Blog

'Aikahi playground reborn

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Staff Writer

KAILUA — A new playground is rising out of the remains of a beloved park this week, thanks to the help of hundreds of volunteers assembling the structure at 'Aikahi Elementary School.

Work began quietly Monday with small crews surveying and preparing the grounds for yesterday's massive turnout, in which about 400 people manned two shifts to build the foundation for the playground's volcano slide, turtle tunnel, monkey bar, moving surfboard and a dozen more features.

By mid-morning, the school playground area was filled with people, building materials, fabrication stations, a tool shed and cutting benches. Volunteers were hammering pieces together, building frames, leveling the ground and burying posts that would become the foundation for park apparatus.

The rainy weather and muddy grounds had cleared and a cooling breeze was welcomed by the workers.

Volunteers came from all over, with 250 Kane'ohe Bay Marines in two shifts, 21 Hawai'i Job Corps students, skilled members of the mason and carpenter's union, JROTC members from Kalaheo High School, neighbors and parents and students from 'Aikahi Elementary.

"It just feels like the community is coming together for us," said Jenny Helman, an 'Aikahi parent who is on the playground committee.

Young Marines are making up the bulk of the work crew, contributing 250 members who will show up for three days.

It's a good chance to introduce them to the community, said Sgt. William Pierce.

"They were enthused about it as far as helping the community and helping the kids," Pierce said.

More help is needed, including tools, volunteers and funding to complete the project, said Kimi Eggard, 'Aikahi school PTSA president and project coordinator. The $150,000 project is short $50,000, and the committee hopes to raise money through a Web site and a fundraiser on March 13 at Ko'olau Golf Club.

The project was designed and organized by Leathers and Associates, which is known for building community playgrounds that includes systems to track loaned tools, teach untrained volunteers and create an experience that brings community members together in a shared project.

Kids are helping to design and build the project alongside their parents and other area residents, giving them a sense of ownership of the playground, said Marc Leathers, company owner.

"By the end of the project, people will be amazed," Leathers said. "They can actually say, 'We built this. We designed it.' "

Denali Jackson, 11, said she'll bring her children here to show them what she helped build. The 'Aikahi fifth-grader said she was looking forward to the new playground and all of its features but most of all she was enjoying the work and being with her father.

"It's really great because you get to be a part of it," she said.

Lemuel Murray, an 'Aikahi fourth-grader, said he loved using the tools after drilling 30 holes in the first three hours of the morning.

"It's challenging but somewhat fun," Murray said. "It's fun because some of my friends are here and they help me out."

Volunteers are welcome from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. until Monday.