Latest news with #HonoluluDepartmentofParksandRecreation
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Yahoo
Blangiardi ‘disgusted' after Wahiawa playground equipment torched
OFFICE OF MAYOR RICK BLANGIARDI Police are investigating an arson case after newly renovated playground equipment at Wahiawa District Park was burned Thursday night. OFFICE OF MAYOR RICK BLANGIARDI Police are investigating an arson case after newly renovated playground equipment at Wahiawa District Park was burned Thursday night. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi says he is angry and disgusted after the newly renovated playground at Wahiawa District Park was set ablaze Thursday night. Honolulu police have opened an arson investigation. Police said that at about 11 p.m., officers responded to a fire at the park and found the playground structure engulfed in flames. The Honolulu Fire Department determined an accelerant was used, and confirmed the fire was arson. 'I am angry, deeply disappointed and quite frankly disgusted by the senseless act of vandalism and arson that destroyed the newly renovated playground at Wahiawa District Park, ' Blangiardi said today in a statement. 'This was an investment in our community—especially for our keiki—and to see it deliberately torched just days after it was completed is nothing short of heartbreaking.' He added, 'What happened here is not just criminal ; it's personal. It's a violation of trust and an attack on the spirit of our community. We will not tolerate this kind of behavior. I have directed our teams to work closely with Honolulu Police and Fire investigators to bring those responsible to justice. And make no mistake—we will rebuild this playground.' The mayor said the residents of Wahiawa deserve better and the city will restore the space to be stronger and more resilient than before because 'our keiki deserve nothing less.' The Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation officials said in a post that the playground had just been renovated in mid-March, and that they had installed new bouncy surfacing, with playful graphics, at a cost of nearly $121, 000. Police said no suspect has been identified, and that the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the arson case is urged to contact CrimeStoppers at 808-955-8300 or via the P3 Tips app. 36 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? .
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Yahoo
Arson destroys newly renovated Wahiawa park playground
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi says he is angry and disgusted after the newly renovated playground at Wahiawa District Park was set ablaze Thursday night. Honolulu police have opened an arson investigation. Police said that at about 11 p.m. officers responded to a fire at the park and found the playground structure engulfed in flames. The Honolulu Fire Department determined an accelerant was used, and confirmed the fire was arson. 'I am angry, deeply disappointed and quite frankly disgusted by the senseless act of vandalism and arson that destroyed the newly renovated playground at Wahiawa District Park, ' Blangiardi said Friday in a statement. 'This was an investment in our community—especially for our keiki—and to see it deliberately torched just days after it was completed is nothing short of heartbreaking.' He added, 'What happened here is not just criminal ; it's personal. It's a violation of trust and an attack on the spirit of our community. We will not tolerate this kind of behavior. I have directed our teams to work closely with Honolulu Police and Fire investigators to bring those responsible to justice. And make no mistake—we will rebuild this playground.' The mayor said the residents of Wahiawa deserve better and that the city will restore the space to be stronger and more resilient than before because 'our keiki deserve nothing less.' Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation officials said in a post that the playground had just been renovated in mid-March and that they had installed new bouncy surfacing, with playful graphics, at a cost of nearly $121, 000. The original playground structure was installed in November 2015. Police said no suspect has been identified and that the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the arson case is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 808-955-8300 or via the P3 Tips app. This is the second major fire at Wahiawa District Park in less than a year. In August an overnight blaze burned thousands of dollars' worth of Wahiawa United football equipment. The fire destroyed an estimated $20, 000 in gear just two weeks before the youth football season began. The team, which includes nearly 100 players ranging in age from 8 to 14, was forced to replace critical equipment in a short time frame. Although surveillance cameras are installed at the park, they are located at the pool area and do not cover the playground. City officials have indicated that planning for repairs is already underway.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Yahoo
Blangiardi ‘disgusted' after Wahiawa playground equipment torched
OFFICE OF MAYOR RICK BLANGIARDI Police are investigating an arson case after newly renovated playground equipment at Wahiawa District Park was burned Thursday night. OFFICE OF MAYOR RICK BLANGIARDI Police are investigating an arson case after newly renovated playground equipment at Wahiawa District Park was burned Thursday night. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi says he is angry and disgusted after the newly renovated playground at Wahiawa District Park was set ablaze Thursday night. Honolulu police have opened an arson investigation. Police said that at about 11 p.m., officers responded to a fire at the park and found the playground structure engulfed in flames. The Honolulu Fire Department determined an accelerant was used, and confirmed the fire was arson. 'I am angry, deeply disappointed and quite frankly disgusted by the senseless act of vandalism and arson that destroyed the newly renovated playground at Wahiawa District Park, ' Blangiardi said today in a statement. 'This was an investment in our community—especially for our keiki—and to see it deliberately torched just days after it was completed is nothing short of heartbreaking.' He added, 'What happened here is not just criminal ; it's personal. It's a violation of trust and an attack on the spirit of our community. We will not tolerate this kind of behavior. I have directed our teams to work closely with Honolulu Police and Fire investigators to bring those responsible to justice. And make no mistake—we will rebuild this playground.' The mayor said the residents of Wahiawa deserve better and the city will restore the space to be stronger and more resilient than before because 'our keiki deserve nothing less.' The Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation officials said in a post that the playground had just been renovated in mid-March, and that they had installed new bouncy surfacing, with playful graphics, at a cost of nearly $121, 000. Police said no suspect has been identified, and that the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the arson case is urged to contact CrimeStoppers at 808-955-8300 or via the P3 Tips app. 16 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? .
