University of Hawai'i at Manoa Athletics

Honolulu Community College Marine Education and Training Center

Head sailing coach Andy Johnson dreamed of a sailing facility that was up to par with other nationally-ranked schools. Before the completion in 1995 of the Honolulu Community College Marine Education and Training Center, UH kept its equipment in an old storage container in a small area at the Waikiki Yacht Club. Johnson wanted more for the program. Johnson’s dream came true with the grand opening of the Honolulu Community College Marine Education and Training Center in July 1995. In 1993, Johnson was asked to draw up a proposal of all the things he would include in a new facility. When he visited the new building a month before its completion, he was amazed and pleased to see everything he had proposed included in the final design. The $8.7 million facility has been touted as the best of its kind anywhere in the world. Covering eight acres, the center houses a complex of classrooms, work bays, laboratories, offices and a library. Outside, there is a 52-vehicle and boat trailer parking lot. To top everything off, the facility is filled with the latest in state-of-the-art equipment. The main function of the new facility is to house University of Hawai‘i-Honolulu Community College’s two-year boat maintenance and repair program. This program gives students the skills to run a modern boat yard. They are taught to use cranes to lift boats out of the water and into work bays. From there, they study the vessel’s electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems. As an island-state, Hawai‘i’s maritime and water recreation industry is very important. This training center is vital for producing the skilled labor needed to maintain the industry. Manager for the state’s Honolulu Waterfront Project, Chris Chung, helped to plan the facility because he saw an immediate need for skilled labor which is not currently available in Hawai‘i. The University of Hawai‘i Campus Center Leisure Program moved its sailing and water safety programs to the new facility in July 1995. Johnson, who is also the leisure program’s assistant director, stores his program’s boats at the new building. The training center can accommodate six boats in dock and 15 others on the boat house racks. There are also secured rooms for equipment and sails. Johnson said, in previous years, the sailing and water safety courses normally had about 150 people registered. Registration has nearly doubled with the opening of the new facility. The two, five-day courses are open to the public as well as UH students. After passing the two courses, students are certified and can come back to rent boats. The University of Hawai‘i sailing program has been one of the top programs in the nation for many years. Now, they share a facility which has a reputation as lofty as their own. The marine center gives even more respectability to a UH sailing program that is already considered one of the best.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS Address: 10 Sand Island Parkway, Honolulu, HI 96819 From West Take H-1 East Take EXIT 1A towards Pearl Harbor/Airport Merge onto North Nimitz Highway/HI-92 via EXIT 18A towards Waikiki Turn right onto Sand Island Access Road/HI-64 Sand Island Parkway is on the right From East Take H-1 West/Lunalilo Freeway West towards Honolulu Take EXIT 20B towards Houghtailing Street Merge onto Halona Street At end of the road, turn left onto Houghtailing Street Houghtailing Street becomes Waikamilo Road Turn right onto N Nimitz Highway / HI-92 Turn left onto Sand Island Access Road/HI-64. Continue to follow HI-64 Continue onto Sand Island Access Road/HI-64. Continue to follow HI-64