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DEPARTMENT OF PARKS & RECREATION

The Department of Parks and Recreation strives to improve the quality of life for our residents by providing an avenue for fulfillment of social, cultural, physical, and educational needs of people through leisure experiences.

The department is charged with providing a multitude of recreational and cultural programs, while operating and maintaining over 120 sites throughout the island. These sites include beach parks, neighborhood parks, senior centers, and community centers. They also offer facilities for active recreation such as ball fields, soccer fields, gyms, swimming pools, tennis courts, and rodeo arenas.

The department is also responsible for special-purpose facilities such as the drag strip, skeet range, equestrian center, zoo, and golf course. Throw in the County and West Hawai‘i bands, plus Alae and Veterans cemeteries, and you have the most diverse department in the county. The department has a total budget of $14.1 million and has upwards of 460 employees. This increases to 560 employees during the summer months.

Through the nine divisions, sections, and bands, the department’s diversity includes programs and services to serve keiki, teenagers, adults, and seniors. The Veterans Advisory Committee serves as an advisory body to the Mayor and Department of Parks and Recreation on matters regarding the veterans’ cemeteries.

ROLE OF THE DIVISIONS AND SECTIONS

The Administration Division provides administrative and organizational support services to all the divisions/sections and bands to achieve the development and implementation of the department's programs and services.

The Aquatics Division develops and implements a comprehensive water safety program by providing lifeguard services at specific beaches and County swimming pools.

The Hawai’i County Band represents the County of Hawai’i by providing appropriate and entertaining music for parades, concerts, festivals, ceremonies and other special events throughout the County of Hawaii.

The West Hawai’i Band strives to provide music for parades, ceremonies and other community events in the Hamakua, Kona, and Kohala districts for musical enjoyment.

The Culture and Arts Section provides educational and leisure time activities to share, preserve, perpetuate and foster the appreciation of our rich multi-cultural heritage in the arts, history, and the humanities.

The Elderly Activities Administrative Division coordinates a service delivery system that addresses the needs and interest of older adults 55 years and older, and the frail/vulnerable individuals 60 years and older, through five programs.

Coordinated Services Program provides services that link persons 60 years or older with suitable resources to achieve, restore, or maintain independent living and self-direction.

Hawai’i County Nutrition Program provides congregate services to individuals 60 years and older with at least one low cost, nutritious meal, five or more days a week at meal sites around the Island.

The home-delivered meal service, or "Meals On Wheels" program, is an integral part of a community-based health care system. Participants receiving home- delivered meals are aged 60 and older, and are homebound due to illness or disability.

EAD Recreation services provides recreational, educational, health-related and leisure activities for the elderly through 24 senior clubs and special interest programs.

Retired and Senior Volunteer Program provides a variety of opportunities for retired persons 55 years and older to serve as volunteers in public or private nonprofit agencies and schools.

Senior Community Service Employment Program administers a federally funded part-time employment and training program for persons 55 years and older who meet the low-income program criteria.

The Hilo Municipal Golf Course Section operates and maintains the only public golf course on the Island of Hawaii.

The Parks Maintenance Division maintains neighborhood parks, beach parks, playgrounds, ballfields, Alae Cemetery, all Veterans Cemeteries and other recreational facilities in an effort to provide the public with safe, enjoyable and aesthetically pleasing facilities.

The Recreation Division strives to provide a diversified recreation program that addresses the needs and interest of the respective communities in a safe environment that has zero tolerance for illegal drugs and violence.

Ho’olulu Park Complex maintains, operates and supervises all activities at the complex to provide the public, and sponsors of events, with clean and safe facilities.

The Pana’ewa Recreation Complex promotes recreational and educational activities at a zoological and botanical park, specializing in rain forest and native species at the Pana’ewa Rain Forest Zoo. Horse stall rentals and equestrian related activities are offered, managed, and maintained at the Panaewa Equestrian Center.

DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET

% BREAKDOWN OF DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET

Aquatics Division:

Nine public swimming pools, (six) 25-yard and (three) 50-meter

Activities included lap, recreational swim, swim lessons, and water aerobic exercise classes

Three million patrons visit P&R pools and beach parks

Six beaches are patrolled 7 days per week

Pool Attendance

Hawai‘i County Band:

Provided 43 performances for the year that included 14 parades, 8 ceremonies, 19 concerts, and 3 special events

Estimated over 59,000 people in attendance at performances

Culture and Arts Section:

Provided 54 classes/workshops countywide

Served 4,320 participants at programs countywide

Organized 14 festivals or major events throughout the year

Elderly Activities Division:

Seniors Served for various Sections: Total – 11,188

1. Recreation 5,289

2. Coordinated Services 3,382

3. RSVP 1,310

4. Nutrition 1,140

5. Senior Employment 67

Coordinated Services provided:

74 individuals with Chore services and completed 5,110 hours

Transportation for 1,320 seniors by completing 36,094 trips

Information and assistance services to 3,382 seniors

Outreach services 1,050 older adults

Support Services for 1,074 seniors

Nutrition Program provided:

