Waiakea Recreation Center to Close For Renovation

The Waiakea Recreation Center in Hilo will close Monday for a million-dollar renovation project.

The center’s tatami mats will be moved to the Pi`ihonua Gym at Gilbert Carvalho Park where martial arts, fitness programs and other center functions will be held during the renovation. To accommodate that move, the Pi`ihonua Gym will be closed beginning Monday and reopen on Nov. 5.

The work will include replacing the lower roof and structure and modifying the building to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, said Jason Armstrong, spokesman for the county Department of Parks and Recreation.

The renovation is scheduled to be completed in mid-March, Armstrong said.

Stan’s Contracting submitted the winning bid of $1.07 million for those and related renovations to the facility.

The center’s Quonset hut and boxing-training room will remain open during most of the construction phase, closing only briefly for safety reasons, he said. The center’s parking lot will not be available for most of the work so people utilizing those facilities should use on-street parking.

Only the Kuawa Street driveway access will remain open the renovation, Armstrong said.

For information about Waiakea Recreation Center programs call Recreation Director John Kushi at 936-4721.