WILHELMINA RISE — It's been about five years since the recreation center at Maunalani Community Park at the top of Wilhelmina Rise was closed by the city after the discovery of asbestos and termite damage.

And after several delays, construction to the facility, which began in October 2006, is expected to be completed by the end of the summer.

It was originally slated to open in April.

"Five years is a long time for a building to be closed," said Eduardo Hernandez, Maunalani Heights resident and chairman of the Kaimuki Neighborhood Board.

The building, which overlooks a small field at the park, was deemed a hazard and closed.

The rest of the park — with a basketball court, tennis court and small playground — remained open.

Demolition and renovation to the building began in October 2006; work was expected to last six months.

REPEATED DELAYS

But there have been several delays to the project that have pushed back the completion date and raised the total cost of the work, said Eugene Lee, director of the city's Department of Design and Construction.

Right now work has stopped at the park as crews wait for a transformer to come in from Hawaiian Electric Co., said Walter Arakaki, owner of Walter Y. Arakaki General Contractor Inc. Most of the work to the building is done, he said.

"More or less, this is what's holding (the project) up," Arakaki said.

Another delay was caused by moisture readings in the concrete floors that exceeded the limit allowed for the flooring, said Jay Ishibashi, who represented the mayor's office at last month's Kaimuki Neighborhood Board meeting.

A change in the contract was made to install a sealant on the floor that would permit the flooring to be installed, he said.

That work was scheduled for last week.

Currently, the city is negotiating the costs of a storm drainage system with contractors, Ishibashi said.

"I'm very happy we're finally getting this park completed, but on the other hand ... it's been an extreme frustration for me as well as for the community," said City Councilman Charles Djou, who represents the area. "If anybody needs a lesson on how the wheels of government turn slowly, I think there's definitely a case study in this."

Some residents have voiced concerns about the vacant building, which has been vandalized. Some have also complained that the contractor hasn't been properly securing the site, Hernandez said.

Lee said city inspectors have checked the work site and haven't reported any problems.

The city hopes to schedule a dedication ceremony for the building in September, Ishibashi told the neighborhood board.

"I hope he's right" and the work will be finished, Hernandez said. "And I also hope it doesn't end up costing taxpayers multimillions of dollars."

Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.