Laupāhoehoe Swimming Pool has closed indefinitely due to significant water leak

The Laupāhoehoe Swimming Pool has closed temporarily, yet indefinitely, due to a significant water leak, according to the Hawaiʻi County Department of Parks and Recreation.

Maurice Messina, Director of Parks and Recreation, said a few days ago staff noticed the water level in the pool initially fell approximately 2-inches in a 24-hour period. The water loss continued following the refilling of the pool.

In-house technical crews were dispatched to the site to troubleshoot but could not identify the leak’s source, and the water level continued to fall.

While there, crews identified and repaired two waterline leaks, but those were unrelated to the swimming pool’s water situation.

“We need to bring in pool professionals that can assist us in determining the source(s) and cause(s) of the continual loss of water, whether it’s a damaged drain line, a failure in the pool basin, or something else entirely,” Messina said. “We then must determine and implement the necessary corrective work – even temporarily. This is a heavily used pool, and we are doing all we can to resolve this quickly.”

Laupāhoehoe Swimming Pool was constructed in the late 1970s. It holds approximately 270,000 gallons of water. A 2-inch drop in the pool’s water level equates to more than 5,600 gallons of water loss.

All water used to refill the pool requires a significant volume of chemical treatment to ensure compliance with State Department of Health regulations and industry standards and to prevent algal growth.

While Laupāhoehoe Swimming Pool is closed for repairs, patrons are encouraged to utilize the Honokaʻa Swimming Pool during regular hours of operation. Honoka’a pool schedule:

• Mondays – Thursdays: 10 to 11:45 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m.

• Water exercise classes Tuesdays and Thursdays: 10 to11 a.m. (no lap swim)
• BIIF Swim Team Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: 3 to 4:15 p.m. (no lap swim)

We are working to increase Honokaʻa pool availability over the next two weeks, and the pool will be open Sundays starting Dec. 4, 2022.

For more information, call the county aquatics office at 808-961-8694.