Back to:  Annual Report Main Page | Annual Report Table of Contents | Next section | Home Page | Web-site Table of Contents

XII. DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION

George Yoshida, Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, was born, raised and educated in Hawaii and received a degree in education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  He was a school teacher for five years and has 17 years of experience directing elderly programs.  He served as Director and Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation under Mayor Bernard Akana, and was appointed Director of the Department by Mayor Stephen K. Yamashiro December 7, 1992.

Juliette "Julie" Tulang, Deputy Director, was appointed August 2, 1993.  She has served as program specialist with the parks and Recreational Elderly Activities Division Nutrition Program for 18 years.   Under the administrations of Mayors Bernard Akana and Larry Tanimoto, she was Deputy P & R Director for one year.  Prior to joining the County, Mrs. Tulang was a teacher for two years and also worked at the University of Hawaii Cooperative Extension Service.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in home economics and a Masters degree in Education from Linfield College in Oregon.

ROLE AND DUTIES

The role of the Department is to provide safe and clean facilities and wholesome recreational activities for all age groups.

STAFF

There are 516 full and part-time employees in the department, including the County Band and West Hawaii Band.

Aquatics - Mark Marshall
County Band - Wayne Kawakami
Culture and Arts - Roxcie Waltjen
Elderly Activities - Harold Bugado
Golf Course - Marvin Iida
Hoolulu Complex - Leroy Alip
Park Maintenance - Glenn Sadayasu
Recreation - Arlene Miyake
Zoo - Tilthon Sugi

This committee serves as an advisory body to the Mayor in the formulation of policies for the maintenance and operation of the Japanese Tea Ceremony House at Liliuokalani Park in Hilo. Members' terms are co-terminous with the Mayor. Members of the committee are:

Dr. George H. Durham
Maxine C. Hughes
David S. Ikawa
Dr. Kaoru Noda
Russell Oda
Gladys Sonomura
Rev. Michiyo Uenoyama
Toshio Yamashita
Yoshii Miyazaki

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:

Mabel De Silva
Jimmy Enocencio
Toribio Francisco
Matthew Heneralau
Donald Johnson
Louis Kaoiwi
William Kay, Sr.
Jack Kondo
Denise Nakanishi
John Owens
Phillip Paulino
Robert Pettit
Hideo Segawa
George Taketa
George Yamamoto

BUDGET

The budget for the Department for Fiscal Year 1996-97 was $14,353,505.

HIGHLIGHTS

The Department was able to attain a number of significant achievements during the 1996-97 fiscal period.

Outlined are the major highlights and achievements by each of the Department's 10 divisions/sections.

1. August '96

Dedicated a five (5) acre park in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates (Kahuku Park) with the help of volunteers and the community. A baseball diamond with an open pavilion and water tank was constructed in the initial plan.

2. August '96

Held a blessing and festival for Waikoloa Park, another facility built by volunteers. A new playground and landscaping was featured in the facility renovation.

3. September '96

Concluded public hearings on the first Olympic-sized swimming pool to be constructed in Pahoa.

4. October '96

Assisted the professional Hawaii Winter Baseball League with its third season in Hilo, with attendance on an upswing.

5. November '96

Dedicated new $75,000 playground at Waiakeawaena School with the help of the PTSA and community businesses.

6. January '97

Ground is broken for construction of a new Tea Ceremony House at Liliuokalani Park. Cost for the project is $410,00 with no County funds involved.

7. April '97

Began construction of temporary soccer fields at Waimea with help from AYSO, State, and community groups.

8. April '97

Dedicated a newly renovated ($100,000) rodeo arena in Honokaa with manpower support from four equestrian groups in the area. The arena has the finest quality and best municipal facility in the State.

9. May '97

Dedicated the new 50-meter Pahoa Swimming Pool. Over 600 youngsters turned out for the first day of swimming.

