The County of Hawai‘i’s Department of Parks and Recreation will receive about $4.9 million in disaster recovery assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and State loans as a result of inundation of ‘Āhalanui Beach Park and damage to Isaac Hale Beach Park.
Proposed Projects
Funds are proposed to support the following park improvement projects and maintenance:
Isaac Hale Beach Park improvements ($2.86 million)
Funds will be used to support “revisioning” of park without affecting boat access and providing an on-site water system if water service can’t be restored by the County Department of Water Supply.
Equipment ($1.76 million)
To purchase equipment to ensure safety and proper maintenance at parks.
- 2 bucket trucks for tree trimming. County currently has one.
- Tracked skid steer to address safety concerns at ball fields. County currently renting this equipment.
- Rubbish truck for Puna parks. County currently does not have a rubbish truck to serve parks in Puna.
- 2 dump trucks. Needed to ensure parks are adequately maintained.
- 2 flatbed trucks with dump. Needed to transport aggregate and building materials at County parks.
- 3 heavy-duty trailers to transport equipment.
- 3 excavators. County currently rents this equipment.
- Backhoe to replace existing backhoe that is at the end of its life.
- 2 auto scrubbers for indoor courts.
- Hilo Municipal Golf Course. High-intensity maintenance required. About 30% of golf course users are Puna residents.
- 5-gang mower
- 7-gang mower
- Hydraulic drive sprayer
Other Puna parks projects ($350,000)
- Kurtistown Park dugouts and walkway
- Keaau Armory Hazmat assessment
- Herbert Shipman Park tennis courts resurfacing
To give your input on this project, click here.
Click here to listen to County of Hawai‘i Planning Director Zendo Kern and Maurice Messina, Parks & Recreation Director, discuss plans for improving Isaac Hale Beach Park in lower Puna following the 2018 Kīlauea eruption.