2-16-10 First race completed!

Our first race was a great success. A little slow on starting due to computer program problems, but not bad for the first race. We had 45 registered racers and 13 motos. Not a bad start at all!!

2-1-10 Work Day, Saturday13 Feb 10

To prepare the final touches for our first race on Sunday, we’ll be having a work day this Saturday. We don’t have a lot of extra tools, so the most useful tool to bring is a broom (we only have two) for grooming the track. Metal rakes are useful as well for the rocks. Ari Mclaren will be out in the morning (about 8AM to Noon) to head up the work and I will be there for a few hours from noon on. I’m thinking the track is in decent shape, so for those comfortable with carpentry work, I’d like to build a few shelves and mount some speakers (8-9 of them) for the PA in the afternoon. Anything you can do to help is most appreciated. See you at the track!

2-1-10 Racing Starts on Sunday, 14 Feb with Registration from 3-4PM, racing ASAP

It’s hard to believe we’re finally getting within sight of our first race. It's on for 14 Feb 10. Here are a few developments and things to be done ASAP.

1. The Gate is installed and completed 2 practices so far.

Some things to remember;

1. 1. Bring your bike prepped without reflectors or pegs, or anything that could fall off and injure yourself or someone during the race. Also make sure you have your number displayed in 3” numbers on a plate. Your number is the last 3 numbers from your ABA card. If you haven’t gotten around to getting a number plate yet, we can give you a temp one made of paper.

2. 2. Bring your card to check in (3-4PM.) We will scan your card during the check in process. Entry fee will be $10.00.

3. 3. As always, make sure you have long pants and shirt plus your helmet.

4. 4. Remember, parents may accompany children into the race staging area, but only 5 and under are allowed to balance their child’s rear wheel on the gate (no pushing for a faster start.) If you haven’t mastered the balancing act yet, just put one foot on the ground and expect that you’ll not be the only one that will be doing the start that way.

5. 5. The first 3 finishers in the main event will get trophies. Everyone should receive a medal (including trophy winners) for your first race at SANDBOX BMX. If we miss you, don’t hesitate speaking up.

The containers donated by Aloha Air Cargo are making progress toward the eventual use as equipment storage, control tower, and announcer booth. We can make do as is until they’re complete. We will be stacking two containers for the final structure.

a. After painting the containers a solid color (white?), if anyone knows a talented tagger that can spray paint appealing BMX racing stuff on the bottom container, please let me know. Tagging to prevent tagging. We will provide the paint cans or whatever is needed.

b. If anyone has carpentry talents, we need a volunteer(s) to oversee/build out the windows/openings for the top container and to build a separate room for the registration room on the bottom container. We will provide the required lumber, etc.

c. We are looking for a volunteer(s) that has electrical/ wiring talents to oversee the speaker wiring and electrical wiring from the generator. Again, we will provide the required wires, etc. for the project.

3. Once we start racing, we will need volunteers for every race (on Sundays). Positions to help with racing include check in and bike inspection, track flaggers/spotters, finish line judges, announcers, gate operators, and staging area/gate monitors, and awards presenters. No special talents required for these positions (except announcers). My thought was to have a gate practice day on the Saturday afternoon before our first race. That way the first race day will go better, take less time, and we’ll all have more fun – which is what it’s all about!!

I’m sure no one needs reminding, but SANDBOX BMX doesn’t have paid staff. Everyone you see working on the track is a volunteer. All monies collected go toward the operation of our track. Even if you don’t race, please volunteer for our sport and be a part of the game. See you out at SANDBOX BMX!

1-28-10 REDLINE CUP Qualifier set for Sunday 14 Mar. Registration 3-4PM

SANDBOX BMX was selected for the REDLINE CUP Qualifier set for Sunday, Mar 14th. In addition to being a triple points race, qualified winners are invited to travel to the the REDLINE CUP FINAL in Boulder City, Nevada to compete for the REDLINE CUP CHAMPOINSHIP!!

11-24-09 STOLEN BIKES - HAVE YOU SEEN THIS BIKE?

