By Victoria Budiono Crime in HawaiiEditors' Picks Thursday’s arson at Wahiawa District Park is the second major fire at the park in less than a year the Wahiawa United youth football program lost thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment Already a Honolulu Star-Advertiser subscriber? Log in now to continue reading Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi says he is angry and disgusted after the newly renovated playground at Wahiawa District Park was set ablaze Thursday night Honolulu police have opened an arson investigation officers responded to a fire at the park and found the playground structure engulfed in flames The Honolulu Fire Department determined an accelerant was used deeply disappointed and quite frankly disgusted by the senseless act of vandalism and arson that destroyed the newly renovated playground at Wahiawa District Park,” Blangiardi said Friday in a statement “This was an investment in our community — especially for our keiki — and to see it deliberately torched just days after it was completed is nothing short of heartbreaking.” “What happened here is not just criminal; it’s personal It’s a violation of trust and an attack on the spirit of our community We will not tolerate this kind of behavior I have directed our teams to work closely with Honolulu Police and Fire investigators to bring those responsible to justice And make no mistake — we will rebuild this playground.” The mayor said the residents of Wahiawa deserve better and that the city will restore the space to be stronger and more resilient than before because “our keiki deserve nothing less.” Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation officials said in a post that the playground had just been renovated in mid-March and that they had installed new bouncy surfacing The original playground structure was installed in November 2015 Police said no suspect has been identified and that the investigation is ongoing Anyone with information about the arson case is urged to contact Crime­Stoppers at 808-955-8300 or via the P3 Tips app This is the second major fire at Wahiawa District Park in less than a year In August an overnight blaze burned thousands of dollars’ worth of Wahiawa United football equipment The fire destroyed an estimated $20,000 in gear just two weeks before the youth football season began which includes nearly 100 players ranging in age from 8 to 14 was forced to replace critical equipment in a short time frame Although surveillance cameras are installed at the park they are located at the pool area and do not cover the playground City officials have indicated that planning for repairs is already underway Editors' Picks Police are investigating an arson case after newly renovated playground equipment at Wahiawa District Park was burned Thursday night deeply disappointed and quite frankly disgusted by the senseless act of vandalism and arson that destroyed the newly renovated playground at Wahiawa District Park,” Blangiardi said today in a statement “This was an investment in our community — especially for our keiki — and to see it deliberately torched just days after it was completed is nothing short of heartbreaking.” “What happened here is not just criminal; it’s personal It’s a violation of trust and an attack on the spirit of our community And make no mistake — we will rebuild this playground.” The mayor said the residents of Wahiawa deserve better and the city will restore the space to be stronger and more resilient than before because “our keiki deserve nothing less.” The Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation officials said in a post that the playground had just been renovated in mid-March and that they had installed new bouncy surfacing Police said no suspect has been identified Anyone with information about the arson case is urged to contact CrimeStoppers at 808-955-8300 or via the P3 Tips app Crime in Hawaii Honolulu police said in a social media post at 12:45 p.m it determined the kidnapping attempt did not occur “We appreciate the public’s assistance and will be closing this investigation.” Honolulu police are searching for a suspect in connection with an attempted kidnapping incident in Wahiawa this morning the Honolulu Police Department said a 10-year-old girl reported that while she was walking to school this morning The suspect was described as 5-feet-11 and 140 pounds He was last seen on foot on Ohai Street heading toward Olive Avenue Anyone with information should contact HPD or Honolulu CrimeStoppers at 808-955-8300 Investigative stories and local news updates Coverage of the Hawaiʻi State legislature in 2025 Award winning in-depth reports and featured on-going series Get the week’s news delivered straight to your inbox Upgrading aging infrastructure is key to agriculture’s future in Hawaii The state is inching closer to acquisition of the Wahiawa Dam and spillway a withering piece of plantation-era water infrastructure that agriculture advocates say is crucial to the future of farming on Oahu.  The state budgeted $5 million last year for the purchase and $21 million more to repair and upgrade the dam and spillway system that is more than a century old Its failure would put almost 2,500 lives at risk That came after its owners — including Dole Food Co — spent more than a decade racking up fines and violation notices because of the dam’s problems The dam and spillway are one example of aging plantation water infrastructure that agriculture advocates want the state to invest in to safeguard agriculture and help boost local food production in Hawaii The purchase has been in the pipeline for several years who represents Wahiawa and is chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee agreed to buy the property on behalf of the Department of Agriculture a move intended to streamline an acquisition nearing the final stages of negotiations between the state and the dam’s owners — Dole and Sustainable Hawaii The dam would be turned over to the agriculture department to repair and upgrade to standards set by the Department of Land and Natural Resources ADC executive director Wendy Gady said the agreement reached last week marked a “huge step forward” for the