After a horn blew as their signal, students from Ke Ana La‘ahana Public Charter School excitedly jumped into the water together Tuesday as the first swimmers to enter the newly rebuilt NAS Swimming Pool.
After more than four years, the Hilo pool reopened Tuesday morning after a quick ceremony and blessing followed by recreational swimming time.
When other county pools began to reopen after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, NAS stayed shuttered as Hawaii County Parks and Recreation began making plans to rebuild the facility to bring it into compliance with the federal American with Disabilities Act.
Isemoto Contracting was awarded the contract in 2020 and in 2022 began the complete reconstruction of the facility, which was built in the 1940s.
“All this was gravel a year and a half ago. We truly built this from the ground up, and I’m so impressed with Isemoto Contracting and everything they were able to do,” said Parks and Rec Director Maurice Messina. “It’s because of the people who have worked in this department for over 20 to 30 years that we’re able to make sure a history of success is repeated over and over again.”
The NAS pool project included the reconstruction of the pool deck, the spectator bleachers, the filtration and circulation system, and the pool house, which includes the locker rooms, the shower rooms, offices and a completely new classroom.
The pool basin is the only remaining part of the original facility, and the total cost of the multiyear project was $7.3 million, according to Parks and Rec.
The name “NAS” is derived from Naval Air Station, because the pool was among the facilities built during World War II to accommodate and train naval air groups during that conflict.
“I grew up in this pool. I lived just on the other side in the NAS housing at that time in 1952, so this is something I’ve been long waiting for,” said Kahu Smitty Kaleohano before the blessing. “I had the opportunity to do the blessing for the Richardson Ocean Center earlier this year, and the work done there and here is amazing.”
During the ceremony, Mayor Mitch Roth acknowledged Parks and Rec and all the work the department has done in the past month — which included planning and hosting the International Futsal Tournament, the IVF 2024 World Sprints and, most recently, a memorial dedication at the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery.
“This is a pretty cool day — opening this pool after it’s been closed for so long. The Parks and Recreation team has been doing some amazing stuff just even looking back the past couple weeks,” Roth said. “I want to give a big hand to Maurice Messina and the entire Parks and Recreation team.”
According to Roth, the reopening of NAS pool will relieve the congestion that occurs at the “Sparky” Kawamoto Swim Stadium, which often is used by Hilo’s many swim teams.
“Our recreational swimmers can have more time with NAS, and our swim teams will have freed space for their practices,” Roth said. “This pool will serve a lot of different purposes, along with our open swim times. We have planned for lifeguard certification classes, training for Hawaii Fire Department personnel and learn-to-swim classes for keiki to kupuna.”
Pat Kahawaiola‘a, board chair of Ke Ana La‘ahana, attended the reopening and watched as the students took turns trying to make the biggest splash while jumping from the new diving board.
“I used to think: Why would we need a pool? We have an ocean. The pool is different, though. It’s a good way to learn the proper dynamics of existing in the ocean,” Kahawaiola‘a said. “I think this is something that’s necessary and needed for the mindset of Hilo and for the young ones.”
This week, NAS pool will be open for recreational swimming only from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. today and Thursday. Regular hours and programming will begin next week.
On Mondays and Wednesdays, Elderly Recreation Services classes will be from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Keiki and Me class from 2:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., Level 2 Keiki classes from 3:15 p.m. to 4 p.m. and recreational swimming from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, NAS Pool will have Fit Swim classes for adults from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m to 5:15 p.m., Adult Learn-To-Swim classes from 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., Keiki and Me from 2:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., and Level 2 Keiki classes from 3:15 p.m. to 4 p.m.
As of now, NAS pool will be closed on Fridays.
For more information about the Aquatics Division and all county pools, visit parks.hawaiicounty.gov/divisions/recreation/aquatics.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
