To honor the enduring legacy of James “Jimmy” Correa — affectionately known as the “Father of Hilo Baseball” — a dedication ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Francis Wong Stadium within the Ho‘olulu Complex.
At this public event, newly expanded stadium signage will be unveiled, proudly displaying the designation of the James “Jimmy” Correa Ballfield.
The initiative to name the ballfield after Correa stemmed from a grassroots movement that amassed over 1,000 signatures on a petition.
This collective effort spurred the introduction of Bill 103 by Hawaii County Council members Ashley Kierkiewicz and Sue Lee Loy. With unanimous support from the council, the bill was enacted as Ordinance 24-3 by Mayor Mitch Roth, symbolizing a milestone in recognizing Correa’s impact on the sport.
In a further tribute to Correa’s legacy, state Rep. Chris Todd, in collaboration with Lee Loy, secured $1 million from the state — matched by a $1 million contribution from the county — for enhancements to the ballfield site to ensure the continued benefit of current and future generations of athletes and their families.