Friday morning started out to be a bit frustrating after pulling into the parking lot of the Manana Skate Park off of Waimano Home Road in Pearl City at about 8:00am. I was there to take part in the skate park clean-up that included painting over the graffiti that had gotten out of control throughout the facility.
I didn't expect the extent of tagging that covered the skate park walls, the skate park floor surface, existing restroom facilities, and parking lot light poles. What a mess. I was a little early so I made my way down to Home Depot to pick up a paint roller and some gloves. When I returned, volunteers had already painted over about 50% of the graffiti and were about to make the turn down the home stretch within the half hour.
I was impressed by the well attended turnout that included HPD Officers from the Pearl City District 3 Community Policing Team led by Officer Kevin Ancog who coordinated the clean-up, State Representative Gregg Takayama (Pearl City, District 34), Representative Takayama staff member Carl Takamura, Manana Skate Park youth skaters and their Ohana, community volunteers, and Manana Skate Park volunteer caretaker Eric Kaplan.
The Manana Skate Park clean-up project ran smoothly and by 9:30am the youth skaters, after completing their painting tasks, were already flying up and down the newly painted skate park walls with big smiles on their faces. I was totally entertained watching the skill level of the skaters as they maneuvered through the course.
What impressed me the most was the spirit and dedication from the team of volunteers and professionals who committed their time and energy to make a difference at the skate park while serving our Pearl City community. I will definitely volunteer my time when the call comes to revisit the Manana Skate Park to lend a hand in support of the skaters.
"I've been taking care of the skate park basically almost since it opened. It's going on seven years, so about six and a half years. I use the skate park because I surf, so skating was just another add on to my surfing and I just starting taking care of it. I never signed any papers, I just became Uncle over here and the caretaker. There's a lot of other things that go on besides graffiti that needs to be stopped. Some of these guys are skaters and a bunch of them aren't. They just come and they hang out and after everybody leaves they just trash the place. When I come in the morning I'm the one who sees it. On Tuesday I came and I thought the park was clean and the whole park was shattered with glass. I turned around and walked away and I said, I can't do it, so I turned around and came back and I swept the park. It's frustrating, I don't take it personal, I don't work for the city, it's just something I do."
…..Eric Kaplan, Pearl City resident and volunteer Manana Skate Park caretaker
"Today was a great time to bring together HPD as well as private citizens and just come out here and help make the park a better place for our kids. My son skates here himself and is out here as well and having a great time. He comes here every day, if he can, with his friends, but it means so much more to him that he can come out here and be a part of actually cleaning the park and taking care of something he utilizes. This is exciting. It’s good to see people working together and seeing the positive effects."
….HPD Officer Kevin Ancog, Pearl City District 3 Community Policing Team
"This is really a community effort to make sure that we take care of the Manana Skateboard Park as best we can. It's a tremendous asset for the kids and even some grown-ups that do skateboard. So keeping it sightly, that is removing the graffiti every so often is a terrific way of showing that there is appreciation for the skateboard park and a way of supporting the city and its efforts to maintain it. It's important to maintain clean, safe conditions in a skateboard park."
…..State Representative Gregg Takayama
"I use the skate park for exercise on my days off. I'm a Lifeguard for the city. This is what I do when there's no surf. I like to see this park still be here, clean, no graffiti, and everybody having good vibes. These kids are awesome out here. They're all stoked that the paint dried fast, the walls are smooth, nice, and one color. Not like five different tones of different colors that are slippery. This park means a lot for a bunch of kids. It keeps them out of trouble, keeps them off the streets, and keeps them safe because everyone knows that they're at the skate park.
…..Kainoa Ignacio, Manana Skate Park skater, City and County of Honolulu Lifeguard
Mahalo to all of the volunteers who came together on Friday to help restore the Manana Skate Park back to a place that the community can once again be proud of while ensuring a safe environment for skateboard riders to enjoy along with their family, friends, and neighbors.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Eric Kaplan, Pearl City resident and Manana Skate Park volunteer caretaker.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Eric Kaplan prepares the rollers and paint for the youth volunteers / skateboard riders as Carl Takamura
from Representative GreggTakayama's office looks on.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
These two youth volunteers / skateboard riders are pictured hard at work on Friday.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
This youth volunteer / skateboard rider puts the finishing touches on the Manana Skate Park sign.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
HPD Officer Kevin Ancog, (second from left) coordinator of the Manana Skate Park clean-up is pictured
with Officers from the Pearl City District 3 Community Policing Team on Friday, May 7, 2013 at the Manana
Skate Park.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
State Representative Gregg Takayama (Pearl City, 34 District) pictured painting over graffiti on the lower
level of the Manana Skate Park.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Representative Takayama staff member Carl Takamura (right) paints over graffiti near the entrance to the skate park.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Kainoa Ignacio, Manana Skate Park skater and City and County of Honolulu Lifeguard gives the shaka sign
as he finishes up painting over skate park graffiti. Time to Ride!
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Eric Kaplan (front row, center) pictured with a group of volunteers on Friday at the Manana Skate Park.
Ready to Ride!
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]