Posted on: Wednesday, September 15, 2004
Leeward Y will add $10M fitness center
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
Ed and Cyndi Charlton enjoy living in 'Ewa Beach but miss having a fitness center nearby for workouts.
Courtesy YMCA His 38-year-old wife, who works in Kaka'ako, exercises regularly at Curves for Women in 'Ewa Beach but would like more variety, perhaps a chance to do yoga or aerobics. More importantly, she'd like to work out with her husband and her son, who'll be 10 in October.
The Leeward YMCA at the old sugar mill site in Waipahu is building a fitness center to address the needs of young families like the Charltons.
Ground will be broken for the $10 million project at 11 a.m. Friday at the Leeward YMCA, 94-440 Mokuola St., next to the Filipino Community Center. The YMCA plans to convert the mill's old generator building into an activity center and construct a swimming pool next to the existing smokestack.
A market study commissioned in November 2001 by the YMCA projected that the new facility, scheduled to be completed by late 2005 or early 2006, could increase membership at the Leeward Y to 5,700, making it the largest branch in Hawai'i, said Don Anderson, YMCA of Honolulu's retired president and chief executive officer. He is directing the organization's $30 million capital campaign effort.
"This is going to be awesome," Cyndi Charlton said of the Leeward Y's plans. "It offers us something we can do as a family."
Location: 94-440 Mokuola St., Waipahu. Director: Donna (Iha) Kranz, associate executive director. History: Waipahu YMCA program was created in 1990 in response to youth gang activity in Waipahu. Rented office space at Westgate Shopping Center. Bobby Stivers named executive director in 1991. Board of managers chartered in 1992 and name changed to Leeward YMCA. Enrollments grew from 412 in 1990 to 3,033 in 1995. YMCA's "Cities in Schools" program and five YMCA teen substance-abuse counselors are at Waipahu and served additional 2,800 at-risk youths last year. The sugar mill connection: In 1998, YMCA moved to the old sugar mill's 4-acre site. YMCA purchased two acres from Amfac, and Amfac later donated two more acres on condition that the YMCA maintain the historic smokestack. The land has 7,424 square feet of finished building space and another 7,000 square feet (the generator building) for renovation. New fitness center: Work on a new $10 million fitness center begins with a groundbreaking on Friday. The pool will be 25 yards long and have six lanes.
"It'll fill a void in the community for working families, giving them a place to go for quality programs at an affordable price," Anderson said of the Leeward Y project. The Y will have scholarships available for families who cannot afford membership, he added.
Donna (Iha) Kranz, Leeward Y's associate executive director, said 95 percent of the programs offered by the branch are for children. Most are A-Plus programs at 13 school sites, and parents of those children account for the majority of the 2,000 members, she said.
The fitness center will transform Leeward Y into a full-service branch. "A lot of people don't know we exist," Kranz said, "but there's no doubt in my mind (the fitness center) will require little advertisement (to get members)."
The Leeward Y project also will create a total of 49 full-time and part-time jobs.
In addition to the expansion at Waipahu, the YMCA's capital campaign includes construction of a facility in Waia'nae, at 86-071 Leihoku St. Workers will begin grading the property late this year and the facility could be open by late 2005, said Anderson.
YMCA also has acquired three acres from Campbell Estate next to the library in Kapolei for a future, as yet unplanned, project.
"That's where the action is — where the families with young children are," Anderson said of Leeward O'ahu.
"And that's where the Y belongs."
The first of the current capital campaign projects to be completed in May or June 2005 will be the new Kalihi YMCA. Other projects include the expansion of Windward YMCA to triple its size and major renovation of Central YMCA at Ala Moana.
Reach Rod Ohira at 535-8181 or rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.
"There's nothing on this side of the island," said Ed Charlton, a 40-year-old construction worker who has ignored the weights in his garage. "It's better to go to a gym. Pearl City is too far to drive and membership is so expensive."
The old Oahu Sugar Co. generator building will be converted into an activity center, with a swimming pool built next to the smokestack.
Two of the generator building's three levels are below street level. The mezzanine level will have a cardio center and strength training room; two large multi-purpose rooms for meetings and classes will be on the first lower level. The bottom level will be used for office and storage.
Operations based in Waipahu