dam’s purchase That’s because assessments and appraisals need to be made with questions about the order of events — buy first “It’s a little bit gray right now because it’s public funds,” Hurd said said her agency is “committed to ensuring public health and safety and effectively managing this critical source of water for local farmers to support sustainable agriculture.” Selling the dam would mark the end of a years-long back and forth between Dole and the state as the pineapple purveyor struggled to bring the dam into compliance with modern safety standards. It was fined $20,000 in 2021 for inaction The purchase would also mark the start of what could be years of upgrades to lift the dam from its “poor” safety rating That includes expanding the spillway to better handle overflow from Lake Wilson which can hold over 3 billion gallons of water but threatens to spill over during major storms The state estimates that if the dam were to fail one fire station and 865 parcels of land would be in the direct path of the water’s flow Gady wants the state to buy and upgrade the dam and spillway not just for public safety reasons but because they are part of an irrigation system that could support 17,000 acres of agricultural land The Agribusiness Development Corp.’s ultimate goal is to acquire the irrigation system which includes 30 miles of ditches that have fallen into disrepair but have the potential to reach thousands of acres of ADC-owned land could irrigate 12,000 acres of sugarcane fields and 5,000 acres of pineapples with 50 million gallons of water every day the system was delivering about 10 million gallons per day “The irrigation system is really critical to our food production goals in the state,” Gady said Of the state’s 127 dams, 19 are deemed to be in an “unsatisfactory state” and 81 have a “poor” rating, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ national dam database Fifteen of the worst dams in Hawaii are considered particularly hazardous to the public.  along with irrigation ditches that stretch across the islands are important to local food production and drought mitigation Hawaii Farm Bureau Executive Director Brian Miyamoto said The farmers’ advocacy group will again introduce an omnibus irrigation bill next legislative session highlighting all of Hawaii’s plantation-era water and irrigation systems that have fallen into disrepair something the organization does often to keep the issue on lawmakers’ minds That includes addressing Hawaii’s other out-of-compliance and abandoned dams and reservoirs.  The governor enacted two laws recently with $10 million allocated by the Legislature to create grants for landowners with historic irrigation systems on their property While he approved funds for the Wahiawa dam acquisition, Green halved that funding as part of a line-item veto last year Miyamoto hopes more spending will be approved in the future especially given the anticipated cost of repairing and upgrading the Wahiawa system Miyamoto said the bureau will also ask lawmakers to invest in the old 26.5-mile-long Waiahole Ditch system — owned by the Agribusiness Development Corp — that runs westward from Oahu’s Kahana Valley “They were built by the plantations — maintained operated and paid for — but they aren’t around anymore,” Miyamoto said “They are aging out and in need of repairs.”  “Hawaii Grown” is funded in part by grants from the Stupski Foundation Ulupono Fund at the Hawaii Community Foundation and the Frost Family Foundation Unfortunately, being named a finalist for a Pulitzer prize doesn’t make us immune to financial pressures. The fact is, our revenue hasn’t kept pace with our need to grow, and we need your help Civil Beat is a nonprofit, reader-supported newsroom based in Hawaiʻi. We’re looking to build a more resilient, diverse and deeply impactful media landscape, and we hope you’ll help by supporting our essential journalism Thomas Heaton is a reporter for Civil Beat. You can reach him by email at theaton@civilbeat.org or follow him on Twitter at @thomasheaton__ Civil Beat has been named the best overall news site in Hawaii for the 14th year in a row by the Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter Family Promise Hawaii’s new Wahiawa facility at 360 California Avenue will offer a critical lifeline to families with children struggling with homelessness this three-story structure houses up to 12 families By Jamm Aquino Hawaii Photos Department of Parks and Recreation Ka ʻOihana Mālama Pāka a me nā Hana Hoʻonanea Aloha and welcome to the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation We are responsible for the City parks and gardens all across the island of Oʻahu Enjoy a picnic at a regional park or lift some weights at a gym Swim laps in a pool or ride the ramps at a skatepark Copyright © 2025 Department of Parks and Recreation By Ian Bauer Editors' PicksPolitics Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi presents the city’s plan to open a new landfill in Central Oahu during a news conference Tuesday This aerial map shows the city officials’ choice for the site of Oahu’s next landfill City & County of Honolulu officials announced today that they have selected an area northwest of Wahiawa as the proposed location for Oahu’s next landfill The landfill siting decision was required before Dec before the closure of the 35-year-old Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill in accordance with a 2019 decision and order by the state Land Use Commission That West Oahu dump is set to close in 2028 The proposed landfill location — identified as “Area 3 Site 2” in the city’s 2022 Landfill Advisory Committee’s recommendation report — is on agricultural land to the west of Kamehameha Highway The city confirmed that the land in question is owned by the Dole Food Co. “The siting of Oahu’s next landfill is an absolutely critical decision that impacts each and every person on our island,” Mayor Rick Blangiardi said in a statement we cannot and will not kick the can further down the road because our residents deserve clarity.” The proposed landfill site selected by the city — along with five other potential sites included in the committee’s recommendation report — is