11-17-09 Follow the Track Status on Twitter

I started a twitter feed today to give the latest updates about the track and operating status before we open on Sundays and Wednesdays. You can get an up to date verification on what's up with the track by signing up to follow SANDBOX_BMX on Twitter. You can check on the Island BMX Home page, get an email message, or get a text message if you sign up in your preference on Twitter. Keep up to date with SANDBOX BMX through Twitter today!

9-04-09 SANDBOX OPENING 1 OCT 09

As many of you may know the long anticipated opening of Sandbox Hawaii (Hawaii’s Premier Off-Road Park) is scheduled to open the BMX and RC Tracks on 1 Oct 09. We have put together a fundraiser to help continue the project. We are selling Sandbox Hawaii T-Shirts (see attachment) for $20.00 each. Sizes are M, L, XL, 2XL, and 3XL. Anyone needing a Small please specify. Your help is needed! We will make this park a viable asset to the State, Communities, and most important our kids! I realize that this comes at a tough economic time so I apologize for any undue hardship.

We are also selling logo advertising to companies who wish to have their company logo on the shirt. Cost is $100. It would require a one (1) color design in any of the following formats (jpeg, pdf, ai, or eps). Please contact me with your request. I realize some of you on my BMX news list have already made purchases. Thank you for your help! I’ve provided a list of items that would be purchased with your contribution:

1. T-ShirtS

2. Diesel Fuel (Heavy Equipment)

3. Fencing

4. Park Membership Cards

5. Office Construction (windows, doors, paint, etc..)

Please pass on this information to others! If you have any questions please feel free to call Jim @ 808-372-6942 or email me.

A quick news item about the BMX track. Until we are able to get fencing up, we have installed concrete barriers to prevent unwanted destructive traffic on the track. However, many of you have been showing up with tools in hand to rake and get rocks off to help finish the track. Thank you for your service and please continue coming to help. This will be a fast and furious month to opening and we have coveted your help in any way possible.

Mahalo!

8-26-09 SANDBOX GROUNDBREAKING HELD ON MONDAY, 24 AUG

Sand Island Off Highway Vehicle Association held a ground breaking for SANDBOX HAWAII. The primary visual for the ground breaking was Sandbox BMX track in the staging area. Tentative opening is Oct 09. A lot of work left to do to build a starting gate, fence the area in to protect the track, and finish grooming the track itself. Any and ALL VOLUNTEERS are welcome. Thanks so much to those who were able to make it out to the track on Saturday and Sunday. YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE!!! A lot of Mountain Bike/Downhill rider support as well. Also thanks to BILLY ALLEN, our professional BMX track builder on his outstanding job. Our local dirt loading operators watched in amazement at his artistry with the loader provided by GRACE PACIFIC. If you want to help in the future, please email Jim. Check out the Advertiser and Star Bulletin stories plus Island BMX pictures of the track.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE STAR BULLETIN (AND SOME TV REPORTS) GOT IT WRONG WITH MOTORCYCLES ON OUR BMX TRACK. PLEASE DO NOT SHOW UP WITH A MOTORCYCLE. IF YOU SEE SOMEONE DO SO, PLEASE ASK THEIR KOKUA - NO CAN!!! IT WILL DESTROY OUR TRACK!!!Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Off-roaders get 'sandbox' ready to roll

Waterfront park off Sand Island will be their first legal place to play

Photo gallery: Off-Road Recreational Facility Breaks Ground

Advertiser Staff

A ground-breaking ceremony was held yesterday for O'ahu's first legal, off-road venue for everything from remote-controlled model cars to monster trucks.

The 32-acre, waterfront park off of Sand Island — now known as "Sandbox Hawaii" — will will mean less wear and tear on the Kahuku Motocross Park, and on hot spots for four-wheelers, said Reid Shimabukuro, who has been instrumental in setting up the Sand Island park.

The effort has been supported by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, which often deals with the destruction from illegal off-road vehicles.

Sandbox Hawaii will evolve in phases, starting with a track for BMX bikers, an area for remote-controlled vehicles and a "peewee track" for kids who ride off-road motorcycles and a track for four-wheelers — trucks fitted with big tires and special suspensions.