92,348 congregate meals to 1,140 seniors

300 educational nutrition and health sessions to 1,269 seniors

71,937 home delivered meals to 602 seniors

EAD Recreation provided:

active or passive recreational opportunities to 2,715 seniors

six minor sports activities (badminton, gateball, softball, golf, tennis and billiards) for

1,579 seniors, five islandwide/state/international events for 5,289 seniors, 12 districtwide activities for 2,512 seniors

Retired and Senior Volunteer Program provided:

diverse and meaningful volunteer opportunities to 1,310 persons 55 years and older

assistance in meeting community needs by providing 163,858 hours of volunteer service at 181 volunteer stations

90 RSVP volunteers currently serve as reading tutors in elementary schools

Senior Community Service Employment Program has provided:

an average monthly enrollment of 43 seniors throughout the project year

services to 130 senior applicants by the end of the grant year

10 individuals with unsubsidized employment by the end of the grant year

Hilo Municipal Golf Course:

Rounds of Golf Analysis for Fiscal 2000-01

Parks Maintenance Division:

Completed 1,912 work orders for maintenance at various facilities

Successfully provided 170 training sessions for employees

Decreased vandalism from prior year to $16,646 compared to $27,382 last year

Vandalism Damages for Fiscal 2000-01

Recreation Division:

Provided introductory instruction in basketball, baseball, volleyball, track and field, tennis, flag football and badminton for children and adults

Provided seasonal arts and craft activities for children and adults

Maintained safe facilities, free of hazards for all activities, patrons, and employees

District Wide Community Events

N/S KONA DISTRICT: West Hawaii Track Meet

Recreation Division Participation and Attendance by District:

Ho‘olulu Park Complex

Completed general clean-up and minor repairs and closed each facility after major events (Tahiti Fete, Merrie Monarch, Spring Fest, County Fair, etc.) for general clean up

completed beautification/landscaping projects at each facility and had plants and palms planted, hedges trimmed regularly and areas cleared of any unwanted shrubbery

served 549,687 people at all complex facilities during the year

Pana‘ewa Recreation Complex

East Hawai’i Kiwanis and the Friends of the Zoo completed the new Children’s Zoo

Completed a new Asian Forest Tortoise Exhibit

Completed renovation of the Reptile House Exhibit

Continued landscape and beautification projects with help from the Palm Society, Rhododendron Society, Bamboo Society, and Orchid Society.

Acquired many new and interesting Rainforest animals such as two-toed sloths, tropical squirrels, and poison dart frogs

By far, the highlight event of fiscal year 2000-2001 was the reopening of Lili‘uokalani Gardens on July 3, 2000. Although there was much disagreement on whether Lihiwai Street should remain closed or reopened, all have agreed that the beauty, serenity, and peacefulness of the gardens is beyond compare. Walkers, joggers, infants in strollers, people in wheelchairs, and motorists are all enjoying the scenery and atmosphere that the new landscaping has created.

Major projects and highlights for FY 2000-01 include:

Reopen Lili‘uokalani Gardens and Lihiwai Street

Hilo Armory Restoration Phase I

Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo New Aviary Exhibit

Walua Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail System

Major Repair Projects at Hale Halawai, Wainaku Gym, Waiakea-Uka Gym, Kamana Senior Center, Kawamoto Pool, and Walter Victor Stadium were completed

New Playground Equipment at Kailua, Pepeekeo, and Ainaola Parks

International Barefoot Hula Classic, Hula Fest 2000, and Hilo Tahiti Fete 2001

Hawai‘i Kupuna Hula Festival in Kailua-Kona

Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival

International Japan – Hawai‘i Karaoke Show, International Festival of the Pacific

A Night In Japan 2001, and Japan Cultural Festival

The First Annual Hilo Rain Festival and Water Carnival

The Biggest Eater Egg Celebration Held at Lili‘uokalani Gardens

Completion of Ka Hale Holoholona, (The Barn) The New Children’s Zoo Addition

The "Friends of the Park" program has been re-energized with the help of many dedicated community volunteer supporters who have sacrificed many hours and skills to improve our parks and facilities for all to enjoy. The many groups and organizations include the Lions Clubs, East Hawai‘i Kiwanis, Laupahoehoe School and Community, St. Joseph School, Waikoloa Village Outdoor Circle, Friends of Waikoloa Community Park, New Hope Keaukaha, Wainaku-Kaiwiki Community Association, Hawai‘i Island Palm Society, Hawai‘i Chapter of the Bamboo Society, Hawai‘i Chapter of the Rhododendron Society, Friends of the Pana‘ewa Zoo, Aina Keepers, Eagle Scouts, and the Navy League. Volunteers provided and continue to provide labor for everything from painting, weeding, scrubbing, and landscaping, to providing manpower for constructing improvements.

VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

This committee advises the County on matters pertaining to the operation, management, and maintenance of veterans cemeteries and other related veterans issues. The committee members are:

Keith Burley Jack Kondo

Mabel De Silva Robert Montague

Roy Hinokawa Denise Nakanishi

Paul Johnston Robert Pettit

Louis Kaoiwi Hideo Segawa

Wendall Kekumu George Yamamoto

Morris Kihara

This page was modified on May 14, 2002
^©Copyright 2002 County of Hawaii, Hawaii

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