ROLE AND DUTIES

Department Goal: The Department of Parks and Recreation strives to improve the quality of life of our residents and visitors by providing a full range of recreation areas, facilities, programs, and services. The Department of Parks and Recreation consists of 5 divisions, 3 sections, and 2 bands.

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

The West Hawaii 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 5 programs.

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

Hawaii 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 meals 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 home-bound 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, ball fields, Alae Cemetery, all Veterans Cemeteries and other recreational facilities in an effort to provide the public with a 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 drugs, alcohol, smoking, and violence.

Hoolulu 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 Panaewa Complex Section promotes recreational and educational activities at the zoological and botanical park, specializing in rain forest and native species at the Panaewa Rain Forest Zoo. Also manages and maintains the Panaewa Equestrian Center for horse stall rentals and equestrian related activities.

STAFF

There are 410 full and part-time employees in the Department, including the County Band, West Hawaii Band, and 208 contractual employees.

Divisions/Sections

BUDGET

Elderly Activities Division 3,006,481Hawaii County Band 135,684West Hawaii County Band 22,088Administration 560,686Parks Maintenance 4,747,373Recreation 1,666,091Hoolulu Park Complex 691,872Aquatics 2,275,245Culture & Arts 103,166

Panaewa Zoo 528,879

Municipal Golf Course 1,067,142

Bikeway Fund 30,000

TOTAL 14,834,707

HIGHLIGHTS/ACTIVITIES

During fiscal year 1998-1999, the Department participated in, implemented, and/or accomplished the following:

Department Overview

1. April 1, 1999, the new Kona Community Aquatic Center, a 50-meter swimming pool, in Kailua-Kona, opened with an average of 1000+ patrons per day.
2. July, 1998, the Synchronized Swimming National Championships were hosted at the new Pahoa Community Swimming Pool.
3. May, 1998, the Department completed a comprehensive ADA Program Self Evaluation and Transition Plan that establishes the Department's commitment to the development and maintenance of policies, programs, and facilities that include all of its citizenry.
4. May, 1998, the County Band sponsored the Annual Spring Concert Band Festival at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium to promote and encourage musical growth and opportunities.
5. The Department and County Band have internet web sites that provide information about programs and services.
6. The Retired Senior Volunteer Program implemented a new project entitled "America Reads - Hawaii" which placed 100 volunteers in elementary schools to tutor students to improve their basic reading skills.
7. Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium received a "face lift" by painting the interior and exterior of the facility.
8. Hilo Municipal Golf Course has a signature hole at the par 3, 13th hole. "Hilo Muni" is spelled in red foliage.
9. Two all school beautification projects are conducted annually by St. Joseph Elementary and High School at Liliuokalani Gardens, and Laupahoehoe Elementary and High School at Laupahoehoe Point Park.
10. The grand highlight of the year was the arrival of "Namaste" the white Bengal tiger donated by Dirk Arthur of Las Vegas to the Panaewa Rain Forest Zoo.

Aquatic Division

Hawaii County Band

1. The Band had 50 performances throughout the County of Hawaii which included 11 monthly concerts at Mooheau Park. The Band remains committed to achieving and maintaining high musical standards. Featured concert works must be musically sound, and enjoyable for a lay or musically trained audience.
2. The Band has featured singers, instrumental soloists, and narrators from the community, schools, and within the Band. The Band sponsors an annual concert band festival for school bands to promote and encourage musical growth and opportunities. Small ensembles from within the band have performed and presented clinics at various schools.
3. The Band has an Internet web site which include the Band's schedule, history, and other pertinent information. The site was created and is maintained by Syscon, who is currently donating their services for the web site and e-mail service.
4. The Band's telephone answering machine is programmed to give information about the next Band monthly concert.
5. The Director of the Hawaii County Band has assisted local school bands and has rehearsed and conducted Select and Honor Bands throughout the State.
6. The Band complies with ADA by rehearsing and performing in accessible locations, providing information in alternate formats on request, and with ADA compliant public announcements.
7. The West Hawaii Band, with the help of community volunteer musicians, performs at different events in West Hawaii.

Culture and Arts

1. Culture and Arts provided a variety of classes in water colors, slack key guitar, drawing, lauhala weaving, hula for fun and fitness, ukulele, and lei making.
2. Special workshops were sponsored to foster goodwill internationally: hula workshops, Japan-Hawaii Karaoke Show, Barefoot Hula Cultural Exchange, and mochi-tsuki demonstration.
3. Festivals that highlight different assets of the Island were coordinated in partnership with communities. Such as the Waimea Cherry Blossom Festival, The Hawaii Living Legend Award program, May Day Celebration, the Kau Hula and Arts Cultural Festival, the Elvis Presley Revival and the Mayor's Christmas Open House at the County Building.
4. Culture and Arts serves as a liaison to various groups and organizations around the Island that strive to promote the appreciation of the arts: Holualoa Foundation for the Arts and Culture, East Hawaii Cultural Center, Hilo Community Players, and the Mayor's Tea Ceremony House Advisory Committee.