The project is a first-of-its-kind partnership between off-roaders of all kinds and the state government and was supported yesterday by Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona.

It was originally scheduled to open in fall 2007 but has been stalled because of several permitting and other delays.

The park will be maintained by volunteers and users will pay fees, which will help cover insurance costs.

Dakota Kam, 3, puts on his helmet before mounting his dirt bike at "Sandbox Hawaii." When work is completed, the Sand Island park will include facilities for all sorts of off-road vehicles, from bikes to monster trucks.

RICHARD AMBO | The Honolulu Advertiser

Off-road adventures

A park for dirt bikes and other riding sports has been carved out of Sand Island land

By Rosemarie Bernardo

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Aug 25, 2009

(Single Page View) | Return to Paginated View

A narrow parcel once covered with kiawe, dry brush and trash has been transformed into a park for dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles and BMX riders.

About 100 people attended a ceremony yesterday for Sandbox Hawaii, an off-road park the size of a football field near the Marine Education and Training Center at Sand Island. The park is slated to open Oct. 1.

It will be the only off-road track authorized on state land on Oahu to be open weekdays. The other park is Kahuku Motocross, which is only open on weekends and federal holidays.

The park is 90 percent complete. Still to be done are rock removal and compacting the dirt, said Reid Shimabukuro, president of the Sand Island Off-Highway Vehicle Association.

Though Shimabukuro does not ride motorcycles or motocross bikes, he recognized a wider need for such a park for youths.

"There's a ton of kids on bikes, but they have nowhere to ride," he said.

The groundbreaking came after the state and association overcame hurdles with daunting permit processes. Four years ago Curt Cottrell, assistant administrator of the Division of State Parks, was state trail program manager when Shimabukuro approached him with the idea of an off-road park near the Ewa shoreline of Sand Island State Park.

Cottrell worked closely with Shimabukuro and other members of the association on the project.

The state received a $30,000 federal grant for the project. Cottrell worked on the environmental assessment and the special management area use permit, but he and his staff faced complicated permit processes, which prompted him to hire consultants.

About $13,500 was spent to obtain a grubbing and grading permit and a permit from the state Department of Health. The remaining funds will go toward fuel for heavy equipment.

Volunteers cleared the kiawe and trash. An expert from the American Bicycle Association recently arrived in Hawaii, helping the local group create the track.

Cottrell said the Sand Island association may either obtain a lease or revocable permit to operate and manage the park for two years. While Cottrell said he supports the association staying at the site after the two-year period, it is unknown what plans the state might later have for the parcel.

During the ceremony, John DeSoto, known as the Flyin' Hawaiian during his motocross days in the 1960s and 1970s, said racing motorcycles helped him stay focused. DeSoto, who was inducted into the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation's Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame in 2004, described the park as a place where youths can release their energy instead of engaging in illegal activities or drug or alcohol abuse.

"This is awesome," said DeSoto, a former city councilman, as he scanned the track. "This will give them determination, dedication, and most of all, this will give them discipline and focus on what they want to do."

A narrow parcel once covered with kiawe, dry brush and trash has been transformed into a park for dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles and BMX riders.

Wayne Rhoden, a volunteer at Sandbox Hawaii, tried out the off-road track during yesterday's dedication. The Sand Island facility is scheduled to open Oct. 1.

It will be the only off-road track authorized on state land on Oahu to be open weekdays. The other park is Kahuku Motocross, which is only open on weekends and federal holidays.

The park is 90 percent complete. Still to be done are rock removal and compacting the dirt, said Reid Shimabukuro, president of the Sand Island Off-Highway Vehicle Association.

Though Shimabukuro does not ride motorcycles or motocross bikes, he recognized a wider need for such a park for youths.

"There's a ton of kids on bikes, but they have nowhere to ride," he said.

Cottrell worked closely with Shimabukuro and other members of the association on the project.

About $13,500 was spent to obtain a grubbing and grading permit and a permit from the state Department of Health. The remaining funds will go toward fuel for heavy equipment.

