Kapa‘a field readied for graduation

Bleachers have been installed at the Kapa‘a New Town Park, while a fencing crew spent last week installing an 8-foot barrier at the site of this year’s Kapa‘a High School graduation ceremony.

“They’re scheduled to complete the fencing project by June 1 in time for Kapa‘a High School’s graduation, which will be the first big event held at the stadium,” said Soncy Tamashiro, according to a press release.

Tamashiro is a member of Leadership Kaua‘i, a group that took on the challenge two years ago of facilitating the construction of a home field at the Kapa‘a New Town Park.

The group — called Na Ha Ewalu or The Breath of Eight — includes: John Cox, Michelle Lizama, Corey Nakamura, Char Ravelo, Matthew Taba, Tamashiro, Caroline Texeira and William Trugillo.

“We’re working in partnership with … the community on this project so Kapa‘a High School and eastside sports teams will have their own home field,” said Tamashiro, in the release.

After the graduation ceremony, additional work is scheduled to be done at the field including the installation of a scoreboard, goal posts and permanent bleachers, along with re-paving the parking lot.

“Our goal is to have the next phase completed in time for the KIF (Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation) football season,” said Mel Nishihara, county parks administrator, in the release.

The seating capacity at the Kapa‘a home field will be around 2,500, or about the same as the Hanapepe Stadium.

Locker rooms are also planned.

“A lot of work on the Kapa‘a home field is being done pro bono, including designing the locker rooms and irrigation and septic systems,” said Tamashiro, according to the release.

Utilizing a donated irrigation plan, Na Ha Ewalu organized a group of volunteers and a county crew for an entire Saturday digging trenches and installing the irrigation system.

Design services for the septic system were also donated.