10. June '97

Conducted the first statewide Skeet/Trap Shoot Tournament in Hilo with over 100 participants.

1. The County Band, under Bandmaster Wayne Kawakami, participated in 30 major events throughout the fiscal 1996-97 year. This included eleven monthly concerts, parades and ceremonies. The Band is comprised of 55 members. The Band held 90 rehearsals during the year.

2. The Band has continued to encourage the training of high school students, as they sponsored the 4th Annual High School Band Festival for students.

3. The Band's monthly concerts have been alternated between the Mooheau Park Bandstand and other island-wide districts as Kona, Pahoa, Kau, Honokaa and Waimea.

4. The West Hawaii Band, under the leadership of Gary Ventimiglia, performed at 31 different events around the island.

1. Under Aquatics Director, Mark Marshall, the Division served over 1,700,000 persons at 10 beach parks in the '96-'97 fiscal period.

2. The Division continues to provide lifeguard service for State beaches under a special contract. These parks include the popular Hapuna Beach Park.

3. Lifeguard operations include eight County pools (attendance 424,526).

4. Water Safety Officers performed 272 rescues during the year.

5. Marine programs at Richardson Ocean Center is ongoing (3,465 patrons).

6. Special events for the Division included Novice Age-Group Swimming Meets; Richardson Rough Water Swims and 5th Annual Bodyboard and Bodysurf Meet.

1. Under the leadership of Roxie Waltjen, provided services to more than 11,000 persons in various classes, workshops and special events during the fiscal period.

2. Conducted the 4th annual Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival with 4,000 attending.

3. Conducted a May Day Celebration with folk singing and a lei contest at the Hawaii County Building.

4. Conducted the "Lights Before Christmas" lighting display at the Hawaii County Building. Over 1,000 attended.

5. Honored legendary artist Linus Chao as the County's Living Legend of the year.

6. Conducted other successful annual events as the Barefoot Hula Show, Mochi-Tsuki demonstration, International Karaoke Show, Mc-Zoo Summer Fest and the like.

1. The complex, managed by Leroy Alip, is comprised of the following facilities.

   A. Francis Wong Stadium
   B. Walter Victor Stadium
   C. Ah Fook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
   D. Edith Kanakaole Stadium
   E. Seven Seas Luau House
   F. Drag Strip
   G. Skeet Range
   H. Butler Buildings (2)

2. Overall attendance in the '96-'97 period totaled 670,840 (up 10,864).

3. Revenues totaled $135,350 (up $5,040).

4. Achievements:

   A. Added a new oval racing facility at the dragstrip and cleared five (5) additional acres for radio-controlled planes.

   B. Completed ADA accessibility requirements for Seven Seas and Kanakaole Stadium (restrooms).

   C. Completed repairs to Victor Stadium, including resodding of grounds, painting and bathroom improvements.

   D. Worked with community groups and volunteers to repaint sections of the Ah Fook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

1. Under the direction of Parks Superintendent Glenn Sadayasu, performed general clean-up and pressure washing at various public restrooms, boat ramps, beach parks and tennis courts around the island. Provided the public with safe, clean and aesthetic facilities.

2. Focused on ways to provide the public with cleaner restrooms and to react swiftly to repair damages caused by vandalism.

3. Solicited volunteer help to maintain park facilities, using senior citizen groups, the corrections program and low-income work programs.

4. Conducted training in applying herbicides, in safety, use of computers, ADA, supervisory techniques, liability and pre-retirement.

5. Achievements:

1. Repair and maintenance at 200-plus facilities around the County. These include beach parks, playgrounds, community centers, neighborhood parks, sports fields, picnic pavilions and senior centers.

2. Increased partnership with community volunteer groups as the Hawaii County Correctional Center, Kulani Inmates Project, Community Service Restitution Program and service groups, Scouts and community groups for beautification and improvement.

