For the first time in nearly 40 years, the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo is getting new athletic facilities. A new soccer field, softball field and a multi-purpose building between the two that will house restrooms, concessions, storage and a team room are currently being constructed by general contractor, NAN, Inc.
NAN, Inc. began physical work on October 19, and on October 22, State of Hawaiʻi legislators, Chancellor Bonnie Irwin, coaches and teams gathered to celebrate the new facility.
“This is an important day and a ray of good news that is so welcomed during these challenging times,” said UH Hilo Athletics Director Patrick Guillen. “Our students and community deserve a top-notch facility to train and compete on. These facilities will bring great pride and fit nicely in our commitment as a community-engaged university, as we plan to make the facilities available for various athletics camps and clinics for our keiki.”
The facilities were made under the Capital Improvement Project (CIP) long in the works since 2016, and funded during the 2018 legislative session. The one-time CIP funding of $4.2 million includes a brand new synthetic turf NCAA regulation soccer field and softball outfield, a new state-of-the-art drainage system for both, and the multi-purpose building. The project falls under Title IX funding that will provide similar facilities for both men’s and women’s sports, providing the women’s and men’s soccer teams a field to call their own.
“Athletics serves as the front porch to any university, and I am happy to see this addition to ours,” Chancellor Irwin added. “I look forward to coming out and joining our community to watch our student-athletes compete on this field in the near future.”
The project completion target date is September 2021.
