McKinley has a beautiful new football field to practice and scrimmage on. There is also a brand-new rubberized track that will host important track and field meets.
But there is no stadium seating and no stadium lights — and thus no home football games.
Help may be on the way. According to Lindsay Chambers, a spokesperson for the Department of Education, there is funding for improvements but the money has not been allocated yet.
The DOE is in the process of requesting for the allocation of design-only funds for stadium seating, stadium lighting and other improvements, and an environmental impact study for that proposed work is expected to follow.
In May 2011, according to Chambers, an initial environmental impact assessment found that there would be no significant impact for the first phase that limited bleachers to approximately 2,500 seats and excluded stadium lighting.
“Because of this language, another EA must be prepared to plan for and show that additional seating and lighting will not significantly impact the neighborhood,” Chambers said. “If the project is able to move forward, funds … will be requested and will allow the school to pursue additional seating and stadium lights. If approval cannot be obtained, the project may move forward with other stadium improvements, such as replacement athletic and PE locker rooms and replacement bleachers.”
McKinley’s neighbors??? What was first? The school or the condos. I hope the neighbors have no intentions of exercising on the track.
Stop with the BS. It has nothing to do with Funds, its to do with those new condo’s and the people who are living there. These new residents don’t want the stadium to be completed due to apparently more traffic and noise. But these neighbors are so quick to use the schools facilities. Funny though when you got Blaisdell right next to the school and its one of the biggest entertainment arenas in Hawaii. So please tell the truth
Yup neighbors to bright to loud mo parking excuses! Money those contractors were using McKinley so long give them the bill for rent
Scoops: they already use the tennis court, cafe and baseball field. So track is a given. But the kids who attend mckinley can’t even get field completed. All politics with the community
How can Oahu’s oldest public school…opened in the mid 1800’s and was around way before any of these “neighbors” existed still can’t get a proper football field? My grandpa used to go to that school when he used to live in Palama and Farrington wasn’t even built yet. These kids deserve the proper facilities. Let’s get it done DOE
Are all the classrooms air conditioned? Books or technology fully up to date for all students? Are the existing buildings adequately maintained and upkept? How about at other DOE schools? More sports stadiums are nice things to have. But, c’mon DOE. Fix first things first.
Seems to me we have a ton of support here and on the field also in the community. So let’s get this started people. Give them Lights, They will Shine! On and off the field.