Friends of "Sparky" Kawamoto Pool

The Friends of Kawamoto Pool are appealing to you to help keep our Hilo swimming pool a valued community resource. Our group is approved as a Friend of the Park by the Parks and Recreation Department of Hawaii County. As of March 2024, we have nonprofit status with the federal government and with the State of Hawai'i'. All donations after that date are tax deductible.

We are working with County of Hawaii representatives to tackle the immediate problems facing Kawamoto Pool. Like the other pools in Big Island, Kawamoto Pool is faced with budget shortfalls and consequently cannot provide the services our community would like to have.

As a start, we would like to get the warm water showers working again. These have not worked for a few years now and need to be restored. Many swimmers avoid Kawamoto Pool because of the pool temperature of 70F. Warm showers will help Kawamoto become more accessible. We will need to work on the unused (for 4 years) hot water heater as well as broken underground pipes.

More and more across the country, local government has to work with community efforts to sustain public-use facilities to keep them working well. We have set an estimated budget of $1500 to jump start this first project of the Friends of Kawamoto Pool. We have already had an inspection by a plumber and can proceed with your help.

Charles "Sparky" Kawamoto founded and coached the Shinmachi Town Swimming Club in Hilo, Hawaii, in the 1930s. It was later renamed the Hilo Aquatics Club. Charles "Sparky" Kawamoto used the Wailoa River as his training grounds since there were no swimming pools available.

Flash forward 50 years, to 1982, and the Kawamoto Pool, where we swim today, honored “Sparky” by naming the pool after him. For more about Sparky's life and accomplishments as a coach and swimming hero see this website created by one of our members. https://www.charlessparkykawamoto.com/

Since 1982 the population of Big Island (including Hilo) has doubled, but the size and spaciousness of the Kawamoto pool can still meet the needs of our growing community.

Our small group of volunteers, The Friends of Kawamoto Pool, invite you to join our efforts to keep our pool safe and sparkling for the community. Hilo swimmers, seniors and keiki alike, will always need a good place to swim. Let us know why you support Kawamoto pool!

We would like to make Kawamoto Pool a destination for more residents. Please help us towards this end.

Mahalo Nui!