Pahinui Pavilion at Waimānalo Beach Park reopened on August 28, 2026, with mele, hula and an opening blessing. That was nine years after the original pavilion closed and seven years after it was torn down. Seventeen days later, at the September 14 Waimānalo Neighborhood Board meeting, the City said the park's replacement bathrooms are not expected to start construction until fall 2027. That's later than the date the City posted the same week the pavilion opened.
The two projects are part of the same plan for the same beach park. They are moving at different speeds because of what each one sits on.
A Pavilion Rebuilt to Match the One People Remember
The original pavilion was built in 1960, closed in 2017, and demolished in 2019 because of structural problems, according to the City's Department of Parks and Recreation. The Department of Design and Construction's project page lists the original year as 1959. Both agree on the closure and demolition dates.
The rebuild started in October 2025. The City designed it to match the original's size and architectural character, not to replace it with something new. The new structure uses:
- Precast concrete supports and concrete block walls
- An asphalt shingle roof with stainless steel gutters and downspouts
- Built-in concrete benches inside
- A partly enclosed space meant for everyday use as well as community events
The City's October 2025 construction announcement lists a $330,137 design contract with Jeffrey Nishi Architects and a $1,485,000 construction contract with T. Iida Contracting, Ltd. That notice expected work to finish at the beginning of summer 2026. The pavilion opened at the end of August, so even the faster project ran a couple of months behind.
Why the Name Carries Weight
The pavilion honors Gabby "Pops" Pahinui, whom the City describes as a renowned musician and ambassador of Hawaiian culture. Before it closed, the pavilion was a cultural center for Waimānalo and hosted gatherings such as the annual Gabby Pahinui Waimānalo Kanikapila. The Pahinui ʻOhana's own history traces the kanikapila tradition to weekend jam sessions at the family home, and later to the musical gatherings at the pavilion that bears his name.
Kathleen Elliot-Pahinui, Gabby's daughter-in-law, spoke for the family at the blessing:
"The Pahinui ʻOhana is deeply grateful to the City and County of Honolulu for restoring the pavilion and honoring the legacy of Gabby 'Pops' Pahinui. We know that this pavilion will be enjoyed by the Waimānalo community for many, many years to come."
Kehaulani Puu, deputy director of the City's Department of Parks and Recreation, put it this way, as Hawaii News Now reported: "Today is not simply about reopening this pavilion." She described it as a place where generations can gather, learn, play and make memories.
Using the Pavilion Between Now and New Year's
The pavilion is open, but the project isn't quite finished. Electrical work and grass maintenance are still pending, and the City expects them to be done by the end of 2026. Until then, the pavilion is reached from the Makapuʻu side. That puts the finish date less than three months away.
For anything beyond an informal visit, the City's park use permit rules apply. An approved permit is required for:
- Organized activities
- Facility reservations
- Groups of 50 or more
- Amplified music
Applications are due at least three weeks before the event, and the City suggests checking availability with the park first. The City lists Waimānalo Beach Park at 41-741 Kalanianaʻole Highway, and the park's phone number is 808-768-6840. The Park Permit Office is at 808-768-3440, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The park is closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
The Bathrooms Are a Different Kind of Project
The same City plan covers two replacement comfort stations and the restoration of the park's existing Arts & Crafts Building. The bathrooms are the most visible missing piece. The City's camping page still lists the Waimānalo Beach Park Campground comfort station as closed for repairs "until further notice," with portable toilets nearby and showers still available.
The bathrooms haven't been ignored. The City held community meetings on them in January 2025, then brought design updates to the Waimānalo Neighborhood Board on July 14, 2025, and again on September 8, 2025, when the final design concept was presented. The draft site plans for Comfort Station A and Comfort Station B, plus a utility site plan, are posted on the DDC's Waimānalo Beach Park project page.
The utility site plan matters because the delay is underground. At the September 14, 2026 board meeting, a board member asked whether an emergency proclamation could speed up the restroom repairs. Laura Thielen, Mayor Rick Blangiardi's representative, said the delay comes from the age of the water, electrical and sewer lines beneath the park. She also said the new bathrooms need a custom design that avoids new ground disturbance in a culturally sensitive area.
This is where the two projects split. The pavilion could go back in the shape of the one it replaced. A bathroom has to connect to water, power and sewer, and every new trench means digging in ground the City has said it wants to leave alone. A design that does both is slower to draw and slower to approve.
Two Dates, Seventeen Days Apart
The bathroom start date has moved recently, and the order of the sources shows it:
| Date | Source | What it said about comfort station construction |
|---|---|---|
| August 28, 2026 | DPR reopening announcement | Renovation of the comfort station and recreation building expected to begin in early 2027 |
| August 2026 | DDC project page | Arts & Crafts Building and comfort station construction to begin early 2027 |
| September 14, 2026 | Mayor's representative at Waimānalo Neighborhood Board | Construction not anticipated until fall 2027 |
The September date is the most recent one on record, but it comes from draft minutes, not a revised project page. The DDC page has not added a separate schedule for the Arts & Crafts Building. The City's August announcement said more details on both projects would come "at a separate time."
Updates have been coming through the neighborhood board. The board meets on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 7 p.m. Its next regular meeting after that is November 9, 2026, at 7 p.m. at Waimānalo Public Library, 41-1320 Kalanianaʻole Highway. The October agenda also includes community requests for native trees at Waimānalo Beach Park and for removing and replacing ironwood trees. Those are requests, not approved work.
Gathering Space Is Being Built in More Than One Place
The pavilion isn't the only gathering spot under construction along this stretch of shoreline. At the same September meeting, Hui Mālama O Ke Kai Executive Director Maile Ah Sam reported site clearing and construction of a covered community gathering deck along Hihimanu Street. The group also has school restoration programs starting after fall break and a new ocean-safety cohort for ages 15 to 20.
So by the end of 2026, Waimānalo should have a finished Pahinui Pavilion with its electrical and grass work done. It will also have a community deck taking shape on Hihimanu Street and a bathroom project whose start date depends on what's underground. The City's next firm date for the bathrooms will probably come from a neighborhood board report before it shows up anywhere else.
Christy P Aiwohi follows projects like the Pahinui Pavilion because they shape everyday life in Waimānalo long before they make the news. If you have questions about how park and infrastructure work near the beach affects your home or your plans, Christy is happy to talk it through with care and local knowledge. Let's Connect.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.
