Hawaii County is looking to expand Kamakoa Nui Park in Waikoloa Village.
Bill 219, introduced by Kohala Councilman Tim Richards, would allocate $2 million for the project that includes improvements to existing infrastructure as well as adding pickleball and tennis courts to the capital budget. The funding would be realized via general obligation bonds, capital projects fund and/or other financing sources.
“This came out of a community talk story ask. Kamakoa Nui Park is one of our parks at the end of Waikoloa Village,” said Richards during a Tuesday meeting of the County Council Committee on Finance. “When it was built, as I understand, it was built incorrectly. The playing fields out there are in unusable condition.”
Richards said the skate park is in great shape, but the fields have become unusable.
“As we are looking to revitalize it, the suggestion came from the community how about pickleball? I didn’t even know we had that as a sport,” he quipped. “Everyone on council knows this $2 million is on our county wish list meaning we put it on as a first step going forward.”
Puna Councilman Matt Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder agreed the project should move forward.
“I think this is a really positive project for the community It references District 9 but I think it would also be servicing Districts one, eight and probably seven as well. Maybe the whole island,” he said.
Following discussion, the committee voted to forward the bill with favorable recommendation to the council for consideration.
Kamakoa Nui Park opened in 2011 as part of the Kamakoa Nui Workforce Housing project. A dog park has been proposed for the park since at least 2016, however, it has not come to fruition.
Email Laura Ruminski at lruminski@westhawaiitoday.com.