This Saturday, Hilo High School will officially recognize the grand opening of its new, 1,350-seat gymnasium — five months after the facility opened its doors for regular use.
“Our new gymnasium has been only a rumor for the past 50+ years (but) will officially be dedicated this Saturday at 1:00 pm.,” wrote Principal Robert Dircks in a Thursday emailed response.
After years languishing on the drawing board and years under construction, the $11.2 million Viking gymnasium had originally been scheduled to hold its grand opening in September. But then a last-minute scheduling conflict with a contractor regarding paving of the gym’s driveway fronting Waianuenue Avenue caused the cancellation of the event.
Administrators opened up the gym for regular use once it received its certificate of occupancy, beginning with a girls basketball game held Dec. 9. Since then, the gym has hosted wrestling and judo matches, basketball, and boys volleyball games, according to Hilo High Athletic Director Kurt Kawachi.
The community has responded, with plenty of folks showing up to enjoy events in the new facility, he said. A BIIF wrestling championship filled the house to capacity.
“Attendance has been really good,” he said. Despite heavy use, the school wants to make sure the building remains in tip-top condition.
“Any time you have a brand new facility, it’s like it has that new car smell,” he said with a laugh. “Everything is nice and shiny. And our goal is to maintain it, to keep the beauty of our new gym. We want to make sure it’s around for a long time.”
While the high school will officially observe its grand opening on Saturday, the event will not include a dedication, as a new name is still being debated.
“The SCC (School Community Council) has several requests to ‘re-name’ the new gym,” Dircks said. “The SCC currently acknowledges the name as the Hilo High School Gymnasium. SCC wishes to recognize and honor all of those entities who have requested to re-name the new gym. The SCC is currently planning to discuss with those entities a process to do just that.”
Saturday’s grand opening, beginning with a formal maile lei untying at 1 p.m., will include musical performances by Wendell Ing and the Ambassadors Club, and Hilo High grad Kaulana Pakele. Then at 3 p.m., attendees can enjoy a regulation-length basketball game featuring Hilo alumni including Kaui Wakita, Bruce Ferreira, Ben Pana and Aukai Wong.
Among the confirmed attendees at Saturday’s grand opening will be Gov. David Ige, who will head over to the gym following his participation in the annual Merrie Monarch Royal Parade.