1. The Coordinated Services for the Elderly staff successfully linked 1,381 individuals during the past fiscal year, by referring individuals to various agencies for benefits/services such as Medicaid, legal aid, AARP tax assistance, Case Management, social security, food stamps, housing, day care, SSI, home delivered meals, government food surplus, energy assistance, etc.
2. Transportation service requests remains to be in great demand and presents an on-going challenge for our program where 1,369 unduplicated elders were served through 38,611 trips. Priority is given for medical purposes, which frequently involves transporting clients before or after normal working hours, and to and from various outlying districts in order to meet the physician's appointed schedule.
3. CSE successfully fulfilled its $69,127 Purchase of Service contract with the Department of Human Services through the HCOA. Five thousand five hundred and nine actual hours of service was provided to 64 unduplicated clients, exceeding our objective by 1,429 hours.
4. The Coordinated Services Program serves as the Big Island volunteer station for the Senior Companion Program, under the State Department of Human Services. A total of 17 Companions, 60 years and older, provided various in-home and escort services to homebound older individuals to maintain their independence while at the same time providing respite to family caregivers.
5. CSE staff continues to be a member of the Case Management team that plays a vital role in assisting the frail and vulnerable individuals with multiple and complex service needs. Through a "team approach," counseling and other essential services are provided to the frail individual and their families, to sustain the individual at home for as long as possible, or to assist them in locating acceptable alternatives.

6. The Sage Plus Health Insurance Counseling Program remains ongoing through a partnership with the State Executive Office of Aging and the CSE Program which serves as a volunteer station for the Big Island. A total of 12 counselors are actively enrolled in the program.
7. The Senior Community Service Employment Program of Hawaii County successfully met 125% of the minimum required placement goal for unsubsidized employment for our senior enrollees.
8. The Hawaii County Nutrition Program met, and exceeded, all service goals for congregate meals, home delivered meals, and transportation services.

• Congregate meals - 107,472 meals were served to 1,264 persons 60 years of age and older, their spouses, and eligible disabled persons and volunteers under 60.

• Home delivered meals - 79,514 meals were delivered to 613 frail, homebound persons 60 years of age and older, their spouses, and eligible disabled persons and volunteers under 60.

• Transportation - 17,975 trips were provided to 194 program participants.

6. On June 25, 1999, the Hawaii County Nutrition Program celebrated its 25th anniversary with a special program and luncheon at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel.
7. The initial nutrition checklist were put into the computer data base of the Office of Aging where we are now able to track the impact our balanced meals have on a senior's nutritional health, and compare how their nutritional status changes from year to year. The initial results from the congregate meals program show that 27% of seniors are at low nutritional risk, 38% are at medium risk, and 35% are at high risk.
8. The RSVP of Hawaii County enrolled 1273 volunteers which accounted for 164,686 service hours at 193 volunteer stations throughout the Island of Hawaii. Seventy-one stations served "at risk" client populations.
9. The major emphasis for the program in 1998/99 was to implement the "America Reads - Hawaii" project under the Corporation for National Service (CNS) Program of National Significance (PNS) grant. A special evaluation of this project was conducted by the staff in June, 1999. Analysis of the results show that the schools believe most of the students tutored have improved their basic reading skills, while nearly all volunteers greatly enjoyed the experience and want to continue tutoring next year.
10. Special projects utilizing RSVP volunteers included: Kiwanis Keiki Kokua school supplies, blood banks, Volcano Wilderness Run, Hilo Hospice dedication, synchronized swimming, Senior Information Directory, Big Island Marathon, St. Joseph School's "Make a Difference Day" project, Kupuna Games, Sears Christmas Gift Wrap, KTA pie sale fundraiser, Palace Theatre grand opening, Foster Grandparents Recognition, Recycle Hawaii, Taro Festival, Big Island Invitational Basketball Tournament, ERS bowling tournament, First Hawaiian Bank Prime Time, Super Kids, DARE Day, American Heart Health Fair, Prosecutor's Conference, Honokaa and Waimea Special Education Easter Egg Hunts, March of Dimes Walkathon, UH Hilo Golf Fundraiser, Honokaa Family Fun Day, Halloween at the Library, County Building Open House, Keep Hawaii Beautiful, Police Week ceremonies, Blood Bank tele-marketing, Statewide Senior Bowling tournament, West Hawaii Senior Health Fair, and American Cancer West Hawaii Symposium.

14. Senior citizens, through the Elderly Recreation services participated in: intergenerational activities with Laupahoehoe School's cleanup and history project; making blankets for the terminally ill children at Kapiolani Hospital for Project Linus with Waiakea High School sophomores.
15. Elders from around the Island participated in various classes, softball, gateball, bowling, steel guitar festival, State Karaoke Review, line dancing, golf, badminton, tennis, Volcano Adventure Overnight Tour, gymnastics for health, Valentine's Dance, and May Day program.
16. Globe trotting seniors interacted at the 16th Annual Hawaii Kupuna Hula Festival with an estimated attendance of 862/914 on two separate nights.
17. Elders painted an acrylic mural titled "Our Parents' Dream-Our Heritage" at Hilo Senior Center.

