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Community members are encouraged to attend a meeting from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Paia Community Center to share ideas for a proposed project to construct a new gym, the Maui County Parks and Recreation Department announced.
A project website will collect public feedback from Sept. 18 through Oct. 18 on the conceptual design and site plan. Details will be shared during the community meeting.
Named the Alfred "Flako" Boteilho Sr. Gymnasium, the proposed gym would be constructed at the site of the existing Paia Gymnasium, which would be demolished. The expanded facility would serve as a modern recreational complex that could be used as an emergency shelter or recovery center during and after disasters.
"This project is a significant investment in the heart of Pāʻia, providing the community with an improved and expanded gym that can better meet the everyday recreational needs of our keiki, families and residents," department Director Patrick McCall said. "Just as importantly, the upgraded facility strengthens Pāʻia's emergency preparedness and ability to serve as a safe, reliable gathering place during severe storms and other emergencies."
The project team includes the department and consulting partners G70 International and Nishikawa Architects Inc. The team has emphasized that the design should reflect the community's identity and history, with priority placed on preserving the existing gym's character, physical features and associated memories.
Originally constructed in 1938, the Paia gym has been described as a key recreational resource, particularly for boxing, volleyball and basketball. It was closed in 2016 after several technical studies found significant structural deterioration and potential safety risks.
For more information, visit www.MauiCounty.gov/DPR.
Photo courtesy Maui County