located over an aquifer City officials said they are proposing “to design construct and operate the facility in accordance with state and federal requirements including the protection of Oahu’s aquifer system.” the Honolulu Board of Water Supply must evaluate the proposed landfill site and based on its proximity to potable water sources whose District 2 encompasses Wahiawa and the North Shore said he objected to the landfill site’s location in his district “I stand with the Board of Water Supply and trust their judgment,” Weyer said in a statement “This isn’t a district specific issue this is an islandwide concern that affects all of our families.” “The final location should include community input and with the potential locations on the table protecting our drinking water should be our top priority.” We recognise you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore cannot grant you access at this time e-mail us at news@kitv.com or call us at 808-535-0400  Wahiawā residents are closer to having a new civic center The Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS) is overseeing the construction of the Wahiawā Civic Center through its Public Works Division Public Works Administrator Gordon Wood said “The project is approximately 40 to 45 percent complete and we’re making good progress on a weekly basis.” The existing Wahiawā Civic Center had become too small for the needs of the community Crews broke ground to upgrade the complex in the fall of 2023 The $48 million project on the 2.96-acre Wahiawā Civic Center site will comprise a two-story Judicial Building a separate two-story office building for state and city agencies including a City and County of Honolulu Satellite City Hall and on-site parking The work will involve redeveloping the existing Wahiawā Public Library It will become a new Resource and Education Center facility a native son of  Wahiawā and Chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee has long pushed for a centralized building that would consolidate government service for central O‘ahu and the North Shore DAGS Director and State Comptroller Keith Regan said “This is a wonderful example of government collaboration to support citizens We’re pleased to help bring a project to life that  will have such a meaningful impact on the Wahiawā and North Shore communities.” The estimated completion date is December 2025 An 8-year-old boy who was critically injured in a dog attack in Wahiawa last week has died Officers responded to a call at about 11:34 a.m 28 about a dog mauling a child in the Wahiawa area The boy sustained serious injuries and was taken to a hospital in critical condition The owners of the large dog surrendered it to police which was contacted by the department for assistance afterwards Police said the boy succumbed to his injuries on Monday The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death The case is classified as an unattended death Department of Community Services Mayor Rick Blangiardi is joined by Family Promise to cut the ribbon at the ‘Ohana Navigation Center Wahiawā joined by representatives from the non-profit organization Family Promise of Hawai‘i celebrated the grand opening of a vital homelessness solution in Wahiawā The newly opened facility at 360 California Avenue offers a critical lifeline to families with children experiencing homelessness named the ‘Ohana Navigation Center Wahiawā provides temporary housing for up to 12 families previously a drug and alcohol treatment center managed by Hope was acquired by the City in May 2023 for $6.9 million using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds It has since been transformed into a haven for families in need The ʻOhana Navigation Center Wahiawā offers free short-term housing along with holistic case management designed to help families transition quickly to stable “This facility at 360 California Avenue embodies our dedication to providing hope and support to families in need,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi “By collaborating with Family Promise and other community partners permanent housing for our most vulnerable citizens and this project is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together for the common good.” each equipped with a wet bar and full bathroom arranged around a central indoor courtyard to foster a sense of community Additional features include a shared kitchen and family homelessness is one of our community’s most urgent challenges,” said Ryan Catalani Executive Director of Family Promise of Hawaiʻi “We are grateful to the City and County of Honolulu for the opportunity to partner on this project which will transform lives as we prevent and end homelessness for vulnerable families with children.” the facility serves as a low-barrier shelter and resource hub for central O‘ahu including areas with the fourth-highest rate of unsheltered student homelessness on the island clean shelter; activities for children; educational training for adults; and wraparound services to help break the cycle of homelessness Family Promise will continue its collaboration with the City and County of Honolulu and over 100 community organizations to help clients achieve success and independence Clients typically stay at 360 California Avenue for 90 days with extensions possible based on individual circumstances The full press conference can be viewed here. For more photos of today’s event, please click here Copyright © 2025 Department of Community Services Office of the Mayor HONOLULU – With all potential landfill sites on Oʻahu subject to challenge and after carefully and exhaustively evaluating the relevant laws restrictions and equities for each potential site the City and County of Honolulu announced Tuesday that it has selected an area northwest of Wahiawā as the proposed location for O‘ahu’s next landfill The landfill siting decision was required before December 31 2024 and is an important step toward closing the Waimānalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill (WGSL) in accordance with a 2019 decision and order by the state Land Use Commission The proposed landfill location, identified as “Area 3, Site 2” in the City’s Landfill Advisory Committee’s (LAC) Recommendation Report (2022) is on agricultural land to the west of Kamehameha Highway “The siting of Oʻahu’s next landfill is an absolutely critical decision that impacts each and every person on our island,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi The proposed landfill site selected by the City — along with the five other potential sites included in the LAC’s 2022 Recommendation Report — is located over an aquifer including the protection of Oʻahu’s aquifer system.  