Volunteers cleared the kiawe and trash. An expert from the American Bicycle Association recently arrived in Hawaii, helping the local group create the track.

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM

Major supporters of the project and in attendance at the Ground Breaking were Lt Gov Duke Iona and Motorcycle Hall of Famer John Desoto

7-14-09 SAND BOX GRADING AND GRUBBING HAS BEGUN AGAIN AT SAND ISLAND

Sand Island Off Highway Vehicle Association has been given the green light for grading and grubbing as of 27 Jun 09. Work is hot and heavy on the initial work to be done. Since there was a 2 year delay after our last shutdown, the permitting has finally been completed and clearing of the area has started anew. Island BMX has attained the services of nationally recognized BMX track builder Billy Allen. He constructs about 30 tracks a years. He’ll be doing the BMX track building from 20 – 24 August. We’ll potentially need manual track helpers to work the rakes, cutting tools, brooms, etc. on Saturday Aug 22 after he does his first couple days of building. Any support is welcome. Hope to see you all soon out at Sand Box Hawaii!

6-4-09 SAND ISLAND OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE PARK MAY BE BACK IN THE CONSTRUCTION BUISNESS THIS MONTH!

Posted on: Monday, June 8, 2009

Work to begin on off-road facility

By Mary Vorsino
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer

After several delays, construction on an off-roaders park on Sand Island is expected to kick off within the next two weeks, and planners hope to have a track for BMX bikers completed by August.

The 32-acre waterfront park originally was to open in fall 2007, but has been stalled because of several permitting and other delays. Reid Shimabukuro, who has been instrumental in setting up the park, said he's relieved to have overcome the major permit hurdles to start work.

"We knew that it was just a matter of time," he said.

Before the park can open, the off-roaders must secure a lease from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, which has backed the project as an innovative way to give off-roaders recreational space. The project is a first-of-its-kind partnership between off-roaders of all kinds and the state government.

And off-roaders say it could spur similar parks on other islands.

Enthusiasts envision the Sand Island park catering to all manner of off-road vehicles — from BMX bikes to all-terrain vehicles to four-wheelers.

Shimabukuro said the first phase of work at the park will be to use heavy machinery to build a track for BMX, or bicycle motocross. The next phase will be to build a "peewee track" for kids who ride off-road motorcycles and a track for four-wheelers - trucks fitted with big tires and special suspensions.

DLNR's Curt Cottrell, who has been helping set up the Sand Island park, said the project is a deal for the state, which was able to use about $30,000 in federal money to help cover the costs of required permits and studies.

The park will be maintained by volunteers.

Users of the park will pay fees, which will help cover insurance costs.

A fee schedule for the park has not yet been released.

It's unclear how long the state will lease the park to the off-roaders.

The park location is vacant land, and has no master plan. In the 1970s, there was some hope of turning it into a recreational area for watercraft, but the idea died. The area is next to Sand Island State Park.

Reach Mary Vorsino at mvorsino@honoluluadvertiser.com.

6-4-09 SAND ISLAND OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE PARK MAY BE BACK IN THE CONSTRUCTION BUISNESS THIS MONTH!

If you look at a couple listings down, you'll see that it's been over a year and a half since we had our initial three weeks of park preparation before we were shut. It finally appears that the last of the paperwork wars is being completed and we should be back in the construction business sometime this month. Boy, things have changed this time around. While we were expecting a lot of sponsors through the motorized end of the track, most of those local sponsors have dried up due to the obvious pains in the economy. But we're hoping to have a track in time to advertise as the kids start back to school from summer break. I won't begin to give you an estimate due to previous estimates being off as measured in years. We are, as always, looking for $$$. Our initial costs will be to bring out a BMX track builder and for someone to build a starting gate for us. And as always, we're open to suggestions. I'll keep you all in the loop. Thanks for your patience and continued support over the years. With any luck and community involvement, we'll have a track again soon.

