MEDIA RELEASE

The Department of Parks and Recreation is investing $1.55 million to enhance the operation and usability of the Pāhoa Aquatic Center.

Isemoto Contracting Co. Ltd. will expand the pool’s equipment building; reconfigure the pool’s pumps, circulation piping, and filtration system; and address recurring leaks that have begun to severely impact the daily operation of the pool. Improved water quality, lower operational costs and the ability to prevent or mitigate pool closures following an electrical outage will be among the significant public benefits.

Contract terms also call for installing roof-mounted solar heating panels to help warm the pool water, a new variable frequency drive to manage the pump motors more efficiently, and performing various repairs and safety upgrades to the facility.

Construction work will require closing the Pāhoa Aquatic Center for approximately six months starting Monday, January 7. The Department of Parks and Recreation apologizes for this inconvenience, and thanks swimmers, other pool users and the general public for their patience and understanding while this critical work is performed.

During the closure, users of the Pāhoa Aquatic Center are encouraged to visit Hilo’s Kawamoto Swim Stadium or Pāhala Swimming Pool located on the grounds of Ka‘ū High and Pāhala Elementary School. Operating hours, contact information and a list of other County of Hawai‘i swimming pools are available at www.hawaiicounty.gov/pr-aquatics/.

For more information, please contact Jason Armstrong, Public Information Officer, at 345-9105, or jarmstrong@co.hawaii.hi.us.