The University of Hawaii at Hilo recently completed several renovations to its athletics facilities.
The updates included a new soccer field, an updated softball field, new tennis courts and a multipurpose clubhouse complete with bathrooms and a concession area.
“It’s a great new footprint for the university,” said UH-Hilo Director of Athletics Patrick Guillen. “Kids want to see the university is progressing, and these new facilities are definitely a sign of progress.”
The roughly $5.3 million project was approved by the Board of Regents and the state Legislature, funded via capital improvements project grants. The designs began in 2017,and in October 2020 the project broke ground.
“When I got here seven years ago, we hadn’t added any new facilities for athletics in almost 40 years,” Guillen said. “It took a few years, but we were able to get it done.”
The new soccer fields are the first soccer-specific fields to feature artificial turf in the state.
“Most artificial turf fields are also football fields in the state of Hawaii, so this is the only soccer-specific artificial turf field in the state,” he said. “It’s state of the art with new drainage, turf and everything else. Our students and community definitely deserve it.”
Previously, student athletes practiced at various locations including the Bayfront fields, the Amauulu fields, inside the school’s gym and on the outfield of its softball field. This required athletic trainers and coaches to get up early, travel off-campus and alter their schedules based on available locations.
“We were the nomads in soccer. We never knew where we were practicing on any given day,” Guillen said. “None of that was ideal, but now, we know exactly where we’re going to be. We’re right on campus, and it’s a game changer.”
Of the estimated 225 student athletes at UH-Hilo, nearly 40% participate in the soccer program, making it an essential update.
The tennis courts also were in dire need of repair, with Guillen recalling inch-wide cracks protruding from its surface, making matches nearly impossible.
“We didn’t just resurface the tennis courts, either,” he said. “We actually completely demolished the concrete and went down about 8 or 10 inches and took out all the old concrete, poured in new concrete, then put on a new surface. It’s really a world-class tennis court, certainly the nicest on the island.”
In addition to a drainage remodel, new fencing and two pickleball courts, the tennis courts also feature a Laykold surface, an environmentally-friendly design using recycled tennis balls with force reduction to prevent injuries. The material is used in eight of the top 13 hard court events throughout the U.S. and Canada, including the U.S. Open.
“If you saw what our tennis courts were before this project versus what they are now, night and day is an understatement,” he said. “Our tennis program is a national -caliber championship program, and now we have a first-class facility that our entire community and student athletes can be proud of.”
The softball fields also have been updated, including a new drainage system and a Vulcan logo in the outfield. Softball players can utilize the new bathrooms located in the new multipurpose facility as well.
“It’s approximately 1,100 square feet and has restrooms, concessions, a team room and a storage room, which is nice and sorely needed,” Guillen said of the new facility. “Whether you were a player or a fan, you had to run all the way behind the home plate dugout near our practice baseball field just to use the restroom.”
Future updates for the Athletics Department include remodeling the showers and weight-lifting room.
“Next, we’re hoping to start with the design portion of what I’m calling phase two,” he said. “Next year, we’ll be doing some design work and hopefully, if the funds come through for that in 2024, we can start construction.”
Guillen is hopeful the updates will help with the recruitment process.
“Our coaches did a great job recruiting with the previous facilities,” he said. “But now, they are able to recruit a little bit easier, now that we have some brand new, state-of-the-art facilities we can be proud of.”
Following the updates, UH-Hilo athletes showed improvements both athletically and academically.
“We ended the year on a very high note,” he said, noting two students, Bria Beale and Daelenn Tokunaga, were named PacWest Scholar Athletes of the Year for their sports, and 133 student athletes made it to the All-PacWest Academic Team, setting a new record for the school.
“Of course, I’m satisfied with the new facilities and everything else, but it’s these academic accolades we get that I’m really most proud of,” he said. “The bottom line is, we’re here to make sure our students get a great education so they can graduate and become productive citizens in their community, whether it’s here in Hilo, or abroad, wherever they may be.”
Email Grant Phillips at gphillips@hawaiitribune-herald.com.