The Hawaii Island’s YWCA will close its Hilo pool Aug. 31 due to insufficient funding. The Hawaii Island’s YWCA will close its Hilo pool Aug. 31 due to insufficient funding. ADVERTISING CEO Kathleen McGilvray made the announcement Thursday to about
The Hawaii Island’s YWCA will close its Hilo pool Aug. 31 due to insufficient funding.
CEO Kathleen McGilvray made the announcement Thursday to about 50 YWCA members.
McGilvray said the 40-year-old pool is costing the nonprofit organization about $75,000 a year in losses.
Continued operation would threaten other programs, she said, which include preschool, a sexual assault crisis center, and others.
Several members, some of whom recalled learning to swim at the pool and taking their children there, expressed disappointment over the decision. Some also said they worry that it could lead to a reduction in membership.
McGilvray said the YWCA doesn’t have enough members as it is to support the pool and that additional fee raises would still come up short.
See Saturday’s Tribune-Herald for more on this story.
