MILILANI, Hawaii — The local skate community at Mililani Skate Park can now continue having fun after the sun sets thanks in large part to the installation of eight 40-foot-tall lights donated by local electricians.

What You Need To Know

  • The topic of the park having no lights was brought up at Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s 2024 town hall meeting held at Wahiawa Elementary School earlier in the year

  • The discussion led to a community collaboration resulting in a $20,000 gift of materials and labor from A-1 A-Lectricians

  • At the same town hall meeting, the request to further develop and expand the skate park at the George F. Wright Wahiawa District Park was also raised by a skateboarder and his son

  • As a result, the Hoʻoulu Wahiawa Group is partnering with the city on the project and invites the community to a third public meeting at the park’s Hoʻokipa Building on Oct. 22 at 6 p.m.

The topic of the park having no lights was brought up at Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s 2024 town hall meeting held at Wahiawa Elementary School earlier in the year. The discussion led to a community collaboration resulting in a $20,000 gift of materials and labor from A-1 A-Lectricians.

The project was approved through City Council Resolution 24-200 and hastened to completion with the assistance from staff in the city Department of Parks and Recreation, Facility Maintenance, Design and Construction and Environmental Services.

Celebrating the project completion earlier in the week at Mililani Skate Park were Blangiardi, members of the Mililani Neighborhood Board, Councilmember Val Okimoto, local skaters and staff from A-1 A-Lectricians, Inc.

“When we initiated our townhall meetings last year and this year, one of our primary objectives was to directly engage our diverse communities and empower them through information and collaboration,” said Blangiardi in a news release. “The installation of these skate park lights is a perfect example of that goal in action.

“A generous local business saw an opportunity to enhance their community, but it required the coordination and support of multiple city departments to make it happen. Thanks to the dedication of A-1 A-Lectricians, their incredible staff, the Mililani community, and our city teams, we turned this vision into reality. Mahalo to everyone involved for making this project such a success,” Blangiardi said.

Celebrating the installation of lights at Mililani Skate Park, a true community collaboration. At right, front: Mayor Rick Blangiardi and District 8 Councilmember Val Okimoto. (Courtesy Honolulu Department of Parks & Recreation)

After extending her appreciation to all parties involved in the project, Okimoto said, “Private-public partnerships like this are a tremendous resource for the community, as philanthropic support like this often makes a lasting impact in the community. Previously, parents were using make-shift lighting or car headlights to light the park after dark. With these new lights our keiki will be safer, as they continue to skate into the evening, ensuring this project will be enjoyed by the community for many years to come.”

Mililani Skate Park is one of 15 skate parks and roller rinks on Oahu located in the 21.23-acre Mililani District Park.

At the same town hall meeting, the request to further develop and expand the skate park at the George F. Wright Wahiawa District Park was also raised by a skateboarder and his son. As a result, the Hoʻoulu Wahiawa Group is partnering with the city on the project and invites the community to a third public meeting at the park’s Hoʻokipa Building on Oct. 22 at 6 p.m.

Two earlier meetings developed a list of proposed park improvements that included an expanded skate park in a new area within the park. The Oct. 22 meeting will provide a tentative timeline of the feasible improvements.

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