The Department of Parks and Recreation strives to improve the quality of life for our residents by providing full range of recreation areas, facilities, programs and services.

The department provides a wide variety 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.

Parks and Recreation is also responsible for special purpose facilities such as the Hilo drag strip, skeet range, equestrian center, the Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo and Hilo Municipal Golf Course. Throw in the County and West Hawai‘i bands, plus Alae and Veterans cemeteries, and you have arguably the most diverse department in the county. The department has a total budget of $16.5 million and has upwards of 470 employees. This increases to 550 employees during the summer months.

Through the 9 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 on matters regarding the veteran’s cemeteries.

The Aquatics Division develops and implements a comprehensive water safety program by providing lifeguard services at specific beaches and County swimming pools. The division operates nine public swimming pools, which includes six 25-yard and three 50-meter pools.

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

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 frail/vulnerable individuals 60 years and older, through five programs.

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

The Parks Maintenance Division maintains neighborhood parks, beach parks, playgrounds, ball fields, 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 interests of the respective communities in a safe environment that has zero tolerance for illegal drugs and violence.

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

• Junior Lifeguard Program was successfully held at four locations
• National Synchronized Swimming Championships were hosted at the Kona Community Aquatic Center
• Statewide Water Safety Conference was hosted in Kona
• Pool activities also included lap, recreational swim, swim lessons, and water aerobic exercise classes
• Over two million patrons visited P&R pools and beach parks
• Kona Community Aquatic Center was the site for this years State High School Swimming and Diving Championships, where several new state records were established

• Provided 43 performances for the year that included parades, ceremonies, monthly concerts, and special events
• Estimated over 63,000 people in attendance at performances

• Provided 23 performances for the year that included parades, ceremonies, and special events

• Provided 71 workshops and classroom instruction in music, dance, arts, crafts, and natural sciences
• Festivals and major events included International Festival of the Pacific cultural exchange, Barefoot Hula Classic 2001, He Hali‘a Aloha Lili‘uokalani, Hilo Rain Festival 2001, 9^th Annual Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival, Hawai‘i Living Legend Program, "Canto De Sirena" Anna Saeki Tango Concert Tour 2002
• Served 8,894 participants at programs countywide

• Seniors Served for various Sections:

• Coordinated Services provided:
• 61 individuals with Chore services
• Transportation for 1,225 seniors by completing 37,574 trips
• Information and assistance services to 4,731 seniors
• Outreach services 1,050 older adults
• "2002 CSE Resource Directory", a listing of resource agencies
• Highlights included 3 special annual senior volunteer recognition events:
• East and West Hawai‘i Staff honored 15 volunteers at the Senior Companion Recognition Luncheon
• West Hawai‘i "Beach Party" volunteer luncheon
• East Hawai‘i "Plantation Days in Ka‘u" volunteer luncheon
• Nutrition Program provided:
• 84,444 congregate meals to 969 seniors
• 300 educational nutrition and health sessions to 1,248 seniors
• 76,054 home delivered meals to 631 seniors
• Highlights included several special district events held throughout the year:
• 4^th of July celebration for North Hawai‘i Seniors
• Summerfest for Seniors in Kona
• Senior Hamakua Christmas Party
• Casino Day in Kau
• King Kamehameha Day Celebration for Hilo and Puna Seniors
• EAD Recreation provided:
• active or passive recreational opportunities to 2,811 seniors
• 765 seniors with recreational classes, 314 seniors with educational classes, 363 seniors with health-related classes, and 375 seniors with cultural related classes
• 10 districtwide activities for 1,539 seniors that included:

• Special events and programs that successfully served 1,803 seniors included:

• Retired and Senior Volunteer Program provided:
• diverse and meaningful volunteer opportunities to 1,483 persons 55 years and older
• assistance in meeting community needs by providing 159,523 hours of volunteer service at 194 volunteer stations
• 90 RSVP volunteers currently serve as reading tutors in elementary schools
• Senior Community Service Employment Program has provided:
• services to 136 senior applicants by the end of the grant year
• 8 individuals with unsubsidized employment by the end of the grant year
• 40 enrollees placed into community service assignments that serve seniors

• Completed 2,288 work orders for maintenance at various facilities
• Successfully provided 279 training sessions for employees
• 126 reported vandalism incidents with a total reported cost of $54,459

