The most recent Moanalua makeover belongs to our football field,  happening only nine months after baseball and softball field renovations. 

Football field construction began this past summer break, following the end of the 2023-2024 school year. The Hawaiian Turfgrass company worked on getting the grass resawed and adding new softer, safer grass to play on. Yet, originally meant to be up and running again on September 1st, the new field’s opening was delayed until September 8th, when the Music Department got to use the field during their Sunday marching band practice for the first time since renovations began.

“The current grassfield was deteriorating faster than we thought, and we couldn’t wait any longer to [add new grass] so we put a plan together to put new grass on the field and sawed it,” Moanalua’s Athletic Director, Joel Kawachi stated. 

While the field was in the works, students from both the music department and the athletics department were affected by the ongoing renovations despite it being summer break. Athletes and marching band students alike had practices and rehearsals in alternative locations, often on our own baseball and softball fields.

“We practiced at Pearl City High School, Farrington High School, Aliamanu Middle School, and thankfully we have our own baseball/softball [field], so we use that,” said Kawachi, referring to the struggles with the football scheduling. “We look at other schools that can accommodate us, and what’s available, we have to take [the opportunity]. We can practice here, but we don’t have the lights [on that field] so we can’t practice [at] night.”

Even football players, such as Joby North, a varsity linebacker, expressed his feelings about going to practice at different schools, and how it could’ve been a distraction. “Practicing at another school is weird but as long as they get their job done, he [Coach Andrew Manley]’s happy,” North said. “Transportation for us though wasn’t really a problem; we bussed to practices but the only problem was the pushed-back practice times.”

“If we didn’t need changes on the football field, our team would probably still be the same,” Moanalua’s varsity Defensive Line and Running Back, Cyrus Massey, stated, showcasing how the team can still work together with the field getting worked on.

Despite the unexpected delay, students are excited to play on the new grass that will be used for P.E., marching band field rehearsals, and other school events. All Kawachi hopes from the students is that they can maintain and take care of the field for as long as possible as he plans the next step toward another long-awaited field dream: a turf field!