New Manager Settling In At Heeia Park
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Del.icio.usIt’s official: Kamaaina Kids has taken over management of Heeia State Park, and plans for repairs and programs already are taking shape.
KK president Ray Sanborn said the Kailua-based child care agency’s fundraising efforts launch soon to get money to rebuild the front pavilion. They also will post the banner “Heeia State Park Learning Center,” signaling new plans and promotions of existing educational offerings, such as Bobby Puakea’s koa canoe restoration. The park is open from 7 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. daily.
“It’s incredible,“Sanborn said.“It’s a living learning center where they are working and teaching at the same time.”
Hula, Tahitian and martial arts groups will continue to use the park, but the Sunday tea dances have been canceled.
A staff of five - a ranger, manager, groundskeeper,reservationist and community facilitator - will work at the park, and KK will move its waterfront activities over from Kokokahi YWCA. Sanborn also wants to assure people that summer reservations will be honored.When he received the keys from the state DLNR on May 21, he also got the list of pavilion reservations, arranged by Friends of Heeia State Park, the longtime former manager.
“We spoke with everyone within a week,and we assured them that they’ll be able to have their graduations, baby luaus and weddings,“Sanborn said.
For reservations or confirmations of previous ones,call them at 235-6509 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The park also will be a summer USDA food site, he said.“We are able to feed the kids in our program as well as the community.If there are any kids who aren’t getting summer-school lunches, they can come to the park and receive a lunch.“Meals will be available from 7 to 8 p.m.and 11 a.m. to noon from June 1 to July 31.
Kamaaina Kids prevailed in the DLNR’s request for proposal process, earning the highest score for its plan to manage the entire park.
Friends board member, attorney Anthony Locricchio, who filed a protest of the contract award, said the group intends to obtain a new contact telephone number, since their park office phone has been disconnected.
The Friends operated Heeia State Park for 20 years under a lease agreement with the state.
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