It’s too nice here. Really. That’s why so many of our parks are in regular need of repair. Our weather is simply too good too often, so fields and park areas rarely get a chance to heal from overuse. When it comes to myriad soccer fields statewide, the first place the wear and tear shows is right in front of the goal area. And after it rains, teams immediately trod on the weary sod, causing vulnerable fields to wear down even more.
So, it’s nice to see the state’s largest soccer concern, the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), along with other leagues working in conjunction with the City & County of Honolulu to put a timeout on play at the expansive Waipio Soccer Complex for about two months. This should allow for much-needed aeration, weeding, and seeding to help the fields return to tip top shape in time for upcoming summertime tournaments.
With 23 fields, including an enclosed, 4,500+ seat stadium, Waipio has hosted numerous national and international events throughout its 25-year existence, including the National AYSO Games, with estimates each time it was held here of more than 10,000 youth soccer players and their families/fans in 2002, 2008, and 2019.
What’s also great about the timing of this down time is that Waipio will remain a soccer facility. A month ago, the City was being considering the site as a new, garbage dump as it looks to replace the Waimanalo Gulch Landfill by March, 2028… until that date is pushed back, again.
The early coordination with leagues made this shutdown decision a bit easier for all, though finding alternate fields in the interim is problematic. Leagues have kicked in huge amounts of sand to help the Department of Parks and Recreation kickstart the refurbishment; individual teams are weeding. Great coordination and a strong communal effort- the public sector meets the general public as it takes a village to make for a nicer soccer mecca.
No one likes to see fields close down, but close they must, or we’ll end up with more pockmarked parks and unhappy users. Kapi’olani, Wai’alae Iki, Kapāolono, Kānewae, Maunawili, Lanikai, Ala Wai- pick a park and you’ll often see an overused field in need of rest and restoration.
It will be a treat to see “the beautiful game” (“o jogo bonito”, as Pelé called it) played on more beautiful fields in the months ahead.
Think about it…