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It had to be one of the biggest, most long-awaited events in Waipahu in years. Waipahu elated
with new gymThe multiple-use facility took
about 3 years to constructBy Helen Altonn
haltonn@starbulletin.comLegislators, council members, city and community leaders and residents young and old gathered yesterday at the Waipahu District Park for the blessing and opening of the Waipahu Gym and Recreation Complex.
Mayor Jeremy Harris said the facility "is going to be the heart and soul of Waipahu ... where kids can come and get away from drugs and gangs."
"Enjoy it but be guardians over the facility," said Councilman Gary Okino. "Keep it in shape as a good asset for the community."
Students expressed the same thought.
Waipahu Krunch basketball players, who had a "friendly scrimmage" with the Makakilo Knights to initiate the gym, were awed by the gleaming new facility.
"I think this gym is better than the old one and I wish no graffiti around the gym," said Bronson Evinger, 16, noting there was a lot of graffiti around the old gym.
Stephen Pajente, 17, said, "This is amazing. From the old gym compared to this it's unbelievable."
"It's more nice and beautiful," added Jason Ganiron, 15.
The basketball players said it was great to be on the court again after a year's hiatus since the old gym was torn down.
The original gym, the only indoor public recreation facility in Waipahu, was built 41 years ago as part of the Waipahu Recreation Center, which included a football field, baseball and softball diamonds, tennis, volleyball and basketball courts and a parking lot.
Sen. Brian Kanno (D, Ewa Beach-Makakilo-Waipahu) and Rep. Nestor Garcia (D, Waipahu-Crestview), presented a certificate from the Legislature commemorating the dedication.
Kanno said the old gym was dedicated in November 1961, one month after he was born, and he grew up swimming and playing tennis there and going to dances. "It is so critical to youth in the community," he said.
Garcia said he also grew up in and around the gym, particularly on the tennis court. "I like this new gym smell," he said.
The "roots of boxing" grew from that gym, said City Managing Director Ben Lee.
Andy Ganigan, Jesus Salud and Brian Viloria got their start at the boxing facility with the Waipahu Boxing Club.
"They put Waipahu on the map," said City Corporation Counsel David Arakawa, who was master of ceremonies for the dedication.
"A lot of people don't realize Waipahu is where the great boxers came from," Salud said, adding that coach Al Silva "made champions."
When he trained at Waipahu Plantation, then at the old gym, Salud said he "felt an aura." He said he and now professional boxer Viloria, who won a fight Friday night in New York, trained hard so kids could look up to them.
There were a lot of memories of "hard training, sweat and tears" in the old gym with pictures all around, he said.
"Now, it's like starting over again," Salud said. "New kids have got to build that aura around the new gym."
Officials said the new gym was about three years in the making. "We looked at the old termite-eaten gym and felt it was an opportunity to build a new one," said Lee.
It was planned to keep the old one in use until the new one went up but people in the community said to tear it down and they'd wait, he said.
Charmille Abe, supervisor of the complex, and Jo-Ann Yatoga, recreation director, expect up to 1,000 people a week to participate in the various activities, from children to seniors.