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| Na'alehu Park is the target of improvements, including new lights so the park can be used at night. Here the Park was site of Little League State Championships in 2019. Photo from Kaʻū Little League. |
IMPROVEMENTS TO THREE COMMUNITY PARKS IN THE KAʻŪ AREA have been announced by County of Hawai'i Department of Parks & Recreation. "They are among the department's many efforts to ensure residents have safe, accessible, and quality parks and recreational facilities to meet their varied and numerous needs," says a statement from the County, which notes more than 130 projects at parks around the island.
"We have worked diligently to address the years of deferred maintenance at our parks and facilities island-wide, and I am incredibly proud of our team for the tremendous progress we've made thus far," said Mayor Mitch Roth.
"We have worked diligently to address the years of deferred maintenance at our parks and facilities island-wide, and I am incredibly proud of our team for the tremendous progress we've made thus far," said Mayor Mitch Roth.
The statement says, "One of the projects, at Miloli'i Beach Park, marks a significant milestone in the decades-long effort to ensure island-wide accessibility at numerous park sites and facilities for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). When work begins at Miloli'i Beach Park in September, it will represent a significant milestone for the County as the final park site from a 1998 legal settlement to undergo construction."
Maurice Messina, Director of Parks & Recreation, said, "Ensuring everyone can access our parks has been a top priority these last several years, and we are proud to have made tremendous progress in this area. Three years ago, the department had 12 remaining ADA Transition Plan park projects to implement, but we are now about to start the final project on that list."
Here are the Kaʻū area projects as described by the County:
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| Miloli'i Pavilion will be replaced with new parking, restrooms and expanded recreational areas. Photo by Julia Neal |
Here are the Kaʻū area projects as described by the County:
Miloli'i Beach Park – This accessibility improvement project, which will provide for a new pavilion and comfort station (in replacement of existing facilities); new children's playground equipment; improvements to the existing outdoor sports court; development of a new paved parking lot; new accessible walkways and picnic amenities; and new potable water system, fire protection system, and electrical system, is scheduled to begin construction in early September. This project is the final full park site requiring modifications for compliance with the County's federally mandated ADA Transition Plan.
Wai'ōhinu Park – Efforts are underway to contract a design team to prepare plans for a new comfort station at this park to replace the original facilities that were closed due to multiple failures of its utilities and continued failings of the structure itself. The department is committed to seeing this new facility realized and the park's dependence on portable toilets eliminated for good.
Nā'ālehu Park – A contract has been executed for a contractor to remove the deteriorated and non-functioning lights, ballasts, and metal platform/cages atop the tall, metal light poles that serve the ballfield. The contractor will also remove all existing electrical conductors and components due to past issues with shorts and unintended electrification of the metal poles. The intent is to safely remove these failing elements to ensure the ongoing safety of park users but retain the poles for potential future restoration of the lighting system for nighttime play. Materials have been ordered for this project and a start date is being coordinated.
Wai'ōhinu Park – Efforts are underway to contract a design team to prepare plans for a new comfort station at this park to replace the original facilities that were closed due to multiple failures of its utilities and continued failings of the structure itself. The department is committed to seeing this new facility realized and the park's dependence on portable toilets eliminated for good.
Nā'ālehu Park – A contract has been executed for a contractor to remove the deteriorated and non-functioning lights, ballasts, and metal platform/cages atop the tall, metal light poles that serve the ballfield. The contractor will also remove all existing electrical conductors and components due to past issues with shorts and unintended electrification of the metal poles. The intent is to safely remove these failing elements to ensure the ongoing safety of park users but retain the poles for potential future restoration of the lighting system for nighttime play. Materials have been ordered for this project and a start date is being coordinated.
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| "Our Democracy must be grounded in civil discourse, said Kaʻū's Congresswoman Jill Tokuda, following the shooting of Donald Trump on Saturday. |
One attendee died from a gunshot would to the head. Two other mean remain in critical condition. Trump walked away from the shooting, pumping his fist into the air, saying, "Fight, fight..." while the crowd yelled "USA, USA." Trump visited a hospital, was released and flew to New Jersey, saying he looks forward to the Republican Convention in Milwaukee, WI next week where he expects to be named the Republican nominee for the presidency.
In Hawai'i, Gov. Josh Green said, “As a nation we can never accept violence in the political arena or any other circumstance. I wish the former president a full recovery and send my condolences to the family of the person who was killed.”
Kaʻū's representative in Congress, Jill Tokuda, said, “Sending out my deep condolences to those affected by today’s tragic incident, and prayers of recovery and safety to everyone impacted.
"Our democracy must be grounded in civil discourse, mutual respect, and most of all aloha. These kinds of horrific acts only serve to silence and instill fear, and do not reflect the values of our country. We are
better than this, and we must come together to reject all violence.”
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| Hawai'i Republican Party Chair Tamara McKay said that Americans must uphold values of respect and civility, following the shooting of Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania. |
Congressman Ed Case said, “Our hearts go out to the innocent lost and we pray for President Trump
and the others wounded. Violence must not be the answer. Voters, not guns, must decide
elections."
The President of the Hawai'i Republican Party, Tamara McKay, said, "This senseless act of violence is a stark reminder that we, as Americans, must reject such actions and uphold our values of respect and civility. Our country is built on the principles of democracy and peaceful discourse. This senseless act of violence is a stark reminder that we, as Americans, must reject such actions and uphold our values of respect and civility. Our country is built on the principles of democracy and peaceful discourse.”
Vice. President Kamala Harris said that she and her husband are praying for Trump, "his family, and all those who have been injured and impacted by this senseless shooting. We are grateful to the United States Secret Service, first responders, and local authorities for their immediate action. Violence such as this has no place in our nation. We must all condemn this abhorrent act and do our part to ensure that it does not lead to more violence."
Pres. Joe Biden said that he talked to Trump and "I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well. I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information. Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it."
The Biden campaign suspended its advertising and the President returned to the White House.
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