WHAT'S a more appropriate topic on this 4th of July holiday than baseball? Sand Island baseball
fields a labor of loveTwo civic-minded citizens -- Marvin Wong and Dennis Mitsunaga -- combined their efforts to help build, with a number of labor unions donating their time, six youth baseball fields at Sand Island State Park.
"If you put a dollar figure to it, it would cost about $2 million," said Mitsunaga, whose architectural firm designed University of Hawaii's Rainbow Stadium.
And the Sand Island fields didn't cost the public a dollar.
How's that for a story in these days of a budget crunch?
Also, it wasn't just the amount of money saved, adds Mitsunaga. "I don't think it would have been built this soon. So much was done in a short time." Construction began Feb. 15.
Wong and Mitsunaga went to Gov. Ben Cayetano to make available unused land ewa of Sand Island park. The land board approved the project since it was in keeping with a master plan for the area.
The 15-acre area was first cleared of kiawe trees, abandoned cars and construction debris with the help of prisoners. Then it was surveyed by state engineers and graded by the Laborers Union. The United Iron Workers fabricated and installed the 30-foot backstops, the Masons Union poured the dugout slabs, and the Carpenters Union hammered away.
Six different contractors provided expertise without a fee. Even Sea Land shipped in the bleachers from Florida at no charge.
THE mantra for all concerned was, "For the kids, for the kids."
It has been truly a labor of love.
The baseball complex's dedication was held yesterday, although the place already held a 24-team goodwill tournament last week. The Hilo team even camped out overnight there to save on expenses.
"I like to think I had 'muscle,' " said Wong. "But when Dennis got behind the program, he really made things happen. I can't say enough."
The two got together about a year ago to help start an After School Sports Program for intermediate public school youngsters. Wong's four kids competed in sports at Iolani, including Marvin Jr., who just graduated and will pitch for the University of New Mexico this fall.
"But I saw that there was nothing for public school kids in the seventh- and eighth-grades. I felt sorry for them," Wong said. "If there are no sports for them, we start losing them to drugs and juvenile crime."
A summer basketball league for boys and girls was formed with 10 schools participating, as well as two track meets. Baseball and volleyball will be added next year.
ALONG with the topic of after-school sports, Wong and Mitsunaga realized that there was a lack of youth baseball fields.
Wong formed Ka Lima Kokua, Inc., a nonprofit corporation to promote youth sports. A benefit golf tournament raised $130,000 to purchase the raw materials for the baseball complex.
Then it was all voluntary work on everyone's part, according to Mitsunaga.
"I was amazed by how people chipped in," he said. "There were no questions. They just did it. They knew it was for the kids."
Future plans call for two regulation baseball fields to be build, as well as a football field that will be used by the Palama Pop Warner team.
For now, though, instead of an eyesore, there's a brand-new youth baseball complex in place that will be well utilized. For one, a state girls' softball tournament is tentatively scheduled for next month. As well as a number of Little League tournaments.
It's a truly happy 4th of July for local youngsters, thanks to Wong and Mitsunaga and all the labor unions involved.