the WGSL has not leaked through its liner into subsurface soil and rocks and the City’s proposed landfill northwest of Wahiawā will be designed and constructed to include even greater protective measures than are in place at WGSL incorporating the latest technological advances in waste management “The City understands and acknowledges the public’s concerns and the absolute necessity to safeguard our island’s underground water supply aquifers against contamination,” said Dr the director of the City’s Department of Environmental Services “We will ensure aquifer protection by exceeding federal and state design standards for safe operations and regulations for monitoring solid waste landfills building instead to a higher level of protection that would typically only be required for the creation of a hazardous waste facility.” In working to ensure the safety of the facility the City will implement a multiple-barrier subsurface monitoring and protection system designed to prevent the escape of any pollutants from the landfill protecting the aquifer and ensuring its availability for use now and into the future The design and operations of municipal solid waste landfills in the United States are highly regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency via the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act which is implemented locally by the State of Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) To protect Oʻahu residents as well as the environment the design of the City’s next landfill — including the groundwater protection system — is required to be approved by the DOH as part of its mandatory comprehensive landfill permitting process “We are extremely confident that we can operate a landfill safely over the aquifer we are able to site our next landfill further away from where our residents live and where they receive medical care,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi If the Wahiawā site is rejected — and with Mayor Blangiardi having eliminated locations along the Waiʻanae Coast as potential landfill sites for equitable and operational reasons — the City will not be able to safely operate a landfill over the aquifer and will be forced to seek legislative changes that would enable siting a landfill closer to residences schools and/or hospitals than is currently allowed by law (Act 73) Should the proposed Wahiawā site be rejected and the Hawaiʻi State Legislature decline to amend Act 73 the City will have no choice but to seek an extension of current landfill operations at Waimānalo Gulch Following Tuesday’s announcement of a proposed landfill location the City will immediately begin discussions with BWS and the property owner of the proposed site The City will also initiate the required Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process which would assess the impact on the physical the City will undertake a comprehensive public engagement campaign and outreach to area City Council representatives The City and the Department of Environmental Services are committed to public engagement throughout the design and permitting process and area stakeholders will have opportunities to provide input on elements of the potential site design Details of the City’s comprehensive and exhaustive evaluation of potential landfill sites were presented during a meeting of the Honolulu City Council’s Public Infrastructure and Technology Committee on October 24, 2024, as well as in an informational sheet that was made available to the public earlier this month Monitor weather reports before your park visit •[MAUI] UPDATE 5/2/25 - Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area has REOPENED 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Hawaii Standard Time (HST) except Federal and State Holidays [MAUI] - UPDATE 4/17/25: Puaʻa kaʻa Wayside and Restrooms will be CLOSED for renovations April 21 thru May 12 [MOLOKA’I] - UPDATE 3/24/25: Pala’au State Park Pavilion: Due to demolition and renovation work the pavilion will be closed from March 25 to May 31 [KAUAʻI] - UPDATE 3/21/25: Pā‘ula‘ula State Historic Site - Due to construction improvements the park closure will begin starting March 24 until further notice [OʻAHU] UPDATED 3/18/25 – Diamond Head State Monument (DHSM): Partial Park Closures Hours with operating hours from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM will occur from April 21 onwards Monday through Friday Normal Park Hours from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM will resume on Weekends and Holidays During Partial Park Closures Hours from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM the last reservation time slot for Parking and Entry and Entry Only will be 12:00 p.m you must enter the Park no later than 12:30 p.m upon completion of the rock fall mitigation construction project at the Kahala Tunnel 2024 the Department of Land and Natural Resources in collaboration with Division of State Parks and members of the Wahiawa community hosted “Day at the Lake” event at the Wahiawa Freshwater State Recreational Area The event show cased the great park and aquatic resources in historic Wahiawa town that a lot of the community and residents are not familiar with the outdoor recreation that is available to the community Improvements to the park would include proposed trails and pathways fishing pads and platforms along the shoreline and a floating fish dock near the boat launch ramp The event included conservation and educational booths food and refreshments along with entertainment and free boat rides on the reservoir The event was a great success with over 1,000 people attending and over 450 people on the boat rides Free boat rides provided by HFFA members’ and DAR staff