Hilo Municipal Golf Course

1. The year ended with a total of 93,336 rounds of golf being played at the Hilo Municipal Golf Course.
2. Signature Hole. On the hillside above the par 3, 13th hole, members of the maintenance staff planted a stunning pattern of red foliage that spells out "Hilo Muni." For visitors and local golfers, this display definitely adds to the beauty of the course and qualifies the 13th hole as a signature hole.
3. Aerification. Aerification of the greens is normally scheduled for twice a year. In October, 1998, the maintenance staff was able to aerify all 18 greens. Then, in March, 1999, aerification of the greens were again completed but this time with the use of the "hydro-ject."
4. Pesticides. During the year we had a problem on the 9th, 12th, 15th, and 18th greens with earthworm casts littering the surface of the greens. We were able to control this problem by spraying the pesticide carbaryl as needed with the boom sprayer.

Parks Maintenance Division

1. The Parks Maintenance Division provided services Island-wide for the County of Hawaii by supplying manpower, equipment, and funds to maintain, repair, and beautify facilities operated by the Department as well as providing support for special events sponsored by other divisions and various community groups. As it has been for the past years, the major goal of the Division was to provide the general public with safe, clean, and aesthetically pleasing facilities.
2. Clean and sufficiently stocked restrooms and timely grass mowing have been emphasized throughout the years and such policies will consistently be carried out. With additional parks being added on to the maintenance responsibility list and manpower not being granted, innovative methods must be thought of. New and bigger equipment must be utilized. Various programs such as neighborhood and community volunteers, Senior Employment, Kulani Correctional Center, Hawaii Community Correctional Center, State First to Work Program, Alu Like, etc., must be tapped for additional manpower help. This is the direction the Parks Maintenance Division has been headed for and have been working closely with many of these agencies.
3. Because of budget cuts anticipated for the coming fiscal year, the division focused on trying to cut costs in various areas. One area that was scrutinized was utility costs and studies were made as to where savings could be made. In many of the under-utilized facilities, electrical power was cut off without affecting operations or recreational programs. The other area was the heavy use of water consumption. New water lines were installed in-house to save on high costs due to frequent leaks because of old plumbing systems.
4. Experiments are underway to see if sprinkler systems can be reduced in the amount of time that would be effective in maintaining a nice lawn and not affect the health of the grass and plants. Another alternative was to remove faucets where possible thefts of water are suspected. The success or failure of these actions will be known in the next fiscal year.
5. During the year, 1,901 Work Orders were received and 1,267 Work Orders were completed. Together, with community volunteer groups, numerous beautification projects were completed throughout the Island. The projects included painting of pavilions at Kahaluu; tree planting at West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery; irrigation system at Kona Scenic Park; painting of cables and posts at Shipman Park; cleanup projects at Cooper Center; painting of playground equipment at Pahoa Community Center; painting projects at Carvalho Park, Mohouli Park, Lokahi Park, Keokea Beach Park, Frank Santos Ballpark, Laupahoehoe Park, and Liliuokalani Gardens.
6. Keep Hawaii Beautiful campaigns such as Get the Drift and Bag It, Keep America Beautiful Day, and Let's Make a Difference Day encourages the community, schools, and individuals to participate in these beautification project throughout the County.

7. Renovations were completed at Haina Park and it was brought back on line as of January, 1999. The complex now boasts three separate ball fields that will more than adequately support the various baseball, softball and soccer organizations that need these fields for games and practices.
8. Honokaa Gym will soon have the only double volleyball court set up in the district. Members of the community donated equipment, skills, and their time to install the hardware needed to make this a reality.
9. In the Kona District, all of our complexes have increased in programs and population figures. We went over one-half million in attendance and over 400,000 people used the Kailua Park complex. Essentially, we have reached gridlock in our scheduling of the gym and ballfield.
10. In the Puna/Kau District, some of the activities that were offered and appealed to a broad section of the public include: Pahala Thanksgiving Turkey Shoot, Keaau Christmas Poster Contest, Easter Fun Day at Pahala and Pahoa, and the Hershey Track Program
11. The Department received a $40,000 Office of Youth Service Title V grant for a youth at risk project in Kau, at the Naalehu Elementary School. This partnership project "Kokua Kau" is designed with two objectives: to encourage children to increase their reading and math skills by using the computer program; the other is reverse mentoring where children tutor parents on the use of the computer.

Hoolulu Complex

1. The 1998-99 fiscal year was a very productive one in terms of revenue, improvements and the acquisition of much needed equipment. Revenues collected was at an all time high, even with the closure of the Civic for painting for three months and finally, most of the maintenance to the facilities and grounds was caught up.
2. A new system has been implemented for billing, filing, and the reorganizing of the office to create a more accurate account of various forms and billings. The hard work put in by all of our staff shows in the revenues collected and the overall appearance of the Complex. We have had many positive comments about how the Complex looks and the helpfulness and friendliness of our staff.

Tea Ceremony House Advisory Committee

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. Their terms are co-terminous with the Mayor. Members of the committee are:

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: