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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, October 25, 2007

Complex at McKinley in talking stage

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Roosevelt Stadium project is one of the biggest and most innovative in recent Hawai'i public school sports history, but it might be dwarfed by one at McKinley if grand plans there come to fruition.

McKinley athletic director Neal Takamori said he has been in discussion with several government, Department of Education and private parties to eventually develop a campus sports complex that would include a football stadium and six-lane synthetic track, renovated baseball field with added bleachers, plus a new softball field, swimming pool, gym, rifle range and tennis courts.

"We've been meeting with consultants; everything is still conceptual," Takamori said. "But it's exciting."

Takamori said the school will hold a "charrette" meeting on Nov. 9, in which about 25 to 30 people from interested groups will discuss the proposed project.

"It's basically to assess what flavor of people will be involved in this," Takamori said. "It could involve a partnership that's never been done before, involving the DOE, city and state governments, private businesses ..."

Takamori acknowledged that "a lot of hurdles" must be cleared.

"We have to look at the existing laws and see what may or may not be possible," he said.

Takamori said the idea first emerged about 10 years ago, and various alumni have provided pro bono service in researching it.

"I've learned a lot about the development process," Takamori said. "I found out that a lot of things are affected by what is happening around the world — even things like 9/11, or who is elected president."

Read Wes Nakama's blog on prep sports at http://blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.