The Friends of Higashihara Park plans to fix up Kamakana Playground at Harold H. Higashihara Park ahead of its 25th birthday next year.
The group needs able-bodied workers and equipment to help from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 6 at the park in Honalo. Friends of Higashihara Park is hoping 70 to 80 people will show up. People will be separated into groups of 10 for COVID safety.
Work includes blowing dirt and spiderwebs off of everything, pressure washing sidewalks and pavilion roofs, fixing the Sugar Train and loose fence panels, cleaning moss and grime off things, and cleaning the garden areas and putting down week block and chips. The group is seeking the following equipment to help with the effort: air compressors, pressure washers and generators.
Snacks and a light lunch will be provided. All volunteers will be entered to win prizes at the end of the day.
Recently, state legislators, county officials and Lions Club members and met with Marc Leathers and Kyle Cundy, playground specialists from Leathers and Associates, to review Kamakana Playground. Robert Leathers, founder of Leathers and Associates, was the playground planner and architect of Kamakana Playground a quarter century ago.
Made primarily of old-growth yellow pine, specially purchased and shipped to Hawaii, the structures at Kamakana have held up well in the wet mauka climate, but as all structures, there are places that need repair, including annual sealant on all wood surfaces.
Leathers and Associates will prepare a detailed report of its findings and recommendations, addressing any immediate safety and compliance issues, short-term priority repair recommendations, and recommendations for long-term maintenance and replacement, to include plastic wood.
The Lions Club of Kona has cared for Harold H. Higashihara Park since the playground opened in 1997, and built the picnic pavilions at the Ka’u end of the park. This year, they formally joined forces with the Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation by forming the Friends of Higashihara Park, and are moving forward with plans to repair and improve the playground and park, with visions of a skate park in the future.
Call or text Mary, Debbie or Alayna to register for a job assignment at (808) 339-8290, (808) 938-1987 and (808) 987-6519, respectively.