The University of Hawai`i Hilo, under a Capital Improvement Project (CIP) long in the works (2016) prior to the pandemic, and funded during the 2018 legislative session, broke ground this week on a new soccer field, softball field and a multi-purpose building between the two that will house restrooms, concessions, storage and a team room.

NAN, Inc. is the general contractor. They began physical work on Monday (Oct. 19) on a project that first hit the drawing board nearly four years ago. On Thursday, State of Hawai`i legislators, Chancellor Bonnie Irwin, coaches and teams gathered to celebrate the new facility.

The shovels-in-the-dirt moment marks the first time in nearly 40 years that a new athletic facility has been built at UH Hilo.

“This is an important day and a ray of good news that is so welcomed during these challenging times,” said UH Hilo Athletics Director Patrick Guillen.  “We have been working on this project for over four years and it is nice to see all of the planning and hard work come to fruition.  Our vision is to become one of the top NCAA Division II programs in the West Region and adding first-class facilities to our program that already has first-class student-athletes and coaches is a huge step towards that goal.”

The one-time CIP funding of $4.2 million includes a brand new synthetic turf NCAA regulation soccer field and softball outfield, a new state-of-the-art drainage system for both and the multi-purpose building. The project falls under Title IX funding that will provide similar facilities for both men’s and women’s sports.

The Vulcan women’s and men’s soccer teams didn’t have a field to call their own. This past year, they both played on the campus practice baseball field, and previous to that they played at Kamehameha School in Keaau.

“Athletics serves as the front porch to any university, and I am happy to see this addition to ours,” Chancellor Irwin said. “I look forward to coming out and joining our community to watch our student-athletes compete on this field in the near future.”

Local dignitaries in attendance included State Senator Kai Kahele, along with State Representatives Mark Nakashima and Richard Onishi. Also present was Dennis “Fresh” Onishi, the Governor Liaison for Hawai`i Island.

Chancellor Irwin provided a welcome and gave aloha while athletic director Patrick Guillen added his mahalo to everyone in attendance for their support. UHH head soccer coaches Paul Regrutto and Gene Okamura were present with members of their teams, along with longtime assistant softball coach Freddy Entilla. Also in attendance was Vulcan Booster Club President Kapena Lum, Vulcan Booster Club Board members Kealii Beck and Marty and Kim Ciez, Director of UHH Facilities Planning Jerry Watanabe,  inaugural UHH soccer coach Gordon “Mr. Soccer” Inouye, Faculty Athletic Representative Dr. Randy Hirokawa and NAN, Inc. general contractor Scot Oshiro–among others. 

The project completion target date is September of 2021.

“We are so excited to get this project going,” Guillen added. “Our students and community deserve a top-notch facility to train and compete on. These facilities will bring great pride and fit nicely in our commitment as a community-engaged university, as we plan to make the facilities available for various athletics camps and clinics for our keiki.”

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