Residents continue to raise concerns about the lack of transparency pertaining to Hawaii County’s swimming pools.
The county Department of Parks and Recreation is continually recruiting and hiring full-time and part-time lifeguards for the pools. But due to an ongoing shortage of lifeguards, there have been many unexpected closures at the pools islandwide, which has caused many residents to miss out on their regular workouts, swim classes or swim clubs, or pain-mitigating therapy.
The Konawaena Pool, for example, was unexpectedly closed last Tuesday after 2:45 p.m. due to staffing shortages. Swimmers found out after a sign was posted on the gate.
“This is a pool I have been swimming at almost every day since 2003. I always swam peacefully while my father sat in the shade waiting to go on a walk,” said Kailua-Kona resident Karsten Oliva. “These closures feel disrespectful, especially since I’ve applied to be a full-time lifeguard multiple times.”
Oliva received four emails from Parks and Rec stating that he was not selected for any of the four SR-13 Lifeguard positions that he had applied for on Friday, June 30.
According to Oliva, he reached out to Parks and Rec Deputy Director Michelle Hiraishi to gain a clear understanding about what selection criteria were utilized to justify the decision.
Hiraishi responded to his email, saying that the selection is made based on the results of the interview, assessments and position suitability.
“I applied for the jobs in March, I got recertified, took the swim assessment and passed, and told Parks and Recreation that I could start right away during the interview,” Oliva said. “It just feels like there is some discrimination happening, and I don’t understand why they aren’t being transparent with us about a public resource.”
A frequent swimmer at the Honokaa Swimming Complex passed the swim assessments and was approved by the county to be a volunteer lifeguard, but is frustrated that they have not contacted her for help with the lifeguard shortage.
According to the resident, who asked to not be identified, she took about a year to get certified as a volunteer at the Honokaa pool, and in the last six to eight months, she has been asked to volunteer only one time.
She then applied and was found qualified by the county for a part-time lifeguard position, but no one called her for an interview.
In November 2022, she applied for a job at a resort, received an interview, and was hired in two days.
“I am enjoying working on the beach two days a week,” she said in an email. “But, I would much rather be giving back to our community in this much needed area.”
Parks and Rec Director Maurice Messina said the county is consistently recruiting and looking to hire 10 additional lifeguards throughout the county.
“We recently brought on a guard for Kohala and one for Laupahoehoe, and we still have many openings,” Messina said. “Anybody that would like to apply are encouraged to do so. Those interested in volunteering can contact our Aquatics Division.”
A recent post on the gate of the Kawamoto Swim Stadium in Hilo asks swimmers who may be interested to sign up for a new Friends of the “Sparky” Kawamoto Pool group, which would get together to help facilitate and finance improvement projects for the pool.
“We have worked with truly helpful Friends of the Parks and Pools groups through many projects,” Messina said. “The Honokaa and Kohala pools were able to be back up and running with the help of community collaboration.”
Sarah Anderson is part of the Friends of Honokaa Pool group and watched the community band together to reopen the Honokaa pool after three years.
Over the years, the Friends of the Honokaa Pool repaired and repainted the pool basin twice, convinced the county to repair and renovate the locker rooms, and paid for a repair to the pump motor that circulates the water.
“Parks and Recreation was planning to close the pool indefinitely to redo the entire thing, but the community banded together to make sure that didn’t happen,” Anderson said. “After many repairs and fundraisers, Parks and Recreation seemed to finally understand that we really could get the pool open, and they became more communicative and receptive to us.”
In April 2022, the Honokaa Swim Complex was able to open up for the first time since before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the pool also suffers from staffing shortages similar to the Kawamoto, Pahoa and Konawaena pools.
After a change in leadership in the Aquatics Division, a rule was implemented that requires two lifeguards on the pool deck at all times.
“I do believe this rule has made personnel issues more common,” Anderson said. “I think that a volunteer lifeguard program through Parks and Recreation would really help offset closures due to the staffing shortages and fill the gaps, but that has not been properly addressed yet.”
While Anderson understands the many frustration felt by residents trying to swim in the county pools, she does believe Parks and Recreation is working hard to address these issues.
“I work with the head lifeguard, Lisa, at the Honokaa pool and with the director of the Aquatics Division Alejandra (Flores-Morikami), and they try to let me know the schedule every day for the Honokaa pool, so I can let my email chain of people know if there are changes,” Anderson said. “There are still issues to solve, and we do experience difficulties with staffing, but I think coming together for the same goal can really help move things along.”
Parks and Recreation reopened the Laupahoehoe Swimming Pool on Friday, Sept. 1, after it closed due to a significant water leak in November 2022. The pool is open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. every Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Friday.
Although residents are excited to be using the pool, some are disappointed that all of the indoor showers in both restrooms are still not in service.
The Tribune-Herald reached out to Flores-Morikami for an interview, but did not receive a response.
Those interested in learning more about volunteer efforts can contact the Aquatics Division at aquatics@hawaiicounty.gov or over the phone at (808) 961-8694. Those interested in applying for a pool lifeguard position can do so at governmentjobs.com/careers/countyhawaii.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
