WAIPAHU, Hawaii — The City and County of Honolulu reopened Hans L’Orange Park in Waipahu on Sunday after delays to upgrading the park kept pushing back the opening date. 

What You Need To Know

  • The park was closed in January 2023 for a variety of improvements, which include increasing parking capacity from 47 stalls to 122 stalls, renovating the bathroom, improving the baseball field, and more

  • The upgrades cost about $4.2 million, with $294,000 for the design and $3.9 million for the construction

  • Close Construction Inc. started working on the improvements in Jan. 2023, with a completion date originally set for July 2023. However, delays in acquiring construction materials kept pushing back the reopening date

The park was closed in January 2023 for a variety of improvements, which include increasing parking capacity from 47 stalls to 122 stalls, renovating the bathroom, improving the baseball field, upgrading electrical and lighting components, repairing the dugouts and bleachers, installing a new irrigation system, enhancing drainage systems, and planting 27 trees. 

The upgrades cost about $4.2 million, with $294,000 for the design and $3.9 million for the construction, according to a news release.  

The improvements were conducted via a Capital Improvement Project by Close Construction Inc., which started working in January 2023, with a finish date originally set for that July. The city announced in November that a delay involving the construction materials for a new bathroom would push back the opening until spring 2024, but the delays ended up pushing back work on the upgrades until the beginning of summer 2024.

After that, the Department of Parks and Recreation's in-house maintenance staff and Department of Facility Maintenance electricians required additional time to do other renovations that were not part of the original Capital Improvement Project contract, including masonry work for the dugouts, carpentry and painting the bleachers, electrical work around the field, and more in-depth field maintenance, according to DPR's spokesperson.  

The Hawaii Pacific University men’s baseball team, the Sharks, who have called the field home since 2006, also helped with maintenance. 

On Sunday, Mayor Rick Blangiardi threw out a ceremonial first pitch, which was caught by Councilmember Augie Tulba, at the beginning of the Oahu Babe Ruth League game between the New Era and Young Gunz teams to honor the reopening of the park. 

“Sports are deeply woven into the fabric of our island community, and when we can enhance our facilities and return them to the public, it's a victory for everyone,” said Blangiardi. “This park and baseball field are not only integral to Waipahu and home to the HPU Sharks, but they also provide invaluable opportunities for our local Little League teams.”

Tulba, who represents the area, is hosting a Park Beautification Day on Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at Hans L’Orange Neighborhood Park. 

"The improvements and upgrades to Hans L’Orange have reignited Waipahu's community pride and spirit,” said Tulba. 

The nearly seven-acre Hans L’Orange Park is named after a manager of the Oahu Sugar Company, who is said to have convinced his company to repurpose a portion of their cane fields for recreational purposes back in 1924. The park was transferred to the City in 1968. 

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.

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