3-24-08 SAND ISLAND OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE PARK NEWS IN THE STAR BULLETIN ON LINE

Vol. 13, Issue 80 - Thursday, March 20, 2008 Vol. 13, Issue 80 - Thursday, March 20, 2008

Kokua Line

June Watanabe

Permitting process has delayed off-road track

Question: A year ago there were stories about a racetrack to be built on Sand Island and open by July 2007. I haven't seen anything about it since. When might it open?

Answer: The state official overseeing the project -- a partnership between the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the nonprofit Sand Island Off-Highway Vehicle Association -- is "cautiously optimistic" that the Sand Island Off-Highway Vehicle Park will open this summer.

That's a year later than projected last spring, after approval was granted for DLNR to lease an unused 30-acre parcel of state park land, adjacent to Sand Island State Park, to the association.

However, unexpected "snags" -- requirements for a city "grubbing-and-grading" permit and a permit from the state Department of Health required under the federal Clean Water Act -- have not only delayed the project, but also driven up costs, said Curt Cottrell, DLNR's Na Ala Hele Trails and Access manager.

The city permit also required producing an engineering topography map.

Cottrell tried to do everything "in-house" but eventually hired a consultant because of the complicated permit processes.

He has $30,000 in federal grants for the project, but has so far had to spend about $14,000 to obtain the permits and topography map.

That leaves about $16,000 for volunteers from the nonprofit association to use for equipment rental and fuel to actually put in the trails and tracks once the permits are obtained.

Cottrell's hoping the get the city permit "shortly." DLNR already completed an environmental assessment and got a waiver on a Special Management Area permit because the project is in a state park, he said.

Also still to come is the Health Department permit, required to make sure there are adequate sediment control barriers to prevent runoff into the water.

"What's really taking us a long time is our lack of experience ever doing this," Cottrell acknowledged.

When the project is completed, about 18 of the 30 acres will be developed for "actual ridable space" for motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, peewee motorcycles for children, a BMX area for bicycles and a "truck-challenge area."

The Sand Island Off-Highway Vehicle Association's initial no-cost lease to run and maintain the area will be for two years.

"It really is an out-of-the-box creative solution to trying to find ridable space on Oahu for ATVs (and other off-highway vehicles), which is the fastest-growing recreational activity in the United States," Cottrell said.

The Kahuku Motocross Park is the only other authorized off-road track on state land on Oahu.

DLNR "is trying to redirect, with what limited chunks of usable state land that this is appropriate for," to authorized sites, Cottrell said.

He hopes the private sector will recognize the opportunity to step in and address the growing demand for such recreational activity.

12-19-07 SAND ISLAND OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE PARK INITIAL GROUNDS PREPARATION UNDER WAY! WELL, NOT SO FAST!

At this time of the year, we expected to be into the final preparations for our Grand Opening at the new year. Well, not so fast. After an initial very fast paced start, things abruptly came to a halt. We expect to release the details soon, but feel constrained until the last roadblocks are understood and removed. Do we feel confident that this will be the last roadblock? No. At this point, we don't have supreme confidence that something else won't pop up. This has been an agonizing couple years process. Please be patient while we work things out with State Parks, our partner in this endeavor. I promise we'll get the word out about the specifics when the time is right.

08-06-07 SAND ISLAND OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE PARK INITIAL GROUNDS PREPARATION UNDER WAY!

Initial surface preparation is well underway out at Sand Island State Park. Thanks for all the volunteers that have volunteered their precious time to help us with this project. At this point, our all volunteer force has done the initial clearing for the first few sports tracks as well as the parking lots and administration and picnic areas. The designated BMX area has changed to the area adjacent to the "administrative mound" just as you turn into the park off of Sand Island Road. The BMX track is ready to build once the park infrastructure is in. Check out the photo below;

04-27-07 SAND ISLAND OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE PARK EA PUBLISHED ON 25 APR!

The Environmental Assesment (EA) for the SAND BOX, the OHV park out at Sand Island State Park, was published and is open for public comment for the next 30 days. This has been a couple years in the works and towards the final elements required prior to breaking ground for our new BMX track which is included in the SAND BOX.