Home / Environment / Decades-Long Wait for North Kona Park Nears End as County Pursues New Site
Decades-Long Wait for North Kona Park Nears End as County Pursues New Site
14 Nov
Summary
- North Kona residents have lobbied for a regional park for 40 years
- County agrees to upgrade sewer plant, enabling use of recycled water for park
- New site on DHHL land is flat, making park development more feasible
For decades, North Kona residents have been pushing for a regional park in their rapidly growing community. As of November 2025, their long-standing efforts appear to be nearing fruition.
The county has recently agreed to upgrade the Kealakehe sewer plant, which will produce highly treated wastewater suitable for irrigating playing fields. This development, combined with a proposed land swap with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), has breathed new life into the park project.
The original site for the park, designated by the state in 2011, has proven challenging due to the steep slope of the land. However, the new DHHL-owned site across the highway is flat, making it a more feasible location for the planned facilities, which include five soccer fields, a covered court, a multipurpose stadium, and six baseball diamonds.
Mayor Kimo Alameda is now pursuing this new proposal and aims to break ground on the park within the next 8 years, committing an estimated $50 million to $100 million to the project. Longtime advocate Bo Kahui believes the park is now "possible" and "necessary" given the rapid growth in the area.
