog or chili and rice, with a drink
