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

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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