With the year coming to a close, the students and faculty anxiously await the grand opening of the new track and field, the new gym, and Wailele Spring. Consequently, some questions arise: when is the opening date? What new field additions and sports? And most frequently asked of all, where will the 2026 graduation take place?
With information stated by senior project manager Angel Allas, the assistant Gilbert Valgoz, after some confusion and delays due to the recent weather conditions; such as the storm that hit the islands of Hawaii on March 10-16, and the second storm from the 19-24 of this year, the opening date has been a constant change on the schedule. As the current state of the project has been scheduled for completion after summer this coming school year.
“The gym is 99% complete… I want to say the track and field project is probably 70% complete,” said Allas.
The hype for the opening is high, especially for the students and faculty who participate or instruct sports.
“My coaches are definitely very excited for this. We finally have our own track to use for whatever we want to use it for,” said junior Chase Nakamura.
The sport(s) is not called track and field without the new field additions! In addition to the track, an array of sports will also soon be available to be played on the new field such as football, soccer, shot put. The field will also be made out of complete natural grass, instead of artificial turf, as most fields desire due to flooding problems which affect safety.
The reason why this field will be using natural turf is thanks to advanced overflow technology, the field will be able to be drained and water will be able to seep through the dirt and be caught by pipelines. So, artificial turf is no longer needed, and there is no need to worry too much, and say goodbye to constant slipping during practices and games.
With the construction coming to a close, once where many students and faculty members remembered as being a small bench area with a few outside tables and vending machines, has now been re-opened as a new outside spectacle, dubbed as the “Concourse”.
One of the main attractions will be the food stand in the area as students will not have to constantly crowd at Scudder, as time flies quickly for lunch.
“I am looking forward to a more convenient way to get food from here than going out to the [crowded] cafeteria,” sophomore Kouta Asato said.
But make sure to check out the other renovations done, too! The gym itself has a completely redone inside, with a huge flatscreen TV, and a breezy ventilation system. In addition, there are new huge doors, which lead outside to the Concourse and track. In the Concourse, a variety of new lunch tables and benches are available for everyone to hang and chow down.
“If you have a big friend group, there's more seating for us to be closer together so that we don't have to be far apart,” sophomore Maya Chang.said
In the trophy hall, new and refurbished bathrooms are also available. Complete with a mosaic styled wall. And a soon to be added spectacle will be added in the rock base which currently sits out front of the area.
The Concourse is still underneath final touches, but with a very close completion percentage, and a few very recent newsletters sent out, it’s only a matter of time before a new popular lunch area emerges.
Last of the renovated locations to announce, but certainly not least, is the new Wailele Spring. Once a very small environment, it is soon to be renovated into a new sit-down area and pathway. The construction team has taken the community’s comments into account.
Once again, advanced overflow technology comes in. If the spring starts to overflow, at a certain point, the water will be siphoned to prevent overflow. Previously, overflows were frequent due to the cement base of the spring, as the water could not filtrate. Which in addition, also caused the spring to look kind of murky. The team also took account of this note, and the base will be made of rock and dirt, so the water will also filter better and look a lot clearer!
There is one more thing people have had on their minds–What’s happening with graduation? And where will graduation be?
“We plan on using the field for graduation and then shutting it down again and finishing the work that needs to be done,” Allas said. “I'll make sure that happens.”
As of now, the track and field is set to have its grand opening in August. So, upcoming and returning students, get ready for one of the grandest gifts the school offers!
“It’s been something people have been bringing up for many years. So this is very exciting!” Said Nakamura.
Honorable Mention Quote: “Food. I love food,” – Asato
