Big Isle pool
falling into disrepair

Hawaii County is in a pickle
over how to keep up a county
pool with no lifeguard

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By Rod Thompson
rthompson@starbulletin.com

KEALAKEKUA, Hawaii >> Hawaii County has kept a swimming pool at Konawaena High School closed because it is having trouble finding a lifeguard, said county Parks Director Pat Englehard.

The pool has been closed much of the past two months since the regular lifeguard became unable to work, she said.

The pool has been open occasionally by temporarily transferring a lifeguard from the Kona Community Aquatic Center in Kailua, 10 miles to the north.

Recruiting lifeguards in Kona is difficult because of competition from resorts, she said. Also, the Red Cross, which certifies lifeguards, needs a minimum of six per class, but only one or two people are normally interested at any time.

Some of the staff at the Kailua aquatic center drive daily from Hilo, Englehard said.

Relatively little use is made of the Konawaena pool because of its upland location, she said.

"It's cold up there," she said.

Still, Engelhard made about four calls yesterday morning alone, trying to find a solution.

Meanwhile, algae is turning the Konawaena pool water green because monitoring chlorine in the water is one of the duties of the absent lifeguard. A lifeguard will be sent to the pool on overtime to clean the water, Englehard said.

The county wants to make $500,000 in improvements at the pool, including fixing its solar heating system, Englehard said, but no money is available.