Help us build Kānehili Community Park
The Kānehili Community Association is applying for a National Park Service Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) grant to build Phase 2A of our park. Read the plan, tell us what you think, and add your letter of support.
At a glance
What we are applying for
ORLP pays up to half of a park project's cost. KCA must raise the other half from state, DHHL, private and in-kind sources.
The plan
What the grant would build
Today our 404 homestead households share one court and one playground. Phase 2A turns the open field into a full park. Items marked "add-on" are priced separately, so they can be dropped if the match falls short.
SHADE Institute revised master plan. The community center at the east end is not part of this grant.
- Splash pad: about 1,200 sq ft of recirculating water play for keiki
- Play field and two pickleball courts
- Walking paths and a walking loop: 33,000 sq ft of permeable paths
- Comfort station: restrooms and a covered open-air lānai
- Cultural grounds: hula mound, native games area and lei garden
- Native landscaping: 80+ native and Polynesian trees, with irrigation
- Safety wall along Kualakai Parkway, plus park fencing
- Benches, picnic tables, drinking fountains, signage and maintenance sheds
- Site lighting for the field, courts and pathsAdd-on
- Outdoor fitness stationsAdd-on
- Open-air imu hale and craft pavilionAdd-on
Imu hale (add-on)
An open-sided cooking and gathering pavilion over a traditional imu, with a water station and a small storage room.
Craft pavilion (add-on)
A 770 sq ft open-air pavilion with breeze-block screens, for lauhala weaving, carving and lei-making.
The community hale (community center) is an indoor building, so ORLP will not fund it. KCA will seek other funding for it. The new parking lot is deferred to keep the match lower.
Costs
What each piece costs
Construction costs are in 2026 dollars. The total adds escalation to a 2029 construction midpoint, a 10% contingency and 9% for design and construction oversight.
| Element | Construction | Total cost | ORLP pays (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | $11,091,629 | $14,847,123 | $7,423,561 |
Most figures come from a 2023 cost estimate by J. Uno & Associates. Nine smaller items are planning allowances still being confirmed. The pavilions are priced for a more enclosed design, so the open-air versions should cost less. All figures are preliminary.
Documents
Read the application materials
These are the working documents for the grant application. Drafts are updated as the application comes together.
Feedback
Tell us what you think
Questions, ideas or concerns about the park plan? The KCA Board reads every response. Comments received by Oct. 16 can shape the final application.
The feedback form is coming soon. In the meantime, email the association.
Letters of support
Add your voice to the application
Letters from residents, families, kūpuna, organizations and elected officials show reviewers that the community stands behind this park. They are uploaded with the application.
- Copy the sample letter below, or write your own. Personal stories about how your ʻohana would use the park are the most powerful.
- Add your name, address or homestead, date and signature. Put it on your letterhead if you represent an organization.
- Save it as a PDF or take a clear photo, then upload it with the form. Due Friday, Oct. 16, 2026.
The upload form is coming soon. In the meantime, email your letter to the association.
Timeline
What happens next
FAQ
Common questions
What is ORLP?
The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership is a National Park Service grant program funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund. It awards $300,000 to $15 million per project to create or improve public outdoor recreation. Native Hawaiian organizations can apply directly.
Why isn't the community center included?
ORLP only funds outdoor recreation and the facilities that support it, such as restrooms. Indoor community centers are not eligible, so KCA will pursue other funding for the community hale.
Where does the other half of the money come from?
KCA plans to request state capital funds in the 2027 legislative session and to seek DHHL grants, private and foundation support, and in-kind contributions. The match must be secured within a year of selection.
Will the park be open to everyone?
Yes. Parks funded by ORLP must stay open to the public, including non-residents, at reasonable hours. Closures for cultural, ceremonial or safety reasons are allowed.
What does "protected for outdoor recreation permanently" mean?
The roughly 3.4-acre funded area must remain public outdoor recreation land in perpetuity. It can't be converted to another use without federal approval and replacement land. The community center area is kept outside that boundary.
What if we aren't selected?
ORLP accepts applications every November through 2030. KCA can use reviewer feedback to strengthen the application and apply again in 2027.