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STAR-BULLETIN / 2002
Judhea Campolio plays on new playground equipment installed at Kalihi Kai Elementary School in February.




Schools receive
new playgrounds

A project to replace equipment
statewide heads for completion

Which schools are next


By Susan Essoyan
sessoyan@starbulletin.com

The long wait for playground equipment is nearly over for children at Hawaii's public elementary schools.

More than three years ago, jungle gyms and slides were removed or cordoned off at most school playgrounds across the islands because they did not meet federal safety standards. Kids had to make do with games like tag and jump rope while waiting for the state to replace equipment and install padded surfacing.

Last week, Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto reported that the end is in sight. Since construction began in December 2001, the Department of Education has installed new playgrounds at 84 elementary schools, and projects are underway at Solomon, Shafter, Pahala and Keaukaha schools.

Bids are going out for another 49 projects, some of which will be complete by the end of summer, with the rest by January 2004 at the latest. There are 178 public elementary schools in the state.

"Now that it's underway, I'm feeling much better about it," said parent Jennifer Eye, who was dismayed to find there was no playground equipment when she enrolled her son, Kyle, in kindergarten last fall at Solomon Elementary School.

The Joint Venture Education Forum, a military-civilian partnership, used federal funds to help put up playgrounds at seven schools, including Solomon, and plans to pitch in with another nine. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin contributed equipment for Kalihi Kai's playground.

The state is seeking another $1.5 million from the Legislature for playground projects at the rest of the schools.

Schools were allowed to select their own designs for the playgrounds. Each site cost an average of $55,000, below earlier projections of $75,000, according to Hamamoto's report. The Department of Education saved money by handling the projects itself rather than paying an overhead fee to the Department of Accounting and General Services, it said.

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Playground projects

>> New playground equipment will be installed at these public elementary schools this year:

August Ahrens
Aina Haina
Ala Wai
Anuenue
Eleele
Ewa Beach
Ewa
Hale Kula
Haleiwa
Honokaa
Hawaii Center for the Deaf and Blind
Jefferson
Kaaawa
Kaahumanu
Kahului
Kailua
Kaleiopuu
Kalihi
Kaneohe
Kaunakakai
Keonepoko
Kihei
Kilauea
Kilohana
Kipapa
Koloa
Lanai
Lanakila
Lihikai
Liholiho
Mililani Mauka
Manana
Maunaloa
Nanakuli
Pahoa
Palisades
Palolo
Pauoa
Pope
Wahiawa
Waiakea
Waianae
Waihee
Waikele
Waikiki
Waikoloa
Wailuku
Waimanalo

>> Projects are already underway at:

Keaukaha
Pahala
Shafter
Solomon

Source: Department of Education


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