HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0756.031 2022-2024 P/5. Council
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Testimony in Support of Bill 137, CIP Budget In T Y OF VI AVIA E
Thank you County Council Members for considering fundin fpr.. pnolsa`a Swimming Pool.
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The Honoka`a Pool is an important resource for the well being of the Hamakua community. Living on an
island, swimming and water skills are critical. The Honoka`a pool provides an important foundation for
children to learn to swim and to practice those skills as they grow up. The senior population depends on the
pool for regular safe exercise-there is a large and enthusiastic group of Water Aerobics participants. It also
serves as social hub for a broad section of community members.The pool is used by special needs people,
enabling them to practice for the Special Olympics. There are experienced swimmers with histories woven
around water recreation and sports, lifeguarding and swimming competitions, as well as people just
discovering the benefits to health and wellbeing of time spent in the water; all of whom depend on the pool as
a critical resource.
The Honoka`a Pool is unique in that it was built by the community in partnership with the County.
Construction of the pool began on January 31, 1959. The dedication was held on March 6, 1960 and drew over
1,000 people to a luau and dance marking the occasion. The pool was constructed with volunteer labor and
equipment loaned by civic groups, sugar company officials, community members and ILWU units.Nearly
$23,000 in cash donations was raised from the community with the County allotting similar funding to
construct the office and locker room structure. (Honolulu Star Bulletin, March 7, 1960)
In the early 2,000's the community group,Friends of Honoka`a Pool, was formed to find and fix the leak was
threatening to shut down the pool.After the group met that challenge,they continued with renovations which
included rebuilding the plumbing and pump systems, installing solar water heating for the both the pool and
the showers as well as numerous other improvements.
In 2012,the Friends of Honoka`a Pool, in collaboration with the County,repaired the pool deck and patched
and painted the pool basin. These repairs kept the pool open and operating until the last day of the year in
2018. On that date the pool was closed due the deterioration of the roof of the locker room and office building.
After a total rebuild of the building structure by the County, and enduring pandemic constraints,the
community was excited for the pool to open.
However,there were major obstacles. The pool pump had failed, and the integrity of the original concrete
structure of the pool machine & equipment room, located below the pool deck on the street level,was called
into question.
Friends of Honoka`a Pool was able to get the failed pump repaired.Working with Engineering Partners Inc
(EPI), who donated their services, an engineering plan for shoring up the machine room was developed and
implemented. The plan designates a five-year time frame for the structural integrity of the equipment room
following the repairs.After that a comprehensive rebuild of the machine room is required to keep the pool
operating safely.
The Honoka`a Pool successfully reopened on April 12,2022, and the community and County have been
working together since to continue to improve the pool.The five-year window for the equipment room
renovation closes in 2027.The funding requested will begin the process of rebuilding the machine room. This
funding is critical to keeping the Honoka`a Pool open and functioning as a critical resource for the Hamakua
Community. This project is also a model for how much can be accomplished when the public and private
sectors are able to successfully work together.
The Friends of the Honoka`a Pool, and the Hamakua community thank you for your consideration on this 11
matter. Comm. o. �V 1
Sarah Anderson for Friends of Honoka`a Pool Ref. To:
Ref. Dote AMY 3 0 2024