Ke'ehi halau nears completion
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
Scotty Thompson, a member of Ka Mamalahoe canoe club, can't wait for the new canoe halau at Ke'ehi Lagoon Beach Park to open.
Photos by Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
"It's excellent," Thompson said. "It's right there where we race. It is well thought out and the grill work — what the guy did with the paddles and the waves — is awesome."
Workers Paul Mirafuentes, left, and Fred Manuel with Tokunaga Masonry, set large rocks into a gravel bed which will become a driveway at the new Ke'ehi Lagoon canoe halau, in background.
Scotty Thompson admires the metalwork on the large gates at the halau, which has a canoe paddle and wave design. Thompson's canoe club, Ka Mamalahoe, will benefit from the new halau.
Ka Mamalahoe plans to store some of its canoes at the facility, he said.
Basic construction on the city's $700,000 canoe halau has been completed, but work finishing the driveway and planting grass is needed before the facility can open in 60 to 90 days, said Ben Lee, city managing director.
"The paddle gates are a great way to integrate the artwork with the architecture," Lee said.
The halau is similar to facilities at Kailua and Maunalua Bay Beach Park, with racks to store canoes upside-down with their outrigger, or ama, removed. The Ke'ehi and Maunalua facilities were designed by Bill Chang.
The Ke'ehi halau will accommodate 27 six-person canoes 40 to 46 feet long, and 12 one-person canoes or kayaks in a secured building.
"(The city) allowed all of us to meet with the architect and planners," Thompson said. "It had been moved around to a couple different places from where it was originally conceived 20 years ago. Now, everybody is quite happy with the location, how it looks and it's great."
Ke'ehi Lagoon is one of O'ahu's primary locations for canoe races, home to three canoe clubs — Alapa Hoe, Kai Poha and Kalihi-Kai — and a practice site for several public high school teams.
Both the O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association and Na Ohana O Na Hui Wa'i stage regattas there during the racing season. A half-mile competition course is laid out in waters in front of the park, which can accommodate 10 to 14 lanes about 80 feet wide.
The Ke'ehi halau is 50 feet square and about 25 feet tall. Exterior improvements include an uncovered lanai area for repairs and instruction, disabled-access walkways connecting to existing walkways, and a loading/unloading area for canoes.
The city expects to complete more canoe facilities this year at Makaha, Nanakuli, Poka'i Bay, Ala Moana and at Ala Wai Neighborhood Park. The city will also break ground for facilities in Waimanalo and Hale'iwa this year.
"It's a very popular sport and we want to make sure it will continue for many generations to come," Lee said.
Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.
