WAIMEA — A group of people representing contractors for the proposed Waimea High School gymnasium talked on Wednesday, ahead of the groundbreaking ceremony scheduled to take place at the site of the new facility on the Waimea High School campus.
“They don’t like the roof,” the representative said. “It can’t be green. They bleed blue over here.”
A good-sized crowd of more than 100 people, including Waimea High School students, Menehune alums, and the community showed up to witness the turning of ground following the blessing provided by Waimea alumnus Kumu Hula Leinaala Pavao Jardin, who was accompanied by several of her Halau Ka Lei Mokihana O Kauai dancers to help perform the blessing.
Details of the new gymnasium were unavailable, but the construction, including removing a monkeypod tree, is expected to take until January 2027.
The Waimea High School principal said the construction will affect the school’s graduation plans for the next two years, starting with this year’s graduation, which will be moved to the Hanapepe Stadium because of the construction. Prior to the gymnasium construction, Waimea High School used to host commencement on the school’s front lawn, which featured bleachers constructed to seat the senior classes.
Other dignitaries participating in the groundbreaking included Roy Shioi of Shioi Construction, the project’s contractor, Kauai Complex Area Superintendent Daniel Hamada, Waimea alumnus Senate President Ron Kouchi, Waimea resident Rep. Dee Morikawa, Principal Mahina Anguay, and Waimea High School Athletic Director Dino Pabre.
Kouchi said that although the County of Kauai was not represented at the groundbreaking, the county plays an important role in the progress of the facility, which is different from the gymnasium at Kauai High School, which broke ground in 2021.
Across the road, renovation work by contractor Jas. W. Glover on the Waimea High School tennis courts at the Cook Field paused for the groundbreaking. Cook Field is currently closed for tennis court resurfacing and other upgrades to the park, including repairs to the retaining walls around the courts and the park perimeter. This closure forced Waimea to host its home baseball games and tennis matches at the Hanapepe Stadium facilities.