• Mt. View held their first inter-session program
• Summer Fun Track Program sent 22 children to participate in the Hershey Meet at Punahou School
• Jimmy Yagi’s Basketball Camp was filled to capacity
• Inter-session program for all of the Hilo facilities
• The Biggest East Egg Hunt and Program
• UHH Vulcans Youth Baseball Camp
• Ohana Fishing Tournament
• Papaaloa Haunted House
• Various Teen Dances Islandwide
• UHH Vulcans Volleyball Camp

• Ho‘olulu Park Complex

• Revitalization of Horse Racing at Pana‘ewa Equestrian Center Race Track
• "Friends of the Zoo" installed an electronic counting device which indicated a total of 137,000 visitors last year
• The docent-training program allowed new guides to conduct 58 field trips for 3,245 people
• Fifteen off-site educational programs were presented to 870 people
• Over 10,000 visitors enjoyed being able to touch and feed the animals at "Ka Holoholona" during the Saturday petting zoo
• The public can enjoy the new Butterfly House Exhibit where caterpillars and butterflies are housed near the zoo entrance
• Continued landscape and beautification projects with help from the Palm Society, Rhododendron Society, Bamboo Society, and Orchid Society
• 12 community group work projects were completed to assist in maintaining the landscaping and beauty of the facility
• Three new parrot exhibits and Amazon Parrots were added to the collection as a result of a generous private donation
• The new water garden entrance is nearing completion
• 27 endangered and restricted Asian Forest Tortoises were successfully hatched last year

After re-energized the "Friends of the Park" program last year, the community interest and commitment have been heartwarming. The department is most fortunate to have countless "FRIENDS" who have provided hundreds of hours to the many successful projects throughout the year. Some of the projects that were accomplished with public support include the following facilities and volunteers:

Lokoaka Park LELEIWI COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, NAVY LEAGUE and visiting crewmembers, Honomu Gym LEHUA JAYCEES, Kukuihaele Park BRANDT LOO and Crew, Leleiwi Beach Park WAIAKEA LIONS CLUB, Bayfront Beach Park WAIAKEA HIGH SCHOOL Students, Coconut Island HILO HIGH SCHOOL Students, Liliuokalani Gardens SAINT JOSEPH SCHOOL Students and many more groups too numerous to mention, Spencer Beach Park WEST HAWAI‘I YOUTH MINISTRY, various BOY SCOUT TROOPS, Kalakaua Park HILO INTAKE CENTER, Veterans Cemetery #1 SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF AJA VETERANS, KOREAN WAR VETERANS organization, East Hawai‘i facilities Goodwill Industries "AINA KEEPERS", Pahala Community Center PAHALA COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS, Pahala Ballfield KA‘U LITTLE LEAGUE, Walter Victor Stadium AMERICAN AND NATIONAL LITTLE LEAGUES, Kahuku Park FRIENDS OF KAHUKU PARK, Na‘alehu Park CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS, Laupahoehoe Point Gym MICHAEL BARTON, JAMIL SAMIMI, Laupahoehoe Point Park LAUPAHOEHOE ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL, LAUPAHOEHOE COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS, Happiness Garden CRESCENT CITY LIONS CLUB, Kamehameha Park NORTH KOHALA COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS, Kamehameha Park restrooms NORTH KOHALA LIONS CLUB, Pu‘u Nui Park FRIENDS OF THE WAIKOLOA COMMUNITY PARK, Hooku Park VOLUNTEERS AND FRIENDS OF HOOKU STREET PARK, Honoka‘a Park CHRISTOPHER WAYTE and crew, Carvalho Park PU’U WAI OPIO and other Senior softball teams, Honoli‘i Park ALAE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH group, Kahalu‘u Beach Park KONA-KOHALA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Volcano Cooper Center COOPER CENTER COUNCIL, Waiohinu Park KAMALI‘I FAMILY Group, Panaewa Equestrian Center racetrack and rodeo arena PANEWA HORSE OWNERS ASSOCIATION, Panaewa Rainforest Zoo FRIENDS OF THE ZOO and numerous volunteer groups.

Along with many other JAYCEES, LIONS, ROTARY CLUBS, and service organizations island-wide, these volunteers continue to provide everything from painting, weeding, scrubbing, landscaping, manpower for constructing improvements, and much needed funding for keeping the parks and facilities useable for all to enjoy!

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