State of Hawai'i County 2005 Year in Review/2006 Looking Forward

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State of the County 2005 - The Year in Review 2006 - Looking Forward: Projects and Issues Parks and Recreation Patricia Engelhard, Director Accomplishments for West Hawaii in 2005 • More than 10,000 people attended the 12th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Waimea. • Many volunteer parks improvement projects; notably, the work by West Hawaii Veterans groups, partnering with West Hawaii developers in the beautification of the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery and the reforestation of the pu'u above the cemetery, the completion of the Lifeguard Tower at Kahalu'u Beach Park by Territorial Builders and the work by groups, headed by Robin Lamson, at Kahuku Park in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates. • The acquisition and maintenance of Waiaha Beach Park (Honl's)with help from County Planning, Ed Rapoza and the Friends of Waiaha Beach Park. • Kalai Iki Youth Baseball Camp with 300 participants at Kailua Park with the help of Kukio Foundation, the Kanuha Foundation, Jack Gifford Foundation and several mainland and Hawai'i college coaches. • Resurfacing of Hiaashihara and Kailua Park Tennis Courts and Kailua Playciround Courts as well as Waimea Park Tennis Courts. • Completion of Greenwell Park ADA and baseball field improvements including lights. • Completion of improvements to the historic Waimea Corner and old Kohala Courthouse re-roofing. • Continuation of several popular youth events such as the Novice Swim program at Kona Community Aquatics Center and the Kohala Pool, the Junior Lifeguard Programs at Hapuna and Kahalu'u and the Exponent Track meets at Konawaena in preparation for the Hershey Track Meet. • Continuation of programs for older adults including Kupuna Softball at Kailua Park, Senior Olympics in Kohala, the 23rd Annual Kupuna Hula Festival at the King Kamehameha Hotel and Senior Bowling. Future Projects for West Hawaii • The completion of the restrooms at Hiaashihara Park by the Kona Lions and the repainting of Yano Hall Roof. • Three new outdoor basketball courts at Kailua Park by Tinguely Development. • Hawaii County Centennial Exhibit will be coming to the King Kamehameha Hotel for three weeks starting on February 13, 2006. Some of the interesting components include ledgers from West Hawaii County from 1905/06. • Schuler Homes should be turning over Lunalilo Playground at Pualani Subdivision soon, at which time it will be open to the public. • Lokahi Makai development anticipates turning over their new 5-acre park in North Kona during 2006. This will also be a public park • With the new CIP funds, we should be starting the planning for Alii Kai subdivision park. • ADA improvements should be started by year-end at Kailua Park, Hiaashihara Park, Kamehameha Park, Pu'unui Street Park in Waikoloa and Hale Halawai.