“Everybody surfs here, so that’s kind of the style,” says professional skate park builder Brian Sandlin of Abstract Builders, who is currently designing the second phase at Roots Skatepark in Kapaau. “There’s a constant ‘wave’ that doesn’t change. That’s why we’re going with a more flowing design. … It’s not as street-y, with hand rails, sets of stairs, and things like that.”
“Everybody surfs here, so that’s kind of the style,” says professional skate park builder Brian Sandlin of Abstract Builders, who is currently designing the second phase at Roots Skatepark in Kapaau. “There’s a constant ‘wave’ that doesn’t change. That’s why we’re going with a more flowing design. … It’s not as street-y, with hand rails, sets of stairs, and things like that.”
Sandlin has built skate parks in Honokaa, Waikoloa, Waimea, Pahoa, Oahu’s North Shore and numerous mainland states. He is a lifelong skater, and after 12 years of traveling for work, now lives in Kapaau with wife, Charlene, their daughter and twin sons. Not skaters yet, Sandlin looks forward to helping his children learn when the time is right.
His dream would be to see safe places for skaters in every community.
“In rural areas, there’s not much for kids to do,” he said. “There are smaller playgrounds for little kids, but somebody in junior high and high school doesn’t necessarily go on the jungle gym any more. Kids are drawn to a skate park — even just to go and watch — just like a playground.”
Since the skate park began in 2007, with a 1-acre donation of land near Kamehameha Park, Roots Skatepark has grown from an idea to a 3,000-square-foot community “playground” used by hundreds of skaters young and old. Organized by the Roots Advocates for Youth, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the park received a $10,000 grant from the Tony Hawk Foundation for its initial phase, and, with the help of North Kohala Community Resource Center, a $15,000 Atherton Family Grant, along with in-kind donations of money, labor and materials, to complete the first phase and lay the drainage system for additional phases.
For the $155,000 second phase of the skate park, $35,000 has been committed by the Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation and an additional $35,000 by Councilwoman Margaret Wille. A crowd-funding campaign is also underway at https://www.gofundme.com/Rootsphase2. As of Tuesday morning, more than $2,400 had be raised via the online campaign.
“Phase 2 will connect everything together,” Sandlin said. “It will add on to Phase 1 and make it flow a lot better … it will have big banks, big bumps, more of a bowl, and it connects with all the street elements up top. We’ll have a place to do tricks from one side to the other. Right now it’s kind of a beginner to intermediate park — Phase 2 will give more stuff to the guys who want to progress a little … pockets, corners, something you can carve around in.”
Sandlin estimates about four months to complete Phase 2 once the funding is in place. The committee is targeting a September start date, and Sandlin looks forward to skating in the finished park.
“I love being able to carve around and skate a little bit fast,” he said. “To me it’s not all about the tricks. Tricks are fun, but I just want to go out and cruise around. It’s like surfing; it’s mellow. That’s where the fun is.”
For more information on Roots Skatepark, please visit www.skate4roots.wordpress.com.