After decades of attempting to work around rain and moisture that curtailed or canceled practices, relief is apparently finally on the way for the University of Hawaii basketball and volleyball teams.
After decades of attempting to work around rain and moisture that curtailed or canceled practices, relief is apparently finally on the way for the University of Hawaii basketball and volleyball teams.
Their 35-year-old practice gyms are due for $9.3 million-$12 million in renovation and improvements, projects that men’s basketball coach Eran Ganot said might be as “impactful” as anything since the 1994 opening of the Stan Sheriff Center when completed.
“The renovation of Gym 1 and Gym 2 are transformational opportunities for the Wahine/Warrior basketball and volleyball programs,” athletic director David Matlin said in an email. “It will be a safer environment, assist with recruiting and continue to help us to have more productive practices. We appreciate the Legislature for providing funding and the (university’s) facilities and executive team for all of their efforts to continue to move this project forward.”
The project heads a list of $14.3 million in capital improvements and health and safety repairs for basketball, baseball, football, softball and volleyball programs that Matlin outlined for the UH Board of Regents last month.
Gyms 1 and 2 adjacent to the Stan Sheriff Center top the list. Since soon after its opening in the 1980s the facility has been plagued by rain leaks and moisture from days of high humidity leaving slippery floors. Over the years, former volleyball coach Dave Shoji has said, “The gutters backed up and the roof leaks. (It) has never been fixed. It has been patched, but not fixed. It has been ongoing for years.”
Rainbow Wahine basketball coach Laura Beeman said, “There have been many, many days when we have high humidity, which we have a lot, or rain that we can do nothing but shoot free throws or, maybe, some stationary ball-handling. But most often, there’s just a walk-through or just cancel practice.”
Shoji has said, “I mean, you can’t practice there because of the moisture and, really, the safety of the athletes comes into question.”
Ganot said in a text, “(I) can’t even begin to tell you how excited we are about the impending renovations to Gyms 1 and 2. This project will be a clear game-changer in the areas that we value most: player development and recruiting. You could make the case that we haven’t had something as impactful since the opening of the SSC!”
Matlin said the targeted starting date for construction is 2018.
Even as UH prepares to address the projects it has identified seven “additional priority needs.” The plans, which include Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium, Les Murakami Stadium, sand volleyball courts and resurfacing the Ching Complex track would require an estimated $11.6 million to $13.6 million, Matlin told regents.
Ganot said, “There are a lot of great things happening on lower campus and we appreciate the efforts of our state Legislature as well as countless others for making this happen. It shows a clear and focused commitment to the student-athlete and their experience.”
Renovation projects
Funded
Gym 1 & Gym 2 $9.3M
Wahine Softball Stadium $3.5M
Football video pads $300,000
Murakami locker room $1.2M
Total $14.3M
Additional priority needs
Yet to be funded
TC Ching track replacement $2.2M
Murakami refurbishment $3.8M
Tennis courts resurfacing $300,000
Hammer throw imprvmnts $500,000
Gym 1 &2 completion $2.7M
Softball Phase II $1M-$3M
Beach VB courts $1.1M
Total $11.6-$13.6M