BREAKING: $4.7M Released for Central Maui Sports Complex

Waikapu. Maui. Photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

A $4.7 million funding release was announced today for the construction of the Central Maui Sports Complex in Waikapū.

The general obligation bond funding release announcement was made by Acting Governor Shan Tsutsui, who has been a long-time advocate for the project.

“This park will provide space for family recreation, and provide ample practice and playing facilities for young athletes. No longer will the state need to converge on Oʻahu for state tournaments,” said Tstustui during a January 2011 address to the county when he served as senate president.

“With our new facility, we will be able to host hundreds of off island families and provide a boost to our local businesses,” he stated at the time.

In a statement released today, Tsutsui said, “It’s really exciting to see that the development of the park is well-underway. The sports complex will be a gathering place for families and children to play and spend quality-time together.”

The park will reportedly encompass up to 65 acres of land in the Wailuku-Waikapū region, and is part of the master planned Wai’ale community, being developed by Alexander & Baldwin.

According to Tsutsui, the park is being developed in phases, which will ultimately include a full-size baseball field, a quad of softball fields, a little league baseball quad, an area for soccer fields,  comfort stations, concession buildings, and new infrastructure.

“Once completed, the park could serve as a venue to host local, statewide, national, and international sporting events. It has the potential to be a revenue generator for Maui and the state,” said Tsutsui.

The news comes in advance of a press conference planned for Monday, in which Mayor Alan Arakawa will share his vision for a separate Central Maui Regional Park, also located off of Waiko Road in Waikapū, and information about the benefits projected for the Maui community.

Lt. Gov. Tsutsui also announced funding allotments for several other projects today including:  $1,986,617 to the Hawaiʻi Public Housing Authority, for the planning and designing of ADA Compliance projects; $1,178,000 to Ho’opono Rehabilitation Center for the Blind, for upgrades and improvements; and $3,520,000 to the Hawaiʻi Public Housing Authority for improvements, renovations, statewide plans, design, construction and equipment.