Kamakoa Nui Park in Waikoloa will be reopening its newly improved sports fields on Sunday.
The Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation will be hosting a day of festivities to celebrate the return of the community park, beginning with a blessing at 10 a.m. that will be followed by activities like flag-football games, face-painting, giveaways and refreshments until about 1 p.m., Parks and Rec Deputy Director Melissa Samura said.
Samura said two Gold Coast Little League softball games are scheduled for noon and 2 p.m. on the grand reopening day, and food trucks will stay at the park until 3 p.m.
“The Department of Parks and Recreation is excited to host this upcoming event for the community,” Samura said. “Recreational activities offer more than just exercise — they play a vital role in building character, developing stronger social skills, enhancing academic performance, and strengthening an individual’s ability to overcome adversity.”
The park’s multipurpose sports field and baseball diamond have been unusable since 2017 due to irrigation issues that caused the loss of grass, Samura said. Vandalism involving cars driving on the field and doing donuts also hindered use of the park, but Samura said fencing installed on the park’s makai side before the pandemic has helped control that issue.
The onsite skatepark has remained popular since the park’s opening in 2013, and Samura said members of the local skateboarding community plan to be present at the reopening celebration Sunday to help both beginners who want to try the skatepark for the first time and advanced skaters who want to improve their skills.
The repair of the park’s irrigation system and revitalization of the fields’ grass was made possible through a public-private partnership with developers Waikoloa Heights Land Investors, who announced a commitment $1 million to the restoration of the park’s irrigation system in May 2024.
The park, which sits at the corner of Kamakoa Drive and Paniolo Avenue at the northernmost edge of Waikoloa Village, will be easily accessible to several new housing developments nearby, including the Nana Kai subdivision that is currently under construction and the Na Hale Makoa community of 140 units of workforce housing.
“As housing and the number of residents expands, Kamakoa Nui Park will help support the recreational needs of this growing community and be a public space that brings people together for positive, healthy activities,” Samura said.
Samura said her department already has been receiving requests to reserve the fields for activities after the park’s reopening next week. Field reservations during park hours of 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily can be made by calling the Waikoloa Recreation Office at (808) 883-6100.
Email Kyveli Diener at kdiener@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