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Waimea Bay restrooms close for major renovations
COURTESY DPR The Waimea Bay Beach Park restrooms will be closed, starting today, for several months of renovations. 1 /2 COURTESY DPR The Waimea Bay Beach Park restrooms will be closed, starting today, for several months of renovations. COURTESY DPR The Waimea Bay Beach Park restrooms will be closed, starting today, for several months of renovations. 2 /2 COURTESY DPR The Waimea Bay Beach Park restrooms will be closed, starting today, for several months of renovations. COURTESY DPR The Waimea Bay Beach Park restrooms will be closed, starting today, for several months of renovations. COURTESY DPR The Waimea Bay Beach Park restrooms will be closed, starting today, for several months of renovations. The restrooms at the popular Waimea Bay Beach Park on Oahu's North Shore have been closed, starting today, for scheduled renovations. City officials said the $687, 732 renovation project, which includes complete reconstruction of the comfort station's roof and bathroom repairs, will require the closure of the entire facility for at least five months. The anticipated completion date of the renovations and reopening is by the end of September. In the meantime, officials from the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation said a dozen portable toilets, including two ADA-accessible bathrooms, will be available to the public. The beach showers will also remain available. No public parking is expected to be affected by the project. An area adjacent to the restrooms, however, will be used to stage equipment. DPR staff are working with first responders to relocate their equipment and to ensure there is no disruption to emergency services during the renovations. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. DPR said renovations begin with a complete roof reconstruction that will replace support beams and shingles at the restrooms, which were contracted out to Moriyama Construction Inc. at a cost of $687, 732. Following the roofing work, in-house DPR maintenance staff will improve bathroom fixtures, partitions, and flooring. 'The facility restorations are part of DPR's effort to revitalize some of our most heavily used park facilities, such as playgrounds, outdoor courts, and bathrooms, ' said DPR in a news release. 'Since 2015, this has resulted in renovations to 176 comfort stations around the island. We greatly appreciate the patience and understanding of kamaaina and malihini (locals and tourists ) who plan on visiting Waimea Beach during this facility improvement effort.' 1 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? .
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Combating Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles
In this segment of Empowered Hawaii, Kelly Simek looks into the fight against one of Hawaii's most destructive invasive species: the coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB). She speaks with Arisa Barcinas, CRB Response Outreach Associate, and Nate Serota, Spokesman for the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation, to discuss the severe threat this pest poses to Hawaii's iconic palm trees and what's being done to stop it. These beetles bore into the crowns of coconut and other palm trees, feeding on their sap and causing significant damage. Left unchecked, CRBs can kill entire trees, devastating Hawaii's landscapes, agriculture, and cultural heritage. Arisa explains the challenges of tracking and eradicating this elusive pest, noting how quickly populations can grow if not managed. Nate highlights the collaborative response effort, which includes setting up traps, removing breeding grounds like decomposing green waste, and educating the community about the beetle's impact. 'Everyone has a role to play,' he emphasizes, urging residents to report sightings and properly dispose of organic waste to prevent the beetle from spreading. A key concern is preventing the CRB from reaching neighbor islands, where it could wreak even more havoc. Arisa shares how outreach and strict quarantine measures are helping to keep the beetle contained. Despite the challenges, Kelly learns that progress is being made, thanks to dedicated teams working tirelessly to protect Hawaii's natural beauty. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
