Mid-Pacific Institute broke ground on a new $7.5 million track and field facility on Tuesday morning, commemorating the moment with a ceremony and Hawaiian blessing.
The project, which was announced in the summer 2022, was bolstered by a $1.5 million donation by Michael Wood, a local businessman and former track athlete at Cal, along with his wife, Joanne.
In Mid-Pacific's 117 years in Mānoa, the campus previously never had a track facility.
"It's a dream come true," Mid-Pacific track and field head coach Rick Hendrix told Aloha State Daily. "I've been here 17 years, and I never thought I'd see this day coming. But it's all about the kids, and they're gonna have a great facility next year. We won't have to ride a bus for 40 minutes one way, and 40 minutes back. They'll be able to just come out of campus and hop on the track. So, it's a blessing."
Track and field practices for the Owls previously included bus rides to Hawai‘i Kai on Kaiser High School's track or Kalihi on Farrington High School's track. Other times, the Owls would practice on the grass field on campus.
MPI's new track facility, spearheaded by local firm G70, will feature a six-lane track. The facility will also accommodate other track and field events such as pole vault and triple jump.
In addition to the Wood family donation, local organizations such as the Atherton Family Foundation and Central Pacific Bank Foundation contributed to the funding of the facility.
"The goal is that 100% will be funded by donations, and we're clearly on our way there," said Dr. Paul Turnbull, Mid-Pacific president. "We've got just a few months left to close out, and we're really making great progress."
Construction of Mid-Pacific's new facility is expected to be completed well in time for the school's Class of 2026 to graduate on it.
"Pure joy for the students," Turnbull said. "We have so many students who are dedicated not only to the sport of track and field, but also just to improving themselves and really pulling together mind, body and spirit. When you think about a total school experience, this is the beginning of generations of that happening on campus, rather than us needing to look for other facilities for those particular students."
Included in Tuesday's festivities was a blessing for Mid-Pacific's Wailele Spring, with plans to beatify and revitalize it.
Renderings of Mid-Pacific's new track and field facility are below (courtesy Mid-Pacific):
Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
