The long-awaited new Ka‘u District Gym & Shelter took another step closer to reality with the county’s awarding recently of a $17 million construction contract.
The contractor, Summit Construction, is expected to begin work in September. It will take approximately 18 months to complete.
The new structure will be built on the existing Ka‘u High and Pahala Elementary School campus and operated by the county Department of Parks and Recreation.
According to the environmental assessment prepared for the project, the 43,300-square-foot facility was designed to withstand a Category 3 hurricane with winds of up to 130 mph.
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It will also contain a 2,000-square-foot multi-purpose room outfitted with a specially designed air-conditioning and filtration system to provide shelter for area residents during heavy episodes of sulfurous emissions, also known as vog, from Kilauea volcano.
The gym will accommodate three regulation high-school basketball or volleyball courts. Besides the usual athletic amenities, the facility will also have a certified kitchen.
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