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| Traditional roofline shown on preliminary design of the new Ka`u shelter and gym to be built makai of the campus offices. |
PRELIMINARY PLANS for the new Ka`u regional disaster shelter and community and school gym went to the public last night, and community members are invited to join the discussion again tonight from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pahala School cafeteria.
Preliminary drawings show rooflines similar to other buildings on the historic campus. Tentative size is 40,000 square feet. Tentative site is just makai of the parking lot in front of the school office building, keeping it away from houses surrounding the campus.
Preliminary design would allow for the entire student body and guests – more than 700 people – to sit in bleachers on one side of the gym facing a stage for community events. During basketball and volleyball tournaments, the stage would be removed, and bleachers would be extended toward the court. Bleachers on the other side would be partially retracted to complete seating on both sides of the gym.
Preliminary design would allow for the entire student body and guests – more than 700 people – to sit in bleachers on one side of the gym facing a stage for community events. During basketball and volleyball tournaments, the stage would be removed, and bleachers would be extended toward the court. Bleachers on the other side would be partially retracted to complete seating on both sides of the gym.
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| Planners may apply for a variance to allow grassy overflow parking areas to remain around the new gym. |
Planners said existing parking may help meet requirements of one stall for every four seats in the gym bleachers. With 700 seats, 175 parking stalls would be required. Parking lots closest to the football field, the offices and the school library may qualify.
Department of Public Works director Warren Lee said it may be possible to apply with the county Planning Department for a variance to allow overflow parking on the grassy area around the gym. This could retain some of the village green atmosphere for outdoor recreation around the gym and overflow parking during busy events. The grassy area has been used for overflow since the school was opened. Having grass instead of pavement may also save the expense of paving parking lots, and the money could be put into the actual gym, said Aaron Fujii, chief operating officer of the consulting architecture and engineering firm Mitsunaga & Associates.
Concerning vog protection, an air cleaning system would be installed for bad air days. It would filter air coming into the gym and push out the foul air, said Fujii. He said locker rooms, wrestling, judo, fitness and community activities rooms could be air conditioned to eliminate vog.
County Department of Parks & Recreation planners said they have been working hard to design the gym for tournament play. Guy Enriques, who has coached volleyball at Ka`u and Kamehameha School in Kea`au, suggested that planners look at the Kamehameha School-Kea`au gym for design ideas.
Department of Public Works director Warren Lee said it may be possible to apply with the county Planning Department for a variance to allow overflow parking on the grassy area around the gym. This could retain some of the village green atmosphere for outdoor recreation around the gym and overflow parking during busy events. The grassy area has been used for overflow since the school was opened. Having grass instead of pavement may also save the expense of paving parking lots, and the money could be put into the actual gym, said Aaron Fujii, chief operating officer of the consulting architecture and engineering firm Mitsunaga & Associates.
Concerning vog protection, an air cleaning system would be installed for bad air days. It would filter air coming into the gym and push out the foul air, said Fujii. He said locker rooms, wrestling, judo, fitness and community activities rooms could be air conditioned to eliminate vog.
County Department of Parks & Recreation planners said they have been working hard to design the gym for tournament play. Guy Enriques, who has coached volleyball at Ka`u and Kamehameha School in Kea`au, suggested that planners look at the Kamehameha School-Kea`au gym for design ideas.
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| Park planners, coaches and the school athletic director put their heads together on court design. |
Ka`u High athletic director Kalei Namohala also said she wanted courts for tournament play. They all agreed that a tentative plan would be for an NCAA-size basketball court, which could convert to three volleyball courts. County planners noted that a gymnasium designed to host tournaments could bring teams to the school and create income for the community. They referred to tournaments in Kona that each can bring in some $50,000 to the community.
Planners also talked about constructing the building to withstand category three hurricanes with up to 115 mph-winds. Fujii said that he would like to plant trees around the building, but that disaster shelter status requires keeping trees away from the structure. Whether trees would have to be cut down on the campus remains a question. So does the plan to make the building earthquake-proof. Another issue is the degree of lighting that would be required for parking and whether it would protect the dark night skies of Ka`u.
The discussion continues with the public this evening from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pahala School cafeteria. Everyone is invited. This will be a community center open to everyone and operated by the county Department of Parks & Recreation. The state has already released more than $16 million to the county to build it.
Planners hope to have the design and engineering done by spring and construction sometime next year.
A KA`U COFFEE FARMER has called police claiming that 2,000 to 4,000 pounds of coffee cherry were stripped from trees. Police are investigating and seeking information on the case, and anyone with information can call the non-emergency line at 935-3311. Anonymous tipsters may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 and could receive a $1,000 reward.
According to a release from the police department, the farmer claimed that one or more persons entered a property off an old cane haul road above Pahala sometime between 5:30 p.m. Dec. 9 and 7:30 a.m. Dec. 11. Trees were damaged, and the loss is estimated between $3,300 and $6,600, the farmer contended.
Planners also talked about constructing the building to withstand category three hurricanes with up to 115 mph-winds. Fujii said that he would like to plant trees around the building, but that disaster shelter status requires keeping trees away from the structure. Whether trees would have to be cut down on the campus remains a question. So does the plan to make the building earthquake-proof. Another issue is the degree of lighting that would be required for parking and whether it would protect the dark night skies of Ka`u.
The discussion continues with the public this evening from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pahala School cafeteria. Everyone is invited. This will be a community center open to everyone and operated by the county Department of Parks & Recreation. The state has already released more than $16 million to the county to build it.
Planners hope to have the design and engineering done by spring and construction sometime next year.
A KA`U COFFEE FARMER has called police claiming that 2,000 to 4,000 pounds of coffee cherry were stripped from trees. Police are investigating and seeking information on the case, and anyone with information can call the non-emergency line at 935-3311. Anonymous tipsters may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 and could receive a $1,000 reward.
According to a release from the police department, the farmer claimed that one or more persons entered a property off an old cane haul road above Pahala sometime between 5:30 p.m. Dec. 9 and 7:30 a.m. Dec. 11. Trees were damaged, and the loss is estimated between $3,300 and $6,600, the farmer contended.
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| John and Hope Keawe |
KILAUEA VISITOR CENTER AUDITORIUM in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park will be filled with Hawaiian music and hula tonight and tomorrow night. John and Hope Keawe perform at After Dark in the Park tonight at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Donations of two dollars support park programs. Park entrance fees apply.
Tomorrow, Haunani’s Aloha Expressions share their aloha from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Hawaiian kane and wahine kupuna, who make all of their own colorful costumes and lei and sing and dance hapa-haole hula, have performed at the park’s annual cultural festival for many years.
