Residents weigh park group

By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser East Honolulu Writer

HAWAI'I KAI — With the city strapped for cash, a group of residents wants to form a nonprofit foundation that would pay for the construction of a pool and a teen center.

A parks foundation is not unheard of in Hawai'i. There is a Friends of Honolulu Parks and Recreation, made up of retired parks employees, that raises money each year and donates it to the city parks department. A similar group has organized at Haunama Bay, giving assistance in educating the public and with maintenance.

"The department wouldn't be opposed to something like that," said Toni Robinson, East Honolulu manager for the city Department of Parks and Recreation. "Any nonprofit interested in supporting the parks in their community would be greatly appreciated, either with monetary donations or manpower."

Barclay and others on the Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board Parks and Recreation Committee plan to discuss the scope of the nonprofit foundation Tuesday.

"I'd like to see us enhance the parks and general recreation because no one wants to step on the city's toes," Barclay said.

The idea of a nonprofit foundation was planted months ago when the community was debating the high cost of paying for monthly pool maintenance.

With a pool costing the city about $5 million to build and $1 million a year in maintenance, residents thought a nonprofit group could "adopt" the pool and pay for the annual maintenance.

If the board's parks committee agrees, the next step would be to draft a charter or mission statement, Barclay said. Then the committee would seek city support.

"We have a large community here," he said. "I think we'll get a good response. A lot of us want more for our parks. We want to support city recreation in Hawai'i Kai."