Skateboarders' lobbying pays off
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
KAILUA — For years, O'ahu had only one city skateboard park. By the end of this year, there will be as many as 10 — and by the end of 2003, four more — all the result of a multimillion-dollar building boom intended to provide a place for for young people to pursue their sport legally.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
As many as six of the facilities will be completed this year, including the granddaddy of all Hawai'i skateboard parks — a 15,000-square-foot, $600,000 skate park that will make its official debut next month in Kailua. It's the biggest prize so far in a lobbying effort begun five years ago by the Association of Skateboarders in Hawai'i and some individual skaters.
The Keolu Neighborhood Park's skateboard facility, five years in the making, will open next month. But even before the project is completed, skaters line up daily to breach the fence once the construction workers are gone.
"There's a need for facilities where kids can go and practice without risk of getting arrested or getting hit by a car," said Chuck Mitsui, a skate park advocate and designer and president of the nonprofit ASH group.
For decades youths have had to use bank stairs, park benches, street curbs and mall planters to practice their sport. Police and business owners are constantly chasing skaters away, accusing them of causing a nuisance and damaging property.
As it has done in other communities, ASH helped organize the youths to petition for a park in Kailua and encouraged them to stay involved during the planning process. They also helped with the design and construction phases. And that has paid off in other ways.
Kekoa Lum, 14, said the experience taught him a lot about projects, including the long wait for completion, but he feels proud of the end product.
"You feel good because you had a say," Lum said. "It's like, yah. I fought for that thing over there. I wanted that and I got it."
The Kailua park has been five years in the making, and skaters simply couldn't wait any longer once its surface was laid down. Even before the facility was finished, skaters were soaring on its swooping bowls, benches and free-form transitions.
City skate parks on a roll
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Existing parks: 'Ewa Beach Community Park; Pilila'au Park, Wai'anae; Makiki, under H-1; Makiki District Park.
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Skate parks under construction: 'A'ala Park; Kamiloiki Park, inline hockey and skateboard; Kaoma'aiku Neighborhood Park, inline hockey; Mililani District Park; Kailua District Park; Keolu Neighborhood Park.
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Skate parks whose contracts have been awarded: Banzai Support Park, Hale'iwa Regional Park, Kane'ohe District Park, Manana Community Park.
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Parks being planned: Village Park Skateboard Facility, Waipahu Skateboard Facility, 'Aiea-Pearl City Skate Park, Central O'ahu Regional Park, Kalihi Valley District Park, Kapolei Regional Park, Kokohead District Park.
They line up daily to breach the fence around the project and test their skills on the concrete arena once the workers are gone.
Not only do officials say the skaters are trespassing and liability is an issue, but there is concern also that skate tracks will mar the newly finished concrete and the final stain on the surface. But skaters have paid little heed to requests to keep out until the park is opened.
The Keolu skate park is part of a larger $729,500 project that includes complete renovation of the comfort station there, construction of access sidewalks and pathway, and a volleyball court. The project is accessible to people with disabilities and should be completed in about three weeks.
O'ahu's inventory of skate parks will continue to grow over the next few years, said Eric Crispin, deputy director for the Department of Design and Construction. Besides the six expected to be completed this year, contracts for four more have been awarded and seven more parks are in various stages of planning, for a total of 21 by perhaps 2005.
There are several other skateboard facilities around O'ahu, but most are temporary structures.
Keolu was one of the first parks designed by kids. Other parks have since involved youth participation, including facilities in Hawai'i Kai, Kane'ohe, Hale'iwa, Manana, Mililani and Kalihi, Crispin said.
The city is still learning about skate park design and construction and it has been helpful that skaters have come forward to give their input on such issues as tolerances and finishes, he said.
"We think it worked out very well because of the level of expectations and the minute details that might be overlooked by the contractor," said Crispin, who has found the feedback invaluable. "It's been a good interactive process with the end user."
Alan Shintani, project contractor, said the skateboarders were even involved in the construction of the Kailua park. They were invited to the concrete pours, and adjustments were made on the spot.
"The guys that are actually using it are giving us feedback and contributing to the final product," Shintani said. "It takes a little longer, but it's rewarding on our side because we have a happy customer."
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.