3. Assisted Civil Defense with various emergencies throughout the year.

4. Initiated different ideas in combatting vandalism which has made a large impact on the maintenance budget.

5. Purchased new equipment to improve efficiency - including a mulching machine, power mowers and a hoe-ram.

6. Continued to provide valuable support services for nearly every major event occurring on the Big Isle, including the Merrie Monarch Festival, Aloha Festivals, Triathlon, Canoe Championships, Kamehameha Day Celebration, Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration.

1. Under the leadership of Recreation Administrator Arlene Miyake, serviced a grand total or 2,808,444 patrons during the 1996-1997 year.

2. Expanded the Summer Fun program for the third straight year, from the traditional six-weeks length to eight weeks. For the first time, initiated all-day summer programs at three (3) sites in Kona in conjunction with the DOE.

3. Continued the Biggest Easter-Egg Hunt program (over 12,000 eggs) at Liliuokalani Park.

4. Sponsored In-Service training programs for professional staff.

5. Developed first-time recreational programs covering rural areas as Hawaiian Beaches, Waikoloa and Volcano.

6. Developed first-time youth activities as the Hilo Summer Track Program, Haaheo Year-round school Intersession programs, Ultimate Volleyball Camp, Self Defense for the disabled and sports clinics.

1. Under new Zoo Manager Tilthon Sugi, the Zoo attracted 73,437 patrons during the year (Increase of 400).

2. The Hilo High Zoo Crew continued their project of providing docents for elementary school classes.

3. NASA's Ames Research Center donated 30 squirrel monkeys and the University of Hawaii Medical Research facility donated a pair of owl monkeys to the zoo.

4. Light fixtures and water lines were replaced in the original horse stalls and contracts awarded to re-roof seven zoo buildings and to replace three stable buildings.

5. The zoo staff consisted of eight full-time and two part-time employees. The annual budget was $483,822.

1. Under the management of Superintendent Marvin Iida, recorded 96,500 rounds of golf, making it a record year. (Up from 95,188).

2. Initiated a new concession contract for the restaurant, which runs through December 31, 2006.

3. Major drainage improvements - construction of sewer drywells ($135,000) was completed.

4. The cartpaths were repaved to eight-foot widths, making it safer for the golfing public ($230,000).

5. Improvements to tees, fairways and greens were completed, including aerifying, top dressing, week removal, tree-trimming and realignments.

1. Headed by Operations Director Harold Bugado, the Division is comprised of five major sections:

   A. Retired Senior Volunteer Program

   B. Recreation

   C. Coordinated Services

   D. Nutrition

   E. Senior Employment

2. The RSVP program listed 1,172 volunteers who contributed over 157,048 man-hours to the community. The program did extremely well, considering a 2 1/2% cutback in Federal funds.

3. The Division's Senior Employment program (budget $368,437) enrolled 47 individuals aged 60 and older and placed them in part-time jobs with government and non-profit agencies; 8 employees were transitioned into private jobs during the year. A major change for the program was the relocation of the office.

4. Coordinated Services assisted over 5,900 seniors during the year with referral services, special transportation and home chore services exceeding objectives set for the year. The section also effectively operates the Senior Companion Program where seniors help other seniors.

5. The Division's Nutrition Program led by Joanne Kawakone served over 105,900 meals at 14 sites around the island. The Pahala and Naalehu sites celebrated 20 years of operation in 1996. Some 73,251 meals were delivered to the homes of elderly shut-ins during the year. 17,259 trips were provided to participants (by vans) during the year.

6. The Senior Recreation Program saw a new Program Director in Evelyn Togashi, who took over the reigns in 1996. The program section operates 26 senior centers around the island. Major emphasis for the year was placed on a first-time Senior Olympics program held in July with a torch run across the Island. Other key activities included sports leagues, line dancing, special classes and festivals.

Back to:  Annual Report Main Page | Annual Report Table of Contents | Next section | Home Page | Web-site Table of Contents

All contents are copyright of the County of Hawaii ©.