HONOLULU — The Draft Environmental Assessment for proposed improvements to the Waimanalo Beach Park’s facilities is now available and the public is invited to a community meeting on Feb. 21 to provide feedback, according to Honolulu’s Department of Parks and Recreation.

The meeting will take place 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Waimanalo District Park Gymnasium.

Details of the reconstruction and repairs proposed for the park’s pavilion, comfort stations and recreation building are included in the DEA which is available online for public review, according to a news release.

Age, exposure to weather and vandalism are some of the factors that have contributed to the deterioration of existing and former facilities.

An example is the Pahinui Pavilion that was built in 1959 and removed in 2019 because of safety concerns due to the structure’s failing integrity. The pavilion was dedicated to the memory of renowned musician and ambassador of Hawaiian Culture, Gabby “Pop” Pahinui. The new one will be very similar to the former structure per DPR officials.

Proposed improvements include the construction of a new pavilion, replacing the two comfort stations with prefabricated facilities, restoring the recreation building that was damaged by fire and replacing other existing park facilities as they wear out or become damaged in years to come.

Estimated costs for the project are $2.5 million to replace the comfort stations, $1.2 million to reconstruct the Pahinui Pavilion and $550,000 to repair the recreation building.

People unable to attend the meeting can still submit written comments via email to makena@psi-hi.com or mail by March 11 to: Makena White, AICP, Planning Solutions Inc., 711 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 950, Honolulu, HI 96813.

The Feb. 21 meeting follows a public meeting held in June 2023 to discuss the rebuild of the Pahinui Pavilion.

Sarah Yamanaka covers news and events for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.