Aquatics Facilities Master Planning Meetings

Interested residents are invited to participate in a series of master planning meetings over the next year regarding Maui County aquatics facilities.

Sakamoto Pool. File photo courtesy County of Maui.

The county will be working with Counsilman-Hunsaker & Associates, one of the country’s leading experts in developing aquatic facility master plans and designing pools for a variety of purposes and institutions.

Preparing the master plan will comprise several phases, beginning with a review of existing facilities, interviews with stakeholders and community meetings. An advisory committee of citizens also will be
formed to work with the department and the consultant team.

The schedule for community meetings are as follows:

Monday, June 19 (6 to 7:30 p.m.) Kīhei Community Ctr.
Tuesday, June 20 (6 to 7:30 p.m.) Lahaina Civic Ctr.
Wednesday, June 21 (6 to 7:30 p.m.) Eddie Tam Ctr.
Thursday, June 22 (6 to 7:30 p.m.) Kahului Community Ctr.
Friday, June 23 (11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) Mitchell Pauole Ctr.

In addition to an analysis of existing pools, the master plan will include recommendations for new facilities, the renovation of existing pools, and a description of projected costs for development, staffing, and maintenance. It is expected that the master plan will be complete by the end of 2017.

“Maui has such a strong swimming tradition here, stemming back to Coach Soichi Sakamoto,” said Parks & Recreation Director Kaala Buenconsejo. “Swimming is still popular and we need to make sure our pools and pool facilities are up to par for the community. We have to ask ourselves, do we continue to repair our pools piecemeal or is it a better investment to build new facilities? By participating in these meetings the community can be part of